Words by Eric Hillis (@hilliseric)
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Tarantino opens his latest film with a crane shot that pulls out to reveal a sculpture of Christ on the cross, a repeat of the opening shot of Tobe Hooper's debut. By the end of the film, with her bloodied face and matted hair, Jennifer Jason Leigh's Daisy Domergue resembles Marilyn Burns' Sally at Chain Saw's climax. Both characters also witness the murder of their brother.
The Virginian (1962-71)
The Hateful Eight owes much to the TV westerns of the '60s in its confined setting and character based drama. Tarantino pays direct reference to The Virginian by naming Samuel L Jackson's character Marquis Warren, after that show's Executive Producer Charles Marquis Warren.
The Thing (1982)/The Thing (2011)
Tarantino acknowledges John Carpenter's classic as a major influence, having previously riffed on its theme in his debut, Reservoir Dogs. Here the homage is far more explicit, with the casting of Kurt Russell and the use of Morricone's rejected tracks on the soundtrack. The controversial 2011 prequel set up minute details of Carpenter's film, just like The Hateful Eight's fifth chapter.
For a Few Dollars More (1965)
The look of Jackson's bounty hunter is styled on that of Lee Van Cleef's Angel Eyes character, who strikes up a reluctant partnership with Clint Eastwood's Blondie, just as Jackson's Warren finds himself siding with Walton Goggins' racist Sheriff.
Frasier (1993-2004)
A key plot twist concerns a character's favourite chair. When the item is revealed, it bears a striking resemblance to John Mahoney's beloved, well-worn seat.
Murder She Wrote (1984-96)
Most episodes of the hit mystery series ended with Angela Lansbury's amateur sleuth teaming up with a befuddled Sheriff as she spills her deductions to a group of suspects, just as in Tarantino's fourth chapter here.
Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
When Jennifer Jason Leigh's Daisy Domergue sings the Australian folk song 'Jim Jones at Botany Bay', we suspect it's a nod to one of Tarantino's favourite films. The song wasn't published until 1907, so it makes no real sense for it to appear in a movie set a couple of decades prior. It's more likely Tarantino chose the song as a reference to Botany Bay, the prison ship Ricardo Montalban's Khan was exiled on. Tarantino has previously referenced Star Trek, opening Kill Bill with a 'Klingon proverb'.
The Evil Dead (1981)
A bunch of characters get together in a cabin, unaware of the menace lurking in the basement.
Calamity Jane (1953)
Kiwi Accent aside, Zoe Bell's Six-Horse Judy is clearly modelled on Doris Day's sharp-shooter as Tarantino imagines a 'what if' scenario, dropping a happy go lucky musical heroine into a room full of Spaghetti Western villains.
Mannix (1967-75)
Walton Goggins' sheriff is named Chris Mannix, in homage to Mike Connors' TV detective, who solved cases with the aid of an African-American (his secretary Peggy).
Sanford and Son (1972-77)
In a cruel joke, Tarantino names Bruce Dern's racist General after the popular '70s sitcom, one of the first shows to feature a black cast.
Robert Rodriguez
Demian Bechir's Mexican is named Bob, which we suspect is a nod to Tarantino's Mexican director friend.
Exorcist II: the Heretic (1977)
Along with his original score and rejected Thing cues, Morricone's 'Regan's Theme', from the much hated John Boorman sequel, appears during the stagecoach segment.
The Last House on the Left (1972)
In Wes Craven's controversial debut, the aftermath of a killing is scored with David Hess singing 'Now You're All Alone', which Tarantino plays following the massacre at Minnie's.
Exorcist II: the Heretic (1977)
The Last House on the Left (1972)
Shadow of a Doubt (1943)
During an anecdote, Samuel L Jackson refers to an 'Uncle Charlie'.
Unforgiven (1992)
As with Richard Harris's English Bob, Tim Roth's Oswaldo affects an aristocratic English accent only to later reveal his actual working class cockney voice.
Unforgiven (1992)
Spotted any references we missed? Leave a comment below.
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