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Last Updated:May 16, 2025, 16:39 IST
Quentin Tarantino is celebrated for his distinct filmmaking style, marked by sharp dialogue, stylised violence, and rich pop culture references. While Pulp Fiction, Django Unchained and Inglourious Basterds have become cult favourites, it was Reservoir Dogs, released in 1992, that first introduced audiences to his signature cinematic voice. However, few know the story behind what actually inspired the film.
Tarantino has openly said that Reservoir Dogs was heavily influenced by Stanley Kubrick’s 1956 film The Killing. In fact, Tarantino called The Killing one of the most important films in his early life. Kubrick’s film is based on the novel Clean Break by Lionel White. The plot revolves around a robbery at a racetrack planned by a group of men. The crime drama stood out from others because of how it was told.
The film, instead of showing the story in a straight line, jumped back and forth in time. The same event was also shown from different points of view. This technique kept the audience guessing and gave it a unique style.
Tarantino talked about this influence in a 1992 interview with The Seattle Times. He said, “I didn’t go out of my way to do a rip-off of The Killing, but I did think of it as my Killing, my take on that kind of heist movie.” He also spoke at the Cannes premiere of Reservoir Dogs where he said, “The Killing is my favourite heist film, and I was definitely influenced by it.”
The Killing was Kubrick’s third film and his first big Hollywood project. Before this, he had made smaller films. The method of storytelling used in The Killing was not common at the time. It gave the film a fresh style that stood out in the 1950s. Years later, Tarantino used a similar technique in Reservoir Dogs, which also moved back and forth in time and focused on different characters’ versions of events.
Released in 1992, Reservoir Dogs starred Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Chris Penn, Steve Buscemi, Lawrence Tierney, Michael Madsen, Edward Bunker and Tarantino himself. They played a group of thieves involved in a diamond heist that goes horribly wrong. The film also featured Kirk Baltz, Randy Brooks and Steven Wright in supporting roles.
While the film drew attention for its violent scenes and strong language, it received positive reviews from critics, especially for the performances by the main cast.
News movies How A 1950s Heist Film Influenced Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs
