10 Best Examples Of Movies With A ‘Chekhov’s Gun’

In the most literal use of a Chekhov’s Gun, Shaun argues with Ed about whether the Winchester 73 gun mounted above the bar at the Winchester is real.

Ed is consoling Shaun after his breakup with Liz and they start making up stories about the people in the pub. Ed theorises that landlord John is part of the North London Mafia, due to his skills with blades (slicing lemons), his rough demeanour, and his ‘trophy wife’ landlady Bernie. This leads him to surmise that the Winchester rifle hanging on the wall is real, especially as ‘Big Al said so’.

Shaun’s disbelief of the story (arguing that the rifle is just there because of the name of the pub) is further shown when he is thrown the gun when being attacked by a zombified John, and instead of shooting him, uses it to hit him in the face. Ed is ultimately proved right when the gun goes off.

It can be argued that John himself is a Chekhov’s gun, as is Mary the checkout girl, as they are both shown early in the film in throwaway scenes, and then return later to be antagonists. The name of the pub is also a big flashing sign, and horror fans may recognise the Winchester 73 as the gun of choice for zombie classic Night of the Living Dead.