Edgar Wright: The Definitive Guide To Homages, Influences And References

Hot Fuzz chase Angel€™s chase sequence with the shoplifter tips its cap to many movies, starting out with the obligatory Western shot of his and Pete€™s eyes before devolving into something out of Trainspotting, right down to Pete€™s running style, his garishly naff clothes and the camera shooting style and then segues into Batman Begin, using similar sound-effects and shots to Bruce Wayne€™s swoop-downs when Angel jumps over the fence to come-face-to-face with his quarry. Yet the best is saved until last, as Wright manages to cram a Crocodile Dundee reference into the sequence, having Nicolas lob a can of spray paint at the thief€™s head from a distance and seeing it connect despite the impossible accuracy of the shot. Mick Dundee uses the exact same method to knock out a thief in his film. There€™s a bonus reference straight after when Sergeant Fisher congratulates Angel on his impressive €˜collar,€™ a direct reference to Sidney Lumet€™s 1973 classic Serpico where they refer to arrests in the same manner.
Contributor
Contributor

Durham University graduate and qualified sports journalist. Very good at sitting down and watching things. Can multi-task this with playing computer games. Football Manager addict who has taken Shrewsbury Town to the summit of the Premier League. You can follow me at @Ed_OwenUK, if you like ramblings about Newcastle United and A Place in the Sun. If you don't, I don't know what I can do for you.