In Bruges - Film References

Film References

The plot bears notable similarities to Harold Pinter's one-act play The Dumb Waiter. The film also contains many references to Don't Look Now, including the claim by Chloë that the film-within-a-film is a homage to that film.

Ken is seen watching the beginning of Orson Welles' Touch of Evil, with its notable continuous take of a car bombing. This precedes a six-minute tracking shot of Ken speaking on the telephone with Harry, where Harry instructs Ken to assassinate Ray. The layout of Harry Water's desk and chair in his office at home are very similar to the layout of the office in the Corleone family home in The Godfather. There is a nod to the television film version of The Dumbwaiter when Harry uses the names Cranham and Blakely to first check into the hotel, these names belong to the stars of that TV version Kenneth Cranham and Colin Blakely.