The Book of Eli Gives a Nod to Its Predecessors
Posted 01.07.10 by reelz
As a post-apocalyptic western, The Book of Eli clearly has a lot of cinematic influences. Although its filmmakers are taking pains to make sure it doesn't get pigeonholed as a western genre piece, they have been quite upfront about how much they were inspired by the Sergio Leone/Clint Eastwood series of spaghetti westerns.
In a recent interview with Sci Fi Wire, co-director Albert Hughes also acknowledged some of Eli's more apocalyptic influences. One that he points to in particular is the 1975 cult classic A Boy and His Dog. A couple of explicit nods to this dystopian forerunner were even included in the movie itself. In the background of one of the scenes is a wall poster for A Boy and His Dog, and in one shootout sequence a rooftop sniper is packing the exact gun that Don Johnson used in that movie.
Attentive movie watchers will find some other cinematic "easter eggs" in the movie as well. As an homage to the 1930s noir version of Scarface, the filmmakers have included a cross or religious icon somewhere in the frame whenever Eli kills someone. From the look of the trailer, there are probably going to be a lot of crosses.