The Hateful Eight at 10: The 6 Surprising Inspirations Behind Tarantino's Brutal Western

How does a bloody Western end up being filmed with the same lenses as a 1960s comedy epic? As Quentin Tarantino's 'The Hateful Eight' celebrates its 10th anniversary today (Dec. 25), the film's creative DNA is far more eclectic than you might think. The story of strangers trapped in a blizzard in post-Civil War Wyoming is a masterful mash-up of classic Westerns, claustrophobic thrillers, and Tarantino's deep love for cinema history.

Released in 2015, the film garnered strong reviews and earned three Oscar nominations, including a win for legendary composer Ennio Morricone. Here's a look at the films and shows that inspired Tarantino in crafting this brutal saga.

No Good Guys: Reimagining the TV Western

Tarantino didn't look to the heroes of classic TV Westerns for inspiration; he looked at the villains. For shows like 'Bonanza' and 'The High Chaparral,' he was fascinated by the guest stars whose motivations weren't clear until halfway through the episode. "I always liked those characters," Tarantino said. "So I thought, 'What if I did a story that was made up of nothing but those characters?'" The result is a film with, as he puts it, "no Little Joe." There are no good guys, only a cabin full of untrustworthy people.

A Familiar Structure, A Winking Title

The film's DNA bears a striking resemblance to Tarantino's own debut, 'Reservoir Dogs' (Reservoir Dogs, 1992). The setup of shifty characters trapped in a single location is a direct echo. Tarantino himself noted the similarities, saying the concept of "a bunch of guys who can't trust each other" felt like he was "coming full circle." The title itself is known to be a nod to John Sturges' 'The Magnificent Seven' (The Magnificent Seven), though the characters in Tarantino's film are far from selfless.

The 70mm Lens That Saw It All

Perhaps the most surprising influence is technical. While preparing to shoot on 70mm film, cinematographer Robert Richardson found the original lenses used on the 1963 comedy epic 'It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World' (It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World) in the Panavision vaults. These same lenses were used on classics like 'Ben-Hur' and 'Mutiny on the Bounty,' allowing Tarantino to give his contained thriller a grand, classic Hollywood feel. Two vastly different films, seen through the very same eye.