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In 2005, film studio DreamWorks Animations, created the first feature-length film of the extremely popular stop-motion British classic,Wallace & Gromit.Directed by Nick Park and Steve Box,Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbitwas well received internationally, receiving Best Animated Feature Film at the 78th Academy Awards. It even saw a video game under the same name come out around the same time.
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbitfollows cheese-loving inventor Wallace and his clever dog, Gromit, as they try to save the town’s crops from a Were-Rabbit. As it turns out, whilst attempting to hypnotize a rabbit named Hutch into disliking vegetables, Wallace in fact swaps their personalities, and it is soon revealed he is the Were-Rabbit.
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbittook heavy inspiration from classic Hollywood, and particularlymonster movies and old Gothics. Due to this, it is packed with countless movie references from this era, as well as more recent ones. It is so packed that most viewers are not able to catch all the references during their first-watching experience, and maybe not their second either.
Horror References You Might Have Missed
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbitis an ode to classic horror, referencing filmsfromKing KongtoThe Exorcist. During the final showdown, Wallace, as the Were-Rabbit, panics, and kidnaps his love interest, Lady Tottingham, then scales the manor tower.This is very similar to the famous scene inKing Kong, when Kong climbs the Empire State Building, with Ann Darrow in hand. Another classic horror that is referenced, albeit less obviously, is the 1973 filmThe Exorcist.Fans ofThe Exorcistwill remember that Regan is possessed by the demon Pazuzu. Well,in the churchyard, there is actually a statue of Pazuzu which can be seen by viewers.
Following the chaos at the annual vegetable competition, the town’s people inWallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbitgather in the church to discuss options. Very quickly, panic erupts, until an old man offers his wisdom, bringing the situation under control. This, like theKing Kongreference, is very on the nose, calling back to the 1975 shark horror film,Jaws.The reference is to the town hall meeting where the local residents panic over the shark attacks until Quint offers his solution.
Of course,the most obvious reference to discuss is from the 1941 gothic monster horror,The Wolf Man, which has been credited for the inception of the modern understanding of the werewolf. The main archetypes inThe Wolf Mancan be seen inWallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, with Wallace turning into a rabbit which takes over his mind. Also, the hunter Victor Quartermaine attempts to kill the Were-Rabbit with “24-carrot” gold, a nod toThe Wolf Man, which saw silver being utilized against the monster.Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbitdefinitely did its research into the films it took inspiration from.
References From Adventure Movies Hidden in the Film
Structured like an action film itself,Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbitis equally full of callbacks to this genre. One of the best examples of this comes in a very small nod. In the car, Gromit turns on the radio, which begins to play “Bright Eyes,” which is famously associated with the 1978 British Adventure/Drama filmWatership Down, which was also heavily rabbit-themed.
This next adventure film reference is a little more direct, almost copying its inspiration exactly. When Victor Quartermaine challenges Wallace to a fight, he dances around him, egging him on,which is consistent with a scene in the 1975 classic,Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Here, the Black Knight does the same thing to King Arthur.
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Jurassic Parkhas not one, but two references here. The initial 1993 scene when the T. rex bites the goat and spits it at the Jeep is recreated when the Were-Rabbit takes a bite from the carrot neon sign, spitting it at the van driving away from it. Its 1997 sequel is similarly reproduced elsewhere in the film when Gromit is trying to prevent himself from being pulled down the tunnel. This is reminiscent of Eddie Carr attempting to free the trailer by going in reverse.
Other Famous References You Might Have Missed
This reference comes from a famous scene that even those who have not seen the source material can recognize.The1964 classicDr. Strangeloveis paid homage to during the final showdown between Gromit and Victor’s dog, Philip, during an airplane battle. Towards the end of the scene, Gromit opens the bomb doors, causing Philip to fall out of the bottom. The angles of the scene cause many viewers to think back to the famous scene fromDr. Strangelove, as Major Kong, rides the nuclear bomb as it falls from the bottom of the B-52.
20 Horror References Found In Animated Kids Movies and TV Shows
Horror has firmly planted itself in the cultural zeitgeist, even to the point of being referenced in children’s cartoons and movies for decades.
Many of the film references inWallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbitare background Easter Eggs, which only the most observant caught. For instance, the name on the giant carrot sign on the vegetable stand is"Harvey’s," which is also a film about a giant rabbit. Also in the town, some movie posters can be seen, such asCarrot on a Hot Tin Roof,referencing the Tennessee Williams playCat on a Hot Tin Roof. Another poster refers to the 1960 filmSpartacus,advertising the filmSpartichoke.Finally, a framed picture in Wallace and Gromit’s house shows Gromit graduating from Dogwarts University,a subtle nod to the wizarding school from theHarry Potterfranchise.
