Man Bites Dog

Man Bites Dog (1992)

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Man Bites Dog is a 1992 Belgian low budget movie about contract killer Ben. Ben has authorized a television crew to follow him in his daily life, as he goes about killing people, visiting his parents, killing more people and explaining to the camera the gruesome details of his job.

The movie is shot ‘mockumentary’ style and has a great sense of realism due to the gritty camera work, the street-talk dialogues and some crew members actually getting shot during the filming. The movie even comes to a point where director Rémy becomes so involved with Ben that he ends up shooting somebody himself ‘to see what it feels like’.

The underlying message is to ridicule modern day’s people’s loss of sensitivism when confronted with violence plus to make a striking parody on people’s hunger for ‘real’ news in reality shows on tv. As Ben explains in great detail the pleasure he gets from his work, the viewer is slowly absorbed by his twisted personality.

The following guns were used in the film Man Bites Dog:

Bruni 1911

A Bruni 1911 blankfire replica of the M1911 is the weapon used by Ben (Benoît Poelvoorde) on most occasions. It prominenty shows in most promotional shots plus on the movie poster. It's also used by Rémy (Rémy Belvaux) when he's invited by Ben to try for himself what it feels like to shoot somebody.

Bruni 1911 - 8mm blank firing

Ben showing off with the custom-made leather quick draw holster that he gets from his friends during a party they throw to celebrate his release from the hospital. It’s interesting to note that when he gets the holster, he asks for his ‘revolver’ to try it out but they bring his M1911. This shot clearly identifies the gun as a Bruni 1911 because of the straight slide and the typical one-screw grip.

Ben proudly showing his ‘piece’ which he keeps on him all the time, even when he’s performing classical music with his girlfriend.

During one of the the steel mill shootouts, Ben convinces film director Rémy to experience shooting something else then a movie...

Typical pose of Ben going about his daily business.

Ben looking like he’s pulling the trigger for the first time in his life. The typical straight slide of the Bruni 1911 is clearly visible in this shot.

M1911A1

For mysterious reasons, what appears to be a real M1911A1 is used in several scenes by Ben when he’s not (!) actually firing, probably as a substitute for the blank-firing Bruni 1911 used in shooting scenes. Due to the gritty image quality of most scenes, it is not possible to identify the specific version of this weapon.

World War II issued Colt M1911A1 Pistol - .45 ACP

Ben kidnapping a taxi to chase one of his targets.

Ben inspecting the body of fellow contract killer ‘The Nightingale’ (name actor unknown).

Bruni Magnum

A Bruni Magnum blank-firing revolver is used by Ben on several occasions, most notably during the taxi scene where he kidnaps a taxi to chase one of his victims. The Bruni Magnum appears to be based on the Colt Python and Colt Anaconda series but can be recognized by the Bruni inscriptions on the right side of the frame, just above the trigger.

Bruni Magnum, nickel variant - 6mm blank firing

Ben carefully checking his surroundings during the gun fight in the steel mill. This shot clearly identifies this revolver as a Bruni Magnum due to the inscriptions visible on the right side of the chamber.