Man Bites Dog

Man Bites Dog (1992)

Man Bites Dog (C'est arrivé près de chez vous) is a 1992 Belgian cult low budget movie about serial/spree killer Ben (full name, mentioned only once in the movie - Benoît Potar). Ben has contacted with film-makers 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.

Miraculously, the main character Ben seems to be an excellent shot with both his right as well as his left hand, so he seems to be at least partially ambidextrous. It's not sure if this is a deliberate clue to demonstrate Ben's personal skills in handling a gun, or his natural talent, or that this fact has gone unnoticed by actors and directors (there are three of them including Rémy Belvaux, André Bonzel and Benoît Poelvoorde, who's also starring as Ben) alike.

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.

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.

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. In a notable scene, the M1911A1 is used by Rémy (Rémy Belvaux), the director of the documentary about Ben, when he's invited by Ben to try for himself what it feels like to shoot somebody.

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).

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

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 - 9mm/.380 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.

When visiting an old lady, always be nice and bring your revolver…

Ben firing his revolver from the hijacked taxi at one of his assigned targets.

Ben about to jump off a steel structure during the steel mill scene. Note his lack of trigger discipline.