There are certain film mysteries we will just never know the answer to.
Whilst film fans think they finally know the way to figure out the ending to Inception, there are a number of mysteries that may just forever go unsolved.
Is Deckard a replicant in Blade Runner? How did The Joker get his scars in The Dark Knight?
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What is in the briefcase from Pulp Fiction?
Whilst I’ve never seen a theory for The Joker that convinced me, and my opinion on Deckard is as suitable to change as anything, I’m completely convinced by a new theory about what’s in the briefcase in Pulp Fiction.
For those not in the know Pulp Fiction is arguably Tarantino’s most popular film, and only the second he made in his career – following Reservoir Dogs.
As a debut and sophomore film go, not bad.
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The mysterious briefcase in question is a central part of the plot, with hit men Vincent Vega and Jules Winnifield (played by John Travolta and Samuel L Jackson) looking to get hold of it for their mobster boss, Marsellus Wallace (Ving Rhames).
The entire film revolves around the briefcase to a certain extent – and the movie never overtly reveals what’s inside it.
Tarantino himself has specified that he intentionally left it vague, further fuelling rumours and theories.
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One popular theory is that, in actual fact, the briefcase contains the diamonds from Reservoir Dogs.
Said diamonds were the target of the central robbery from Reservoir Dogs and were not obviously recovered by the end of the movie.
In an interview by Roger Ebert in 1997, Tarantino actually stated that this was the original plan for what was in the briefcase.
He then went on to dismiss this, stating it was ‘too obvious’, and thus deciding to leave it open ended.
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The other popular theory amongst fans is a bit crazier, and in my opinion – way more fun.
When unlocking the briefcase, the combination is 666, which led several to come to a certain conclusion.
One post on the subreddit r/movies put forward the two theories, saying it could either be the diamonds or 'Marsellus Wallace's soul'.
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They said: "I heard about some religion somewhere that believes that the soul can leave or be taken out of the body from the brain stem area, where Wallace wears the bandage on the back of his neck.”
While others theorised that ‘he sold his soul to the devil and sends them to retrieve it’.
A fan commented on the post saying: “I think it’s the soul. The combo on the briefcase is 666. It glows, Vincent looks puzzled/amazed/mesmerized when he looks at it.
“Since the 666 is the combo, I assume Satanists are somehow involved. It is LA.”
Another post supporting the theory said: “It was Marcellus Wallace's soul. In the bar, you can see the band-aid on the back of his head, and my understanding is that, in some cultures, it is believed that the soul "resides" at that spot.
“The idea is that Marcellus either sold his soul to the devil(more likely, considering what happens to Marcellus in the shop basement) or got his soul stolen by the devil, and Vincent and Jules are retrieving it back, which is why they don't get touched by the bullets(because, ultimately, they are doing a good deed).”
Whether you believe it or not, I’m convinced and to everyone saying ‘it’s just a MacGuffin’ - lighten up.
Topics: TV and Film, Film
Michael Slavin