What'south really in the Pulp Fiction briefcase? Fans of the 1994 crime classic have speculated for years, but director Quentin Tarantino has suggested that there's no concrete answer. In terms of filmmaking, the briefcase functions equally a "MacGuffin," a plot device used to push the story forward. But for those who know their movie history, it'southward articulate that Tarantino references a film noir classic with the Lurid Fiction briefcase.

In Lurid Fiction, contract killers Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson) and Vincent Vega (John Travolta) attempt to recover a briefcase for their gangster dominate, Marsellus Wallace (Ving Rhames). In the process, they kill three men (including Alexis Arquette's Fourth Man) and later accidentally murder some other, thus setting up a memorable "clean-up" sequence. When Jules and Vincent first recover the mysterious briefcase, a glowing light can be seen, though the camera never shows the contents. Vincent appears to have a spiritual feel, and the briefcase afterward has the same effect on the robber named Pumpkin (Tim Roth), who describes the glowing contents every bit "beautiful."

The story in Tarantino's Pulp Fiction famously jumps back and along in fourth dimension to create a cinematic puzzle, and the briefcase represents one of the most oddly-shaped pieces in that puzzle. While Tarantino clearly left the contents of the Pulp Fictionbriefcase a mystery on purpose — whenever information technology's opened, the scene is e'er shot as to hibernate whatever is within — that hasn't stopped Pulp Fictionfans from speculating about what the briefcase contains. Some theories have far more than evidence than others, but here are a few interpretations to consider (or dismiss).

What'due south In The Pulp Fiction Briefcase – Best Theories

Online, the nigh popularPulp Fiction theory is that the briefcase contains Marsellus Wallace'southward soul. Meaning, the gangster sold said soul to the devil and decides that he wants it back. But information technology comes with a cost, of course, evidenced by the bloodbath that is Pulp Fiction. Many people take noted that the briefcase's lock lawmaking is 666, a number associated with the Devil. To support the "soul" theory, many have suggested that the bandage on the dorsum of Marsellus Wallace'due south head correlates with a biblical text that reveals how the Devil takes one's soul. Considering Jules' monologue most "divine intervention" afterwards miraculously surviving a shoot-out, the "soul" theory is indeed intriguing.

Some Lurid Fiction aficionados have suggested that the briefcase holds the diamonds from Reservoir Dogs, Tarantino's feature debut. There's non much evidence to support this argument, aside from the gangster aspects and character connections. In Reservoir Dogs, Mr. Blonde a.m.a. Vic Vega (Michael Madsen) goes on a killing rampage later on a carefully planned diamond heist, thus upsetting Mr. Pinkish (Steve Buscemi), who after escapes with the boodle (Reservoir Dogs' final audio implies that Mr. Pink was captured past police). In Pulp Fiction, Mr. Blonde'due south brother — Vincent Vega (implied, later confirmed by Tarantino) — is the first person to run into the briefcase'due south contents. It'south worth noting that Tarantino created Pulp Fiction's story with Roger Avary, who once revealed that the Pulp Fiction briefcase originally independent diamonds, merely that the concept was ultimately accounted "too wearisome and predictable."

The beauty of Pulp Fiction'southward briefcase is that it allows for endless interpretations. Most likely, Tarantino'southward glowing light is merely an homage to the 1955 film noir classic Kiss Me Deadly, which includes a sequence featuring a ambiguous box — one that'due south connected to "the gates of hell" and glows upon existence opened. This is i of the most plausible explanations as it feeds into Quentin Tarantino's well-known love of movies, and also lendsPulp Fictionan air of mystery that has kept its fans guessing for decades.

Perhaps the real purpose of the briefcase is simply to fuel speculation amongPulp Fictionfans. Tarantino has not made a secret of his ain theories and subtle ideologies backside his own films (he even admitted that he considers some of his films movies-within-movies), and so perhaps it was simply the managing director'southward manner of giving fans the telescopic to fill in the blanks on their own. Either way, the contents of the Pulp Fiction briefcase remain one of the most interesting pic mysteries of all time.

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Q.5. Hough (1895 Articles Published)

Q.V. Hough is a senior writer at Screen Rant. He'south likewise the founding editor at Vague Visages, and has contributed to RogerEbert.com and Fandor.

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