Fans of both Kill Bill and Mortal Kombat 1 were blown away by a near 1-to-1 replication of a Kill Bill scene that was used for one of Shujinko’s fatalities.
Though Mortal Kombat 1 just came out in early access, many are already excited to see what the characters in the confirmed DLC packs will have in store. With a mix of classic MK characters and a star-studded guest roster, players have good reason to be excited.
Shujinko, a pre-order bonus Kameo character, has had his fatality catch a lot of attention from players who have gotten into the game early. It bears a more-than-striking resemblance to a scene from Kill Bill.
Ed Boone sarcastically commented on the reference, giving a clear nod to fans of the source material.
Mortal Kombat 1 fans enamored by Kill Bill homage
Kill Bill Volumes 1 and 2 are some of Tarantino’s most iconic films in an already stacked filmography for the esteemed director. They marry the over-the-top martial arts choreography and feats of Eastern filmmaking with a story that, at times, feels similar to an old-school Western in a combination that’s certainly stood the test of time.
The movies are almost 2 decades old at this point, but this duology still has a massive fanbase despite the movies’ age.
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This led to fans of the films immediately catching the Kill Bill homage in Shujinko’s fatality. It’s a near shot-for-shot recreation of a scene from Kill Bill, one that Ed Boone has slyly commented on.
What are you talking about? We don’t draw any inspiration from movies. #MortalKombat1 pic.twitter.com/kOcJWsSo9n
— Ed Boon (@noobde) September 15, 2023
And, while this may appear to be a direct Kill Bill reference on the surface, there’s a bit more depth here. Shunjinko bears a much closer resemblance to Pai Mei, the martial arts master that taught Uma Thurman’s iconic character the technique originally.
It’s a 1-to-1 recreation, sure, but with the implication that Shujinko is the master of his art rather than a student. Him and Pai Mei have similar accolades as martial arts masters.
Considering how deeply ingrained movies are into the Mortal Kombat series from its many guest fighters over the years, it’s no surprise that the team is paying some homage to their greatest inspirations. And, while it’s a shame that Shujinko isn’t on the main cast, the fact that he has this nod is a clear love letter from the devs.
Plus, considering the scope of the guest characters that have been added through the series’ more recent entries, who knows what we’ll see next? Perhaps some characters from the Kill Bill cast will make an appearance.