Sam Bedinger
Meehan Literature and Composition
3/23/10
Similarities between Blade Runner and Frankenstein
The 1982 version of Blade Runner directed by Ridley Scott has many similarities to the book Frankenstein, which was written by Mary Shelley in 1818. In both movies, there is a monster, who is considered unacceptable by “normal” social standards. The monsters are deemed outcast by the people who are chasing them, and in both cases people fear the monsters because of their unnatural abilities. Both monsters also express anger and frustration making them seem scary even though their true intentions are to talk, and in both cases the man, who is responsible for the monster, fears it. Blade Runner and Frankenstein share similarities based off of the feelings and emotions of the characters in them.
Both monsters have super human qualities even though they both appear similar to the human form. In Frankenstein, Victor comes face to face with the monster on a summit, and as soon as Victor sees him he knows he is at a disadvantage.”As I said this I suddenly beheld the figure of a man, at some distance, advancing towards me with superhuman speed. He bounded over the crevices in the ice, among which I had walked with caution; his stature, also, as he approached, seemed to exceed that of man. I was troubled; a mist came over my eyes,”(Shelly). Victor is shocked at the abilities of the monster. It has the ability to cover ground at twice the rate of any human. In Blade Runner, the monster is a “Replicant <Genetically Engineered Humanoid>,” which gives him the ability to do many thing that are physically impossible for natural humans. One example is when Deckard tries to jump a gap between buildings and does not quite make it. When the monster attempts to jump the gap he makes it with ease; demonstrating the humanoid’s superior strength and agility. The same type of superior agility is seen when Victor’s creation easily bounds over the crevices in the ice.
Once confronted, both monsters express the same type of anger and frustration toward their confronters, which scares them. Instead of calmly approaching Victor, the monster runs at him. Even though the monster scares Victor, his true intentions are to talk not fight. “He approached; his countenance bespoke bitter anguish, combined with disdain and malignity, while its unearthly ugliness rendered it almost too horrible for human eyes.”(Shelley). The monster from Frankenstein is demonstrating “malignity,” or spiteful nature toward Victor. The monsters spiteful nature is caused by humanities unwillingness to accept him because he is considered too ugly for “human eyes.” Even though once confronting Victor, the monster just wants to talk not fight which confuses Victor. In Blade Runner, the humanoid monster approaches Deckard with expressions of malevolence and extreme hatred. The monster has rings around his eyes and a cut on his forehead, creating an image of a well battled and bruised monster. Deckard’s immediate reaction to the monsters appearance is shock and terror, which causes Deckard to turn and run. This is similar to Frankenstein because in both the novel and in Blade Runner the main character is approached by a foul looking monster, who appears to have the intension to harm them. In both cases, the monster is foul looking and even scary to look at.
In both the novel and the movie both of the men, who are viewed responsible for the monster, fear the monster. They both demonstrate the same type of fear by running from the monster when it decides to chase them. In Frankenstein, Victor, the monsters creator, runs from the monster when it decides to pursue him. Victor runs from the monster because the monster is not easy on the eyes, and because he knows the monster is responsible for multiple human deaths and he could become his next victim. The same thing happens in Blade Runner when Deckard comes face to face with the humanoid monster on the roof of a building. Scared from the monsters rapid appearance, Deckard takes off in the opposite direction. In his frantic attempt at escape, Deckard tries to clear a gap between two buildings and misses, which in turn leaves his hanging there. The humanoid then confronts Deckard, and when Deckard’s grip on the roof finally slips the monster saves him by grabbing him by one hand at the last moment. This is another demonstration of the monster’s superhuman abilities. There is no way a human can one handedly pull someone back onto a roof top. The reason Deckard runs is the same that Victor runs. They both fear they may become the monsters next victim, so they run fearing their lives.
Another similarity between the movie and novel is how people view the monsters. In Shelley’s Frankenstein the monster is considered an outcast because he is ugly and strikes fear into towns people. No one accepts him because he is not considered “normal” by social standards, therefore, he is an outcast who must live away from human civilization “They spurn and hate me. The desert mountains and dreary glaciers are my refuge. I have wandered here many days…”(Shelley). Being an outcast the monster knows he must stay away or else people will try to kill him. Similar to this is the way the humanoid monster in Blade Runner decides it is “time to die” in other words go into exile because he is now considered an enemy of the state just like Victors creation.
It seems as if both of the monsters exhibit fear and pity for humanity. Reason being is they can see how humans act from an outsiders stand point. During the Tears in the Rain scene from Blade Runner, the monster gives his own narrative where he explains how he has seen things no one else could possibly imagine. The expression on his face reminds me of the monsters narrative from Frankenstein in chapter 12. ” The gentle manners and beauty of the cottagers greatly endeared them to me; when they were unhappy, I felt depressed; when they rejoiced, I sympathized in their joys.”(Shelley12). Both monsters seem to pity humanity because they do not understand how these humans, even though they have everything they need in life, so frequently seem unhappy. Victor’s creation learns from these humans and their actions, but the Deckard’s monster decides to take the lives of those who are ungrateful.
Blade Runner and Frankenstein share many similarities with one another. Most of these similarities involve the monster and the men chasing it. Frankenstein a novel written in 1818 has become the base from which nearly all monster/creature movies take their roots from. Many similarities shared between Blade Runner and Frankenstein involve the feelings and emotions of the characters in them.
Shelly, Mary. Frankenstein. Bedford/ St. Martin’s Boston, 2000.
“On my honor as a gentleman, I have neither given nor received any help on this paper; nor am I aware of any breach of the Honor Code.” Sam Bedinger
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