Zack Kassner

Dr. Hartman
ENG 425
April 22nd, 2016
Blade Runner: Science Fiction or Film Noir?
Blade Runner is a frankenstien film of sorts. Its genre is not quite Science Fiction or Film
Noir, but combines the genre elements of both and leaves us with Ridley Scott's vision of a dark,
overcrowded and rainy future. The film expresses a variety of these elements throughout the
film, but never favoring one over the other. By noting these elements and where they appear the
film will display the dual-genre structure that makes it a great science fiction and detective film.
From the beginning of the film we are shown a film that accommodates both of these genres.
The introduction is a science fiction scenario. Beyond establishing setting, the fire spewing
landscape offers us our first view of a dystopian future. Personifying the experience of this
moment for the viewer is a close up of an eye witnessing this futuristic Los Angeles. These
scenic montage sequences are throughout the film and are accompanied by a synth keyboard
track that plays for most of the film. In a few cases though there is a film noir style track played.
The romantic scenes and individual contemplation scenes from Deckard have a very 80's
saxophone track. The music along with the other elements of the film are in conflict. After the
montage we then go inside of Tyrell Corps and enter a very film noir interrogation sequence.
The low key lighting and cigarette smoking interrogator fits the film noir setup. These
interrogations will be a key part of the narrative in the film. The Voight-Kampf test while a
science fiction instrument, still requires a classic film noir style question and answer dialogue.
This narrative element of interrogation moves the story along on a non-science fiction path. A
voice over narration of Harrison Ford's character Richard Deckard then gives a short exposition,
a usual component of a detective style film. The voice over will be a film noir motif throughout
the film, and was even added in for the different cut of the film.

One of the biggest genre conflicts in this film is in the design of the film. Everything is
futuristic, yet retro. They fly in a spaceship police car, but enter a designed police chief office
where all the technology seems to come right out of the 1980s. The office doesn't agree with the
science fiction idea of a futuristic world, but the reference by Deckard to the racist history of
the LAPD speaks to a science fiction element by referring to the past and now seeing a future
world where nothing changed. The smoke is a constant motif to the film that I chalk up to a film
noir style. While Deckard doesn't smoke, it seems everyone and everything around him does.
This smoke effect makes the air have depth and creates a ominous environment packed with
Venetian blind effects and low key set ups. Another major component of the design in the film is
character costume design. While Deckard wears the classic detective overcoat and has a regular
hairstyle, the general population has a very futuristic style, yet some of it encompasses a 1950's
extravagance. An example of each would be comparing the replicant Deckard kills and
Rachael's outfit from when he explains her memories. The see through raincoat compliments a
futuristic and taboo design, while Rachael's big collared, big haired, and lavish dress resembles
that of a 1940-50s style. The conflicting design of the film resembles the combination of these
genre elements. Also, the weapon Deckard carries could have looked like a laser weapon,
however they chose to have it look more like a regular gun, once again diminishing the science
fiction element to the film.
A key element to deciphering genre is the social conflict and overall message the film poses.
It is without question in my mind that the theme of Blade Runner is one of science fiction. The
social conflict in the film arises from the notion that if artificial intelligence were to advance to
the point that only a specialized test would be able to detect, would it be ethical to enslave and
kill them not as humans? And where do we draw the line and human and not human? An
instance of science fiction philosophy would be when Roy kills Dr. Tyrell. Since Roy cannot
live longer he is overcome with a feeling of powerlessness after a lifetime of seeking

immortality. Dr. Tyrell is his creator and when we think about it Roy killing him is not just like
killing his father, but killing his God. This scene demonstrates the sci-fi motif of man as God,
and the ethical questions that the future holds. The film alludes by the symbolic meaning of the
unicorn that Deckard is a replicant. In most cases he shows less emotion and feels less human
than the replicants he is hunting down. Apparently sex with them is a crossable line that
Deckard confirms for us. It also illustrates Rachael seeking her own humanity through exploring
her emotional capabilities. As far as Rachael as a character, while she is science fiction because
she is a replicant, she has film noir motives and influences. Besides her apparel, her sexual
identity or lack there of does not quite make her a femme fatale. She isn't manipulative or cold,
and in fact seeks out a relationship with Deckard and is submissive throughout. Her character is
more to represent the emotional elements to a human consciousness and how this affects the
sociology of the film. Daryl Hannah's character Pris however represents more of the femme
fatale elements. She is cunning and dangerous to Deckard. She uses her gender to get what she
wants from Sebastian. These sociologic conditions then poses a question, is the overall theme
and message one of film noir or science fiction?
From the story of the film, I believe the message is science fiction. The question of the
human race's future within a technologically advancing world sparks many philosophical and
ethical questions. What theme could be drawn from the film noir elements found in the film?
The narrative structure of film noir is one of corruption and pessimism. Characters in the film
outside of the detective are usually crooked and in it for a dark or greedy personal objective.
Technically Blade Runner is about a crime, the Replicants on Earth. It is the reason all the
characters are in motion and influences the momentum of the film. The constant interrogations,
chase scenes, and murder as a crime presents us with a narrative that leans more on the film noir
genre, but leaves a theme of science fiction when dealing with the social problems poised by the
future. The genre elements of sci-fi says it needs a futuristic setting, and for the futuristic

elements to have a believability or as my film genre teacher put it, one foot in reality. This
film does that by keeping its setting relatable to the world they were living in when production
began. The retro futuristic technology represents that, but the film noir design keeps us at odds
with genre.
The ending in Blade Runner is a dual ending. On one hand has Roy give a monologue that
questions his existence. This ending solidifies the science fiction thematic element to the film.
The discussion of human capabilities and what makes a human are at the heart of the ethical and
moral message the film is trying to convey. However, in the theatrical cut we have a happy
ending complete with the soulful saxophone track and Ford's apathetic voice over. While the
story and environment is science fiction, what we see from the narrative and overall set design is
film noir. The combination of these genre elements has a synergy to it that strengthens the film
in a way that just a science fiction or film noir focus couldn't have. The dual genre structure of
Blade Runner made a crime drama into an existential look at the ethical questions we and Ridley
Scott could infer may be problematic in a society advancing towards a more perfect creation and
form of the human consciousness.