The film Blade Runner possesses the necessary elements to be considered in the same world as Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep. Some important aspects fall by the way side, such as the Mercerism, the importance of man’s empathy towards animals, Phil Resh’s place in an andy police station, and Deckard questioning if he has any empathy towards andys. What remains is the question of mortality in replicants, the degrading state of humanity on Earth, and of course the question of Deckard’s humanity.
In the book Roy Batty cared greatly about his survival, but it was against humans that he worried. It is the four year life limit which he fears in Blade Runner. Either way his death is related to that which he fears. In the book he dies at the hands of a human, and in the movie his death comes at the end of his four years of life. As he kills anyone who stands in his path the audience may feel anger towards his actions. However, “Our understanding of his cruelty changes as we come to understand it as a human reaction to his existential situation.” (Retrofitting) Roy was searching for immortality, a trait that would make him less human, and yet by sparing Deckard’s life, he became more human than perhaps any other replicant.
Though apparently different, the plight of humanity in Blade Runner is just as bad as it is in Electric Sheep. Little explanation is given, but it is clear that real animals are a rare occurrence in Blade Runner. Humanity is fleeing to off world colonies while others such as Sebastian are left behind. The air never looks clean in Blade Runner and it is raining almost constantly, which I would assume is acidic or highly polluted. It a dreary depressing sight and “The gaudy neon pink and red evoke a reference to Hell.” (Jump Cut) If this dystopian future is Hell then it is one fully crafted by humans, this of course a main concept in Cyber Punk. The horrors of the future are our own creation as we rely on technology to our own end.
The actions of the humans in Blade Runner often seem selfish. The Tyrell Corporation created beings with a limited life span for slave labor. Then when a small group of replicants escapes they are hunted down like animals and destroyed. There are many religious undertones in Blade Runner. The scene where Roy kills Tyrell, Tyrell can symbolize the death of God himself. (Atlantis Journal) He is referred to as the creator, and yet Tyrell is no God, at least not omnipotent. He can not give Roy any more life than he already has.
Yet if Tyrell can even be considered God than Sebastian who is considered lower than a normal human is a highly selfless person. All he desires is companionship as can be seen from his living dolls. Though in all the versions I have seen Sebastian’s fate is never fully explained in Blade Runner. Though in one version it may be assumed that he too falls victim to Roy Batty. If this is the case than perhaps Roy’s image as a Christ figure is flawed as sinners and non-sinners alike die. Also if Roy is a representation of Christ in a truest form than Tyrell would be more appropriatly considered the devil or perhaps he represents both God and the devil in one.
The final important factor in Blade Runner is the question of Deckard’s humanity. At least this detail is presented in the new Director’s version of Blade Runner (Ebert). Ebert argues "...that It looks fabulous, it uses special effects to create a new world of its own, but it is thin in its human story." I agree however, if you believe Deckard can be considered a replicant than perhaps the only human character we can sympathize with is Sebastian. Rachel asks Deckard if he has ever taken the empathy test himself. While in the book he replies with a yes, in Blade Runner he gives no reply leading the audience to question for the first time if he is a replicant. “The filmmaker also has expanded on the unicorn references, which he says ‘provoke Deckard's doubts in his own essence’” (Washington Post). Questioning the true identity of one’s self was presented in Electric sheep through the character Phil Resh. In Blade Runner however both Rachel and Deckard present this idea. Rachel is confirmed to be a replicants, and she struggles with this knowledge. However, it is through Rachel’s experience and the existence of false memories that cause Deckard to doubt himself.
The ending to Electric Sheep was not happy, but Deckard’s life is still stable. He will receive a reward and continue living with his electric toad and his wife. All the end results to the Directors edition of Blade Runner are bleak for everyone. Even if Roy Batty finds redemption his kind will still die quickly. Deckard cannot live in piece as he questions his humanity and Rachael is now wanted. Lastly Tyrell is dead, and possibly the peaceful Sebastian as well. In this respect Blade Runner is far more dismal than its book counter part.
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