Blade Runner - The Riddle

In the Director's cut, it's strongly suggested that Deckard is a replicant himself. There is some evidence, like the unicorn dream Gaff seems to know about, and a missing replicant (the number of replicants to hunt was six in another draft, and not corrected in one scene). The movie leaves a lot of questions open, especially if Rick Deckard is a replicant himself or not - visit this link for FAQ's on Blade Runner.

Blade Runner riddle solved (from BBC NEWS)

Director Ridley Scott has finally revealed the answer to a plot twist in his film Blade Runner which has been the topic of fierce debate for nearly two decades.

Movie fans have been divided over whether Harrison Ford's hard-boiled cop character Deckard was not human but a genetically-engineered "replicant" - the very creatures he is tasked with destroying. Little suspicion was raised by the 1982 original version of the film, based on Philip K Dick's novel: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

But a decade later the Director's Cut edition - although deliberately ambiguous - convinced many that the hero was indeed a replicant and in a Channel 4 documentary Scott at last reveals they are correct. 'He's a replicant' The acclaimed British director, who also directed Alien, Thelma and Louise and current box-office hit Gladiator, settles the issue when questioned on key aspects of the film's imagery. In the Director's Cut version, the biggest clue for analysts was the appearance of a unicorn on screen while Deckard is lost in thought.

The image of the mythical creature appears again towards the end of the film when he picks up an origami model discarded by another character, Gaff.

As the replicants had no memories of their own, they had to be implanted, and fans interpreted the appearance of the model as a sign that Gaff knew what Deckard was thinking because it was an image shared by other non-humans. In Channel 4's documentary On The Edge Of Blade Runner, Scott discusses the scenes and asked what they mean, he confirms with a grin: "He's a replicant".

Another hint in the film comes from the number of replicants which Deckard is hunting. We find out that six had made their way to earth, one of whom was killed. Deckard is looking for four, begging the question: "Who is the fifth replicant?".

Blade Runner's futuristic urban imagery was hugely influential on later movies but at the time of its release it was a relative box office flop.

However the film noir-style movie proved to be a success when released on video with repeated viewings revealing hidden depths.

When it was first made, poor reception at preview screenings prompted the film's backers to call for a happy ending being added, as well as a voice-over from Ford.

Scott removed these for his revised version. "What we'd done was kind of a dark novel, it was rather novelistic," he said.

"I didn't really realise that that eventually became the true longevity of the whole film - you revisit it constantly like re-reading one of your favourite books. You always find you get sucked in again.

I still think it's one of the best films I ever made," he added.

Blade Runner Riddle not solved!

But despite all evidence and Ridley Scotts statement, I still say Deckard is NOT a replicant - Ridley Scott just made that up after getting tired of being asked this question a million times!

But who can blame Ridley Scott, anyone who hasn't learned how to meditate or doesn't deal with stress well would get annoyed from being asked the same question repeatedly for years until they just couldn't take it anymore. Scott probably said anything to get people to back off.

There is also a lot of evidence for Deckard not being a Blade Runner - especially he obviously doesn't have the physical strength of the other replicants, when he confronts them in close combat, he gets beaten up every time. The replicants are superior in strength and endurance and can tolerate much more pain.

And if he where a replicant, the whole point of the story - that the replicants are living beings with feelings and a right to live, and that Deckard, the man who made a living killing those replicants, realizes this after Batty talks to him - would be wasted.

Blade Runner - The Movie

blade runner eye

BLADE RUNNER (USA, 1982)

The Cast

Harrison Ford .... Rick Deckard
Rutger Hauer .... Roy Batty
Sean Young .... Rachael
Edward James Olmos ..... Gaff
M. Emmet Walsh .... Bryant
Daryl Hannah ... Pris
William Sanderson .... Sebastian
Brion James .... Leon
Joseph Turkel ..... Tyrell
Joanna Cassidy ..... Zhora
James Hong ..... Chew
Morgan Paull .... Holden
Robert Okazaki ...... Sushi Master
Director .... Ridley Scott
Cinematographer ... Jordan Cronenweth
Editor ...... Terry Rawlings
Score ..... Vangelis
Art director ... David L. Snyder
Set designer ...... Lawrence G. Paul
Special effects ...... Douglas Trumbull
Producer .... Michael Deeley

rick deckard - blade runner
Rick Deckard - The Blade Runner

LA 2019

Rick Deckard, a retired Blade Runner, is forced back into duty to eliminate five escaped replicants who hide illegally on earth.

android (an'droid) adj. Possessing human features - n. A synthetic man created from biological materials. Also called humanoid. (Late Greek androeides, manlike: ANDR(O) - OID.)

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE (1976)

android (an'droid) n, Gk. humanoid automation. more at robot./ 1. early version utilized for work too boring, dangerous or unpleasant for humans. 2. second generation bio-engineered. Electronic relay units and positronic brains. Used in space to explore inhospitable environments. 3. third generation synthogenetic. REPLICANT, constructed of skin/flesh culture. Selected enogenic transfer conversion. Capable of self perpetuating thought. paraphysical abilities. Developed for emigration program.

WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY New International (2012)

roy batty - rutger hauer
Roy Batty - the leader of the replicants

The Story in pictures

	Los Angeles 2019 - a vast, dark city where it rains eternally

	Ex-Blade Runner Rick Deckard is summoned back to service by Gaff
	The Tyrell Building - one of the escaped replicants has been killed trying to break in
	Tyrell and his assistant Rachel Deckard: "Replicants are like any other machine - they're either a benefit or a hazard. If they're a benefit, it's not my problem."
	The Voight-Kampff Test is used to identify replicants. "Capilary dilation of the so called blush response ... fluctuation of the pupil, Involuntary dilation of the iris" Deckard is testing Rachel.

	Tyrell's Office
	Roy and Leon break into Chew's laboratory to get information about their lifespan and how to get in contact with Dr. Tyrell

Deckard finds Zhora on a photo he found in Leon's apartment.	Interesting detail: The print shows a different angle of Zhora's face then the picture on the screen

	Deckard finds Zhora who works as an exotic dancer in a bar - it takes several shots to "retire" the replicant.
	Leon has watched and attacks Deckard. He is saved by Rachel - she kills Leon with a headshot.


Deckard and Rachel	The Blade Runner falls in love with the Replicant
	Los Angeles 2019
	The Replicant Pris
	Pris and Roy Batty persuade Sebastian to bring them to Dr. Tyrell

Sebastian and Tyrell are playing chess - with Roy's help, Sebastian beats Tyrell	Roy Batty: "It's not an easy thing to meet your maker." Batty kills Dr. Tyrell.
	Deckard hunts down the next replicant, Pris.
	He kills her in Sebastian's apartment.

Roy Batty breaks Deckard's fingers	At the same time, Batty's body starts to fail and he drives a nail through his hand to ease the cramps
	Deckard tries to escape on the roof of the Bradbury Building to escape Roy Batty

Deckard has jumped too short and holds on a steel beam for dear life	Batty watches Deckard's struggle. "Quite an experience to live in fear, isn't it? That's what it is to be a slave." Surprisingly, when Deckard falls, Roy catches and saves him.

Deckard at first watches Batty in fear and surprise	"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time... like tears in rain... Time to die."

Deckard listens to Roy Batty in amazement and wonder. He finally realizes the replicants are so much more than machines.	Batty's short lifespan is over - he dies on the roof.
	Gaff appears : "You've done a man's job, sir. I guess you're through, huh?" "It's too bad she won't live! But then again, who does?"

Deckard goes back to his apartment and finds Rachel there - sleeping.	In front of his apartment, he finds an origami unicorn left there by Gaff.
The Unicorn Dream

This scene was note included in the original theatrical version. Deckard dozes and dreams of a unicorn. This is widely regarded as a clue that Deckard is a replicant and Gaff knows about it. The unicorn dream is supposed to be an implanted memory, and the origami unicorn and Gaff's "It's too bad she won't live! But then again, who does?" the proof that Deckard is indeed a replicant himself.