MJB SCRIPT REVIEW | BLADERUNNER

“𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝘆 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲?”

This film has been subconsciously creeping into my life lately (in one way or another) and spotting it on my list of scripts to read in Year One, I figured why not?

Plot in a nutshell: In a dark future, replicant hunter Rick Deckard hunts escaped murderous replicant Roy Batty and his crew across a rain soaked city, intent on stopping them before the body count rises.

This production had one hell of a troubled history. Chief amongst those dramas was the history of the script. Based upon the book “Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep?” by Philip K. Dick, it went through many incarnations, including “Mechanismo” and “Dangerous Days” (even though the whole thing is virtually set at night!) and finally ended up as Bladerunner (even the book does not use the term). So a fair bit of artistic licence has already been taken here (book adapters take note!). So as usual, I’m just going to concentrate on what this draft has to offer from writer Hampton Fincher.

Fincher has done an admirable job here. The language is intriguing, descriptive and immerses you within its darkly futuristic existence. The language of the world that Deckard inhabits is familiar, yet technical enough at times to be just a little bewildering (Deckards gun being the only lacklustre choice. It feels like something cooler than just “laser gun” would have been more suited to this world).

Exchanges between characters are brief and to the point. A large part of the exposition is given to Deckards thoughts (a running commentary, written here as voice over) and this can vary from fascinating to unnecessary. However, the language never loses its noirish style, which is a testament to Finchers writing.

Plus, whenever Roy Batty turns up, it’s a ramping joy.

So, what did I learn from BLADERUNNER?

1. Opening character description. Simply best if I just show you; “His eyes closed, head rested against the glass. Ten years ago, DECKARD might have been an athlete, a track man or a welter-weight. The body looks it, but the face has seen some time -- not all of it good.” I just loved this. So descriptive, full of feeling, relatable. Perfect example.

2. Chase sequence. Across pages 50-51, Deckard pursues one of the replicants, Zhora, on foot through rain swept streets, hijacks a car to keep up, then continues on foot as he reaches her, finally shooting his prey as she flees through a host of shop windows. It’s breathtaking. Relentless pace, action directions on tight form and an arc to the chase that builds its own story. Bang-on example.

3. Action Directions - there’s just a poetry to every description. From locations and action sequences, to the characters various moods and thoughts. A synergy between keeping the read flowing and giving a sense of every sight, sound and scream, to every thought and intention behind what’s not being said between the characters. It really is an easy going pleasure and yet evocative of a style that could happily become the norm once practiced.

4. Fight sequence - p.89-91 is a belter of a battle between Deckard and one of the remaining replicants, Pris. Set in a gym, everything from the floor to the equipment is used. Back and forth between the two, tense moments, flashes of hard violence and a very real air of this (potentially) being Deckards last moments, add to an already exhilarating battle sequence. Tight.

5. The ending has a sweet finality to it. Just as you think it’s going to end in a sunset and all bows happily tied in pretty knots, a gut punch lands and your left in the darkness again. Proper morbid science fiction ending. As it should be.

I could read a hundred different drafts of this story (and there probably are). It’s so involving and hugs your imagination like a warm blanket. The characters are fascinating, flawed and yet filled with purpose. The little pirouettes of interaction between them are so fascinating to read. Like a play filled with marionettes, but no puppet master at the strings. An utter delight.

Link to the script: Blade Runner Script