Evaluation of the Voight Kampff test Scene

When we first see the room, the camera is positioned high above the interview table. The interviewer is looking up at the window which is providing a small amount of light into the dark and dingy room. He stands proud, shoulders wide apart. In addition, he is smoking. This shows his power and dominance in the situation.

Contrastingly, Leon enters hunched over. He looks distant and confused, like a child. This reinforces for the viewer his ignorance and powerlessness. Leon does not strike the viewer as strong or capable of violence, which is a deliberate attempt to lure the audience into a false sense of security.

As the scene progresses, we see the technology used in this universe. It creates an aura of dystopian future for the viewer. When Leon begins to be questioned he appears relaxed and tense at the same time. This puts us on edge as to how he will react to the questioning.

There is no music, only the sounds of the electrical equipment. However, once Leon is asked about flipping over the tortoise we begin to hear a heartbeat, suggesting a build up in tension in the atmosphere. Leons eyes also widen as the camera performs close up shots on him. All of this helps to establish a mood of uncertainty and tension.

One thing that can be observed about Ridley Scott’s use of lighting is that is it very artistic and complex. Scott uses lighting to create shapes and to zone areas of the frame as light or dark; good or evil.

As the scene reaches its conclusion, we feel as if the tension has been alleviated when the interviewer leans back in his chair and the heartbeat in the background stops. This is so that the ending has a larger shock factor.

We feel sympathetic and afraid of Leon at the same time. The scene shows that he is dangerous and unstable and cannot be contained. This sets up the rest of the film because we feel scared for Decard against replicants such as Leon.