Overlay: Audience perception of characters in I Am Legend (2007)

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#Q ORIGINAL QUESTION

Regarding the film I Am Legend (2007), which character does the audience root for, and which do they root against, and why (e.g. which of their actions cause the audience perception)?

#M ANNOTATED LLM RESPONSE

In the 2007 film I Am Legend, audience rooting interest is intentionally shaped by the film’s structure as a survival-horror drama, though this perception shifts dramatically depending on whether one watches the theatrical release or the alternate ending.

The Character the Audience Roots For: Robert Neville (Will Smith)

Robert Neville is the definitive protagonist, and the audience roots for him due to his deep vulnerability, his sense of duty, and his tragic personal losses.

Actions that build sympathy:
- The Routine of Loneliness: Neville is shown as deeply isolated, talking to mannequins (most notably "Fred" at the video store) to maintain his sanity. This makes him relatable and evokes pity rather than judgment.
- The Bond with Sam: His relationship with his German Shepherd, Samantha, is the emotional anchor of the film. When he is forced to kill Sam after she protects him from infected dogs and becomes infected herself, the audience’s bond with him is solidified through shared trauma.
- Scientific Dedication: Despite being "the last man on Earth," he spends his days in a basement lab trying to cure the Krippin Virus. This frames his actions as noble and altruistic—he is trying to save a world that is already gone.
- The Tragic Backstory: Flashbacks of the chaotic evacuation of New York, culminating in the death of his wife and daughter in a helicopter crash, establish him as a grieving father, making his survival feel like a burden the audience wants him to overcome.
- Self-Sacrifice (Theatrical Ending): In the version most audiences saw in theaters, Neville sacrifices himself with a grenade to save Anna, Ethan, and the cure. This "heroic death" validates the audience's investment in him as a martyr for humanity.

The Character the Audience Roots Against: The Alpha Male Darkseeker

The Alpha Male serves as the primary antagonist. For the majority of the film, he is portrayed as a predatory, animalistic monster that represents the death of human civilization.

Actions that cause negative perception:
- Predatory Aggression: The Darkseekers are presented as mindless "vampires" who hunt Neville in the dark. Their first major appearance—huddled in a dark room, breathing heavily—is designed to trigger a primal fear response in the audience.
- Killing Sam: The Alpha Male is responsible for the death of Neville’s dog. He releases infected hounds to hunt Neville and Sam; this act is the primary reason the audience roots for his destruction, as harming a loyal pet is a classic "hate-sink" trope in cinema.
- Intelligence as a Threat: The Alpha Male shows a disturbing level of intelligence by setting a trap for Neville using the mannequin "Fred." Because the audience views the Darkseekers as monsters, this intelligence is perceived as "cunning" or "malice" rather than a sign of humanity.
- The Assault on the Lab: The final siege on Neville's home is a frantic, violent attempt to kill the hero the audience has spent two hours bonding with.

The Complexity: The "Legend" Twist

The audience's rooting interest is challenged by the Alternate Ending (which is closer to the original Richard Matheson novel).

The Perspective Shift: In this version, Neville realizes the Alpha Male isn't attacking him out of mindless rage, but to rescue his mate (the female Darkseeker Neville kidnapped for experiments).
The Hero as the Villain: Neville looks at a wall of photos of the "test subjects" he has killed and realizes that, to the Darkseekers, he is the monster—a "legendary" boogeyman who captures them while they sleep and kills them in a lab.
Audience Reaction: Test audiences famously hated this ending because it forced them to realize they had been rooting for a "villain" (or at least a deeply flawed man) and against a species just trying to survive. This negative reaction was so strong that the studio reshot the "heroic" theatrical ending where Neville dies as a savior.

#F CORRECTION FEED (CLICK TO SEARCH)

[1] The film has two distinct endings: the theatrical release and the alternate ending (originally the intended ending), which significantly alter the thematic conclusion.

[2] Robert Neville is the protagonist, and the film is structured to align audience sympathy with him through his isolation and loss.

[3] Neville talks to mannequins, including one named 'Fred', to cope with isolation. This is a key character detail.

[4] Neville is forced to kill his dog Sam after she is bitten by infected dogs while defending him. This is widely cited as the most emotional scene in the film.

[5] Neville is a virologist working in his basement lab to find a cure for the Krippin Virus.

[6] Flashbacks reveal Neville's wife and daughter died in a helicopter crash during the evacuation.

[7] In the theatrical ending, Neville sacrifices himself with a grenade to destroy the Darkseekers and save the cure.

[8] The Alpha Male directs the attack with infected dogs that leads to Sam's death. This action cements him as the antagonist in the audience's eyes.

[9] The Alpha Male sets a trap by moving the mannequin 'Fred', mirroring the snare trap Neville used earlier. This demonstrates the Darkseekers' intelligence.

[10] The alternate ending reveals the Alpha Male's motivation was to rescue his mate, whom Neville had captured.

[11] In the alternate ending, Neville realizes he has become a monster/legend to the Darkseekers by hunting and experimenting on them.

[12] Test audiences reacted negatively to the original ending because it was too depressing and subverted the hero trope, leading the studio to reshot the ending.

#O MISSED POINTS & OVERSIGHTS

No oversights detected.

#C RELATED QUERIES

#01 What are the major differences between the I Am Legend book and the 2007 film?

#02 Why did the studio choose to release the alternate ending on DVD?

#03 Is the I Am Legend sequel following the theatrical or alternate ending?

#S SOURCES

wikipedia.org as.com

#R ORIGINAL AI RESPONSE

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In the 2007 film *I Am Legend*, audience rooting interest is intentionally shaped by the film’s structure as a survival-horror drama, though this perception shifts dramatically depending on whether one watches the **theatrical release** or the **alternate ending**. ### The Character the Audience Roots For: Robert Neville (Will Smith) Robert Neville is the definitive protagonist, and the audience roots for him due to his deep vulnerability, his sense of duty, and his tragic personal losses. * **Actions that build sympathy:** * **The Routine of Loneliness:** Neville is shown as deeply isolated, talking to mannequins (most notably "Fred" at the video store) to maintain his sanity. This makes him relatable and evokes pity rather than judgment. * **The Bond with Sam:** His relationship with his German Shepherd, Samantha, is the emotional anchor of the film. When he is forced to kill Sam after she protects him from infected dogs and becomes infected herself, the audience’s bond with him is solidified through shared trauma. * **Scientific Dedication:** Despite being "the last man on Earth," he spends his days in a basement lab trying to cure the Krippin Virus. This frames his actions as noble and altruistic—he is trying to save a world that is already gone. * **The Tragic Backstory:** Flashbacks of the chaotic evacuation of New York, culminating in the death of his wife and daughter in a helicopter crash, establish him as a grieving father, making his survival feel like a burden the audience wants him to overcome. * **Self-Sacrifice (Theatrical Ending):** In the version most audiences saw in theaters, Neville sacrifices himself with a grenade to save Anna, Ethan, and the cure. This "heroic death" validates the audience's investment in him as a martyr for humanity. ### The Character the Audience Roots Against: The Alpha Male Darkseeker The Alpha Male serves as the primary antagonist. For the majority of the film, he is portrayed as a predatory, animalistic monster that represents the death of human civilization. * **Actions that cause negative perception:** * **Predatory Aggression:** The Darkseekers are presented as mindless "vampires" who hunt Neville in the dark. Their first major appearance—huddled in a dark room, breathing heavily—is designed to trigger a primal fear response in the audience. * **Killing Sam:** The Alpha Male is responsible for the death of Neville’s dog. He releases infected hounds to hunt Neville and Sam; this act is the primary reason the audience roots for his destruction, as harming a loyal pet is a classic "hate-sink" trope in cinema. * **Intelligence as a Threat:** The Alpha Male shows a disturbing level of intelligence by setting a trap for Neville using the mannequin "Fred." Because the audience views the Darkseekers as monsters, this intelligence is perceived as "cunning" or "malice" rather than a sign of humanity. * **The Assault on the Lab:** The final siege on Neville's home is a frantic, violent attempt to kill the hero the audience has spent two hours bonding with. ### The Complexity: The "Legend" Twist The audience's rooting interest is challenged by the **Alternate Ending** (which is closer to the original Richard Matheson novel). * **The Perspective Shift:** In this version, Neville realizes the Alpha Male isn't attacking him out of mindless rage, but to **rescue his mate** (the female Darkseeker Neville kidnapped for experiments). * **The Hero as the Villain:** Neville looks at a wall of photos of the "test subjects" he has killed and realizes that, to the Darkseekers, *he* is the monster—a "legendary" boogeyman who captures them while they sleep and kills them in a lab. * **Audience Reaction:** Test audiences famously **hated** this ending because it forced them to realize they had been rooting for a "villain" (or at least a deeply flawed man) and against a species just trying to survive. This negative reaction was so strong that the studio reshot the "heroic" theatrical ending where Neville dies as a savior.

#A DIRECT ANSWER (VERIFIED ANALYSIS)

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In the 2007 film I Am Legend, the audience primarily roots for Robert Neville (Will Smith) and against the Alpha Male Darkseeker, though this dynamic is complicated by the film's two endings.

Why the Audience Roots for Neville:

Sympathy & Isolation: Neville is the last human survivor in New York, and his desperate attempts to maintain sanity (talking to mannequins like "Fred") evoke deep pity.
The Dog (Sam): His bond with his German Shepherd, Sam, is the film's emotional core. When the Alpha Male's actions force Neville to kill Sam, the audience shares his grief and rage.
Tragic Loss: Flashbacks to the death of his wife and daughter establish him as a tragic figure fighting for a cure to save humanity.

Why the Audience Roots Against the Alpha Male:

Antagonistic Actions: The Alpha Male is introduced as a monster. He sets a trap for Neville (using the mannequin "Fred") and unleashes infected dogs that kill Sam, cementing his status as the villain.
Theatrical Ending: In the theatrical cut, the Alpha Male remains a mindless aggressor, and Neville sacrifices himself to save the cure, validating the audience's view of Neville as the hero.

The "Legend" Twist (Alternate Ending):
In the alternate ending (closer to the novel), the audience learns the Alpha Male was only attacking to rescue his mate, whom Neville had kidnapped for experiments. Neville realizes that he is the monster/legend to the infected. Test audiences rejected this ending because it subverted their rooting interests, forcing them to accept that their "hero" was actually the villain of the new world.

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