So, What REALLY Are The Monsters in I Am Legend?
Okay, let's talk about the "monsters" in I Am Legend. Are they vampires? Zombies? Something totally different? Everyone seems to have an opinion!
For years, we've called them Darkseekers. Sounds ominous, right?
The Official Answer (Maybe)
Officially, they're humans mutated by a modified measles virus. This virus was supposed to cure cancer. Oops!
Instead, it turned most of humanity into nocturnal predators. They're super strong and sensitive to light. Classic monster stuff, really.
But, I have some thoughts about this.
My Unpopular Opinion: They're Just Really, Really Sick
Hear me out. What if they're not monsters at all? What if they're just incredibly, horribly, painfully sick?
Think about it. The virus ravages their bodies. It makes them crave blood. It makes them lash out.
Sounds like a terrible illness, not necessarily pure evil, right?
Evidence in Their Behavior
Remember the scene with the mannequins? The Darkseekers set them up like people. That suggests some level of intelligence and societal memory.
And the leader? He clearly displays rage and what seems like grief. That hints at emotion.
Do mindless monsters feel grief? I don't think so.
The Dog Argument
Also, consider Sam, Robert Neville's dog. She was infected. But she wasn't pure evil.
She was in pain. She was confused. He had to end her suffering.
Was Sam a monster? No! She was a victim of a terrible disease.
Redefining the Monster
Maybe the real monster in I Am Legend isn't the infected. Maybe it's the virus itself.
Or maybe it's the loneliness and desperation that Robert Neville faces. The guilt of being the only survivor.
That's pretty monstrous too, isn't it?
What About the Aggression?
Okay, I get it. They're super aggressive. They attack and try to kill Neville.
But imagine you're burning in the sun all day. You're starving. Your body is in constant agony.
Wouldn't you be a little grumpy?
A More Empathetic View?
Maybe we need to view the Darkseekers with a little more empathy. They're not inherently evil. They're just desperate and sick.
It's a tragic situation, not a simple monster movie plot.
Of course, that doesn't mean I want to run into one in a dark alley. But it does change my perspective.
Final Thoughts (And a Question for You)
So, are the Darkseekers monsters? Or are they just victims? I'm leaning towards the latter.
Maybe I Am Legend is more about the tragedy of a pandemic than the thrill of a monster hunt.
What do you think? Am I totally off base here?
