In the movie, the police chief goes through all the available data of the replicants: their names (Pris, Zhora, Leon and Roy), their photos and their "DOB". Yet, at the beginning, Leon is shown taking the test. In Tyrell Corp. of all places - shouldn't they have the data on all the manufactured replicants? Roy and co. did not even bother to even change their names! So when Leon is tested, why do they need this needlessly convoluted procedure when a simple photo would be enough to ID the guy?
Also, if name and photo doesn't cut it, there would be a million other ways to create some biometric identification for them. For example their eyes were manufactured by the Asian guy as seen later in the film. So how about a simple retinal scan? Or unique fingerprints? Or something more convenient and more exact than this V-K nonsense?
Is there an in-universe explanation for this?
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Reply by sati_84
on October 30, 2017 at 10:17 AM
Great, but you managed to not answer my question. It doesn't matter WHEN in the story this is happening, the simple question is - if they are probing for replicants AND they have ALL THE DATA on them in their database (it would be ridiculous if they wouldn't, considering they are Tyrell Corp's creations) then why don't they cross-reference their names and photos first? If a replicant is smart and gives a different name or has plastic surgery to change their face, then (but only then) I could maybe accept the V-K as a next step (still I would do fingerprints next, or retinal scan as I mentioned, but whatever). They way it is presented in the movie is still beyond ridiculous to me.
Reply by Renovatio
on October 30, 2017 at 2:45 PM
It's important for them to verify that they aren't inadvertantly killing humans... so, a test is necessary rather than relying on the integrity of a database...
Also, don't let these details bothrr you too much... just go with the flow and you'll enjoy the film more and get more out of it emotionally, aesthetically and philosophically...
Reply by sati_84
on October 31, 2017 at 4:55 AM
Well... I still don't agree with you.
See, even if this was their first crime and even if there was no way for anyone to report that Roy and co. went missing / rogue, the point of the scene is still that a test is happening. Leon is tested. And he looks the same as he did when they manufactured him. So no matter WHEN the test is being performed, whether it was triggered by a routine checkup on the employees or a serious crime, the test procedure should be (or at the very least START WITH) cross referencing their name and face with the database of ALL replicants manufactured, ever. If for some reason (plastic surgery, name change, eyeball change, etc.) they are in the clear, only THEN they would need to do something like the V-K.
So why isn't a name and photo check the first step when they are probing for replicants?
Reply by sati_84
on November 2, 2017 at 6:05 AM
Good points!
Reply by The_Foxcatcher
on November 2, 2017 at 8:49 AM
Then why bother doing the Voight-Kampff Test at all ? If they've become so confident that Replicants doesn't move around Earth.
I think during the1980s personal database management, retina scan, DNA test etc. wasn't that common like how its now, so the film-maker never figured.
The OP is right. If Tyrell themselves are the producers of Replicants, then they should've the data of each and every replicants & model. The same could have been used for the Replicant check.
Reply by Renovatio
on November 2, 2017 at 9:33 AM
they can't rely on a database as they can't risk killing a human by mistake just because he or she looks like a photo of one of the replicants... the Tyrell corporation is not a god or above the law...
as for a dna test, etc... how long would that take vs a Voight-Kempff test? you need to send it to a lab and such...
if you guys aren't just looking for nits to pick, perhaps sci-fi isn't for you as it requires a minimal amount of suspension of disbelief...