I Am Legend Comparison Essay

In 2007, Francis Lawrence made a movie version of Richard Matheson’s classic novel I am Legend starring Will Smith. I am Legend follows the story of a man named Robert Neville who is the sole survivor of a deadly virus epidemic in which the virus has affected everyone and turned them into vicious monsters of the night (vampires). Though both the novel and the movie follow the same basic plot each version has their own similarities and differences, which work to their own benefit. Some of the similarities and differences between the novel and the film include the location, the monsters (vampires/dark seekers), Robert Neville himself and the biggest of them all the ending (alternate ending more on that later). In my opinion the novel by Richard Matheson is vastly superior to it’s film version because he makes us feel as if we’re with Neville as he’s struggling coming to terms being the last human on planet Earth. However, the film version is different from the novel because the film leaves out several important scenes, changes names of supporting characters, is told …show more content…
Matheson’s novel, which was published in 1957, takes place over a longer period of time and in that period we get to know the psyche of our main character Robert Neville. In contrast the action in the film takes place over a short period and not everything that was in the book could be included in its film version. In both versions Robert is considered a “Legend” (keeping in mind the title “I am Legend”) because in the book he slays many vampires and is considered a legend among them while in the film he found the cure to the virus thus making him a legend. Matheson’s novel incorporated some elements of the gothic era (horror, supernatural creatures, suspense) while Francis gave it a modern day look with which was set in a very dynamic