What was Robert pouring on the stairs?
In I Am Legend (2007) we see Robert pouring a liquid all over his front stoop after returning home. We also see him pouring what looks like the same liquid on a jacket that he puts on before setting a trap to capture an infected person.
I assumed it was to eliminate his scent so he couldn't be tracked back to his house, but that didn't make sense to me since he only poured it on his stairs and he poured it on his jacket but he had little or no risk while setting the trap.
What was it?
Best Answer
What it was was most likely vinegar, ammonia, gasoline or something else packing a stench to cover Neville's odor.
This seems logical for the "coming home" part, as it prevents the vampires from pinpointing his location. The confusion here stems from him not being "that much at risk" during the capturing part. True, but consider:
- Neville had to get inside the building to set the trap, even if only for a couple seconds (see this clip). That's still enough time for a vampire to have the jump on him if they detected him before that;
- Neville is a man of habit. This must be something he does a lot, is part of his routine, and might also give him an impression of security (by knowing he's partially hidden).
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What is the liquid he sprays in I Am Legend?
What it was was most likely vinegar, ammonia, gasoline or something else packing a stench to cover Neville's odor.What does he spray on the stairs in I Am Legend?
Neville is shown to cover his tracks when entering his home by pouring bleach or ammonia on his steps when he was going inside for the night. This was apparently meant to cover his scent from the dogs used by the infected for tracking and security.How is there electricity in I Am Legend?
Any source of power, including hydroelectric and nuclear, would have ceased long before the three-year timeline of I Am Legend, so Neville makes do using three small gasoline-powered generators.Why does the mannequins head move in I Am Legend?
They set up the mannequin to attract Neville to that spot. That includes a slightly turning head which would really send him over the edge given his current mental state.The Original Staircase: The Death of Amy Dudley
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Answer 2
Yes, it was to get rid of his scent and the most likely suspect would be bleach. He doesn't want the monsters to know where he lives, however he may very well want them to think he is near the trap. In an attempt to attack Robert, they would act hastily and thus be more likely to spring the trap.
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