Characterstics of Film Noir

The Main Characteristics of Film Noir

The primary moods of classic film noir were melancholy, alienation, bleakness, disillusionment, disenchantment, pessimism, ambiguity, moral corruption, evil, guilt, desperation and paranoia. The story line being very complex and many people viewing it having to take the time to work it out, yet would be thrilled. A distinctive part of film noirs are the venetian blinds, which you'll more than likely see in many Film Noir films. It casts a shadow which is then seen as #eerie but gives a sense of enigma.

Venetian blinds

The shadows from venetian blinds are dramatically cast upon an actor's face as he looks out a window. This is one of the many iconic visuals in noir.

Noir has been known for the usage of low angle shots, wind angle lenses, and it's dutch angles. Many shots can include people in mirrors, or shots through glass.

Femme Fetale

The females are very typical in film noir they were either of two types - loveing, honest, trustworthy women or femmes fatales - mysterious, duplicitous, double-crossing, gorgeous, unloving, predatory, tough-sweet, unreliable, irresponsible, manipulative and desperate women. Usually, the male protagonist in film noir wished to elude his mysterious past, and had to choose what path to take.

Invariably, the choice would be an overly ambitious one, to follow the dangerous but desirable wishes. Leading to the self-destructive femmefatale who would lead the struggling, disillusioned, and doomed hero into committing murder or some other crime of passion coupled with twisted love.