What makes a noir film noir? Characteristics of a noir style movie are such aspects as bars, stairs, shadows, dim lighting, mazes, quick camera jumps from one object to another, variations in camera views, narrations, and there is also usually an antihero. 

There are many kinds of characters in a film noir. There are often villains, corrupt characters, gangsters, private eye cops, spies, government agents, and police detectives. These characters, when present, are usually cynical, sly, menacing, and in some way shape or form, losers and failures. They tend to me more flawed and have more problems then the people they are dealing with.

But what makes these films so entertaining? It’s is the way that they are shot and told. The story lines in most of these films are non-linear, they have a twisting plot, some incorporate narratives, foreboding, and flashbacks. They take place in urban settings where there are many places that are gloomy, and have lots of shadows. Places like alleyways allow for shadows to be cast down upon the character and engulf them. The shadows also add a sense of dangerousness and uncertainty. With all the gangsters, cops, and criminals the movie naturally has many bars, nightclubs, and gambling scenes for plenty of action.

A consistent theme of film noirs is that there is an inhumane side to human being nature. There are love and hate relationships with a lot of behind the scene tension. Brutality, violence, and backstabbing, top the list in frequently portrayed human behaviors. Crime, usually murder, is the main motif of most of these films. The most common motivation for these crimes is jealousy or some  other human weakness/obsession that drives the individual to extraordinary means. Some characters repeat the same mistake over and over again whether or not they realize it. The criminal acts are due to unfortunate past experiences that still haunt the character, that work as devilish instigators.

 

 

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