Shows the deterioration of the morals of a protagonist, often a detective or PI, as one bad situation moves into the next. Loses control of the situation before entering moral ambiguity, often ends up in a worse place than in the start.
Protagonist accompanied by a woman, the femme fatale, who seduces men into compromising, dangerous or deadly situations.
Reflects the time and date the film took place in.
1940s – downtown, melancholy, WWII
1950s – espionage, Cold War, paranoia
Modern day version: Neo noir. Film noir but with contemporary themes, styles, and visuals.
1944: Dana Andrews puts the spotlight on Gene Tierney during the interrogation scene of the film noir, ‘Laura’, directed by Otto Preminger.
Ryan Trower 