characteristics of film Noir

Film noir uses a low key black and white visuals. This type of visual is associated with German expressionism; which is where Film Noirs roots are. The storyline of most film Noirs involves crime; be it murder, gangsters or robbery etc. There is usually also an element of double crossing or revenge in Film Noir.

Characters in a typical film Noir are:

• Femme fetale- a female character that is usually extremely good looking and dressed to kill. These woman usually lead the male characters into danger and double crosses.
• Private eye- These characters are normally the lead in film Noir; they are usually ex policeman, an antihero or washed up.
• less important characters usually include; police, gangsters, henchmen and others associated with the criminal underworld, good or bad.

The film Noir genre uses a variety of editing and camera work techniques. A favorite camera angle of the genre is a Dutch tilt, this is where the camera is tilted to it's side to create diagonal angles to confuse and make the viewer uncomfortable.

Light is also used to good effect in film noir, for example shadows are used to create mystery or conceal certain things or even people from view; a staple of the Noir genre.