2. ICONOGRAPHY
• The typical location of a noir film is normally set in
abandoned areas, such as warehouses, alleyways, empty
streets etc.
• Darkness, gloom and fog are normally associated with film
noir aswell, giving a mysterious and dangerous feeling.
• Costume aspects such as guns, trilby hats, trench coats,
smart suits with ties, cigarettes, red lipstick and smart
polished shoes are also linked with the noir genre.
• Within the film, the regular use of cantered angles and
low lightning add to the gloomy feeling of the noir
genre.
• Heavy, jazz music is normally used within noir films to
give the film an edge of sophistication but mystery aswell.

3. CHARACTERS
Many different characters take play in the noire genre.
The most commonly associated are:
• Detective (hard boiled flawed hero)
• Femme Fatal
• Corrupt Police
• Gangsters
• Protagonist
• Hero's
• Criminal (Petty and extreme)
• Down and out writer

4. VISUAL STYLE
Several different styles are used in film noir to add
darkness and mystery to the film. These are:
• Blocking shot – Normally through shutters/blinds
• Low key lightning
• Shots through mirrors, frosted glass etc.
• Cantered angles, low angles, high angles
• Shadows
• Darkness
• Silhouette
• Ominous facial expression

5. SETTINGS
A major aspect in creating a successful film noir movie is the
location in which it is set. Stereotypical noir settings are:
• Rural locations e.g. warehouses, factories, refineries,
abandoned buildings
• Bars, lounges, clubs
• Diners, Gambling dens
• Docks, seaside, promenade
• Urban locations e.g. L.A, New York, San Francisco
• Police station
• Alleyways, empty streets

6. THEMES
The theme of the film sets the movie in motion and allows the
audience to grasp what the movie is going to be about.
Common themes used in film noir are:
• Greed
• Love
• Betrayal
• Jealousy
• Lust
• Revenge
• Corruption
• Murder
• Sex
• Justice

7. NARRATIVE
The narrative’s of film noir have progressed over the
years however, a main occurrence of the same variety
always come up. These are:
• Voiceover narration
• Fast forward and flash back
• Elliptical
• First person narrative
• Convoluted ending
• Good Cop, Bad Cop

8. PROGRESSION OF FILM NOIR
However, over the years, film noir has progressed
to fit the modern society. The classic noir films still
remain in the 1950’s but sub-genre’s were created
of the film noir genre:
• 1960’s onwards Neo-Noir :Shutter Island,
Public Enemies, American Gangster, Smokin’
Aces, The Good German
• Noir Science Fiction: Blade Runner, The
Terminator, V for Vendetta, Robocop, Sin City,
Watchmen.
• Noir Comedies: The Naked Gun, Zero Effect,
Fatal Instinct, The House of Yes, Assassination
of a High School President.
• Noir Westerns: Welcome to Hard Times,
Cemetery without Crosses, High Plains Drifter.
• Superhero Noir: Kick Ass, Watchmen, Batman,
Batman Begins, The Phantom.
• Horror Noir: The Resurrected, Nightmare on
Elm Street, Dead of Winter, The Dead Don’t
Die.