Black Film, Post 1

    A fog infested alley, poorly lit and wet pavement during the darkest time of night is visually notorious in film noir. The sultry corruption and violence is the cherry on top. Hollywood depicts the dark side of the human psyche through film noir. The influences by novelist and expressionism after World War II shaped the style of film noir. Film noir has evolved through the years to satisfy Hollywood’s fascination to this cinematic style.

     Film noir was visually pleasing for those with a morbid fascination during the post-World War II era. Film noir styles are influenced by those who were one of the first to witness the brutality that war brings to their surroundings. The black and white or dark eerie backdrop manipulates and distorts the hard cold solid back ground structures creating shadows. Keeping the viewer on suspense wondering what dangers lay in between each crevice that was created by the poorly lit scene. The light bouncing off the wet grounds creates a visually interesting usage of lighting, giving the black a contrast, like good and evil bouncing off each other. The darkness and light creates the stage for disturbing dialogue, performances and storyline.

     Along with the visual gloominess of film noir the characters also possessed the personality that matches the set. Evil, sinister and diabolical are a few motivations for an actor in these types of films. A film noir is not a film without the femme fatale. The femme fatale in these films uses seduction to compromise and lure a lover into a deadly situation. These characters are influenced by novelist and expressionism.

     The influence of the post-world war II film noir include novelists and expressionism and continues to influence modern noir but has dramatically changed. The ominous atmosphere of the classic film noir has been over shadowed with a gorier and macabre atmosphere. Still the basic characteristics of the classic film noir are ever so present in this era of noir films. No matter the level of violence film noir has, it will continue to evolved through the years to satisfy Hollywood’s and the audience’s fascination to this cinematic style.