FILM NOIR- NEO NOIR- Extended Research

A style or genre of cinematographic film marked by a mood of pessimism, fatalism, and menace. The term was originally applied (by a group of French critics) to American thriller or detective films made in the period 1944–54 and to the work of directors such as Orson Welles, Fritz Lang, and Billy Wilder. The film noir era is associate with a low key black and white visual style that has roots in German Expressionist cinematography. Many of the Film noir ideas where derives from the crime fiction that emerged in the united states during the Great Depression. Also one may argue that the growing gang culture and crime influenced film noir heavily. Film noir features the typical convention of thriller films and most film makers today allow this style to influence their thriller films greatly. The film noir style radiates a sense of danger, suspense, tension anxiety ETC. The rules of film noir include the use of cigarettes, rainy streets, dark rooms with blinds and heavy shadows. A good example of a classic film noir that features the conventions of a thriller film is 'The Maltese Falcon'.

In French noir means black and neo is the Greek word for new. Neo noir films are seen as a more modern version of film noir films. However neo noir films still contain some of the main features of film noir films but with modern themes, content, style, visual elements ETC. Neo noir films are said to be a more evolved version of the classic film noir films. Just like most film noir films neo- noir films feature the conventional characteristics of film noir. For example the film ‘’Brick’’ features a young boy who takes it upon himself to investigate the death of his former girlfriend and revenge her death. In his journey he faces many obstacles and uses violence to get his way in most parts. This is similar to many film noir gangster films.