Genre Research Summary

The titles in noir films are generally basic. They are mainly one same font throughout the sequence and have a plain background that doesn’t change much. The transitions are usually the same throughout the sequence too and the pace is relatively calm. We will mirror these aspects in our film so the audience are aware of the genre from the start of the film.

The usual non-digetic music is quite slow and classical. It is usually slow paced however some neo-noir films have fast paced fun music during the titles and background music. For digetic music there is almost always the sound of a gunshot that does not show who shot the gun or where the bullet is aimed. We will use this technique to keep the noir techniques. We may use fast faced music as the time period is more modern and not used to slow classic music.





The usual characters are in suits and have guns. The main character is a man, probably with a lady. Quite often the camera is at a low height and high angle towards the main character. The leading lady is usually shot from the feet first and then pans up the body.

The main mis-en-scene feature is the use of chiaroscuro. This is when there is high contrast, it creates big strong shadows and adds to the low lighting effect. There are many guns and suits possible drug props or other crime related props to add to the danger/crime theme. The most dominant technique is the use of black and white rather than colour. However neo-noir films use colour to make the film more viewable by the modern audience.

During the narrative the hermeneutic code is very prominent as the crime is partly shown at the start of the film, leaving the audience in suspense till the last few scenes when it is revealed. The proairetic code is shown by the use of guns and dangerous characters, it makes the audience believe the situation will escalade. The semantic code is not well shown in noir films however they might use shots to make the audience believe there is danger when there is not like the shot in Pulp Fiction during the boot shot. The binary oppositions are usually the characters dangerous and exciting lives against the ordinary boring life.

The genre is established mainly by using lighting to create chiaroscuro, low lighting and black and white. Seeing the leading lady by the feet first then panning up the body also shows the audience it is a noir film. The characters are usually similar as they are usually a man who might be a usual man who has been lured into a life of crime to protect or save a lady.