Thrillers: Film Noir

• Considered the first actual thrillers in mainstream cinema. 
• Hugely popular in their day, most films people liked and watched were neo-noir. 
• They usually had extremely effective use of mise-en-scene, such as sets that would effectively frighten the audience. 
• The hero usually has a dark or mysterious past, makes the character more intriguing. 
• Usually has a fatal woman whop is either killed or the protagonist has to save. (Femme Fatale).
• Always used to be set in big American cities, thats is currently changing in modern neo-noir films. 
• it was at its most popular immediately after World War 2, since it was invented in the late 1940's early 1950's. 

Themes

• Sexual Politics 
• Deception
• Crime
• Past catching up with somebody, i.e the hero or villain or the femme fatale. 

Typical City Qualities in Neo-Noir Thrillers.

• Usually has a high crime or murder rate, goes with the storyline of thrillers.
• Impersonal place, nothing to show characters emotions or feelings, makes the audience wonder what they'll do next. 
• Capitalist setting, i.e London or New York, never would a neo-noir thriller be set in a city thats not capitalist like Moscow or Shanghai. 
• Usually set in modern cities, that are thriving with culture.
• Usually a dark, Unfriendly place, creates a challenge for the hero, ads to the city's sinister feeling.