Explanation Of Neo-noir

Neo-noir is a term given to the modern type film noir. Neo-noir uses updated elements of film such as themes, content, style, visual elements. Film noir was created in the 1940s period unlike Neo-noir which is much more recent. Neo-noir normally uses colour rather than black and white, but still uses the aspects of film noir including urban cities, costumes, crime and the use of props and shadows. Film noirs usually tended to use more camera movement, and tracking shots and close ups. The film noir genre generally refers to mystery and crime dramas. Films of this genre feature stories involving femmes fatales, doomed heroes or anti-heroes, and detectives. The neo-noir genre refers to crime dramas and mysteries produced from the mid-1960s to the present. They do not always include the visual style of classic film noir but often use the themes and plots made famous by the film noir genre.

An example of a neo-noir film is China Town. It was filmed in 1974 and is in colour. It uses classic film noir aspects, including a femme fatale character, a protagonist character, deception and murder. The film also uses shadows and chiaroscuro lighting. A common aspect of neo noir is the use of venetian blinds. China Town uses this to create lighting in an office to represent the contrast of good outside the office, and the evil that is lurking inside.