Analysing Noir Films for Inspiration - 'Double Indemnity'

The film contains many of the typical conventions of the film noir genre, including:

• The female character is a typical femme fatale figure, manipulative, clever, a dangerous sociopath and text-book narcissist, incapable of love and destined to be on her own. She tricks the male protagonist into killing her husband, selling him the illusion that she is in love with him.
• Low-key lighting is used throughout many of the scenes, particularly those in the house or the office. Light sources include lamps, matches, and light coming from outside through slats in the window, casting shadows on the wall. Typically in film noirs the lighting is chiaroscuro, with great contrast between the light and dark areas in the shot. This style of lighting connotes crime and danger, creating suspense and tension for the audience and reflecting the dark nature of the characters.
• Fast-paced, back and forth style of dialogue, particularly between the male and female leads, is typical of the genre, often full of extended metaphors that both characters play along with - in this film the main characters use lots of car references as innuendos to flirt with each other.
• Voiceover, of the main protagonist, almost like a weary statement or confession. Voiceovers are typical in the genre, and are used to position the audience with the protagonist, as they reveal their personal thoughts, but also to deliver narrative information.
• Lots of the props are conventionally used in the genre, such as cigarettes (cigarette smoke looks particularly atmospheric with the lighting), matches, cars and guns.
• The costumes worn by both the male and female characters are also typical of the genre and include long trench coats, fedora hats, smart suits, polished shoes for the men and glamorous dresses, heels and lipstick for the women.