While this form of cinema has gone out of style, film noir movies once proved to be a popular and striking genre, giving birth to classics like The Maltese Falcon and Sunset Boulevard. This genre is made iconic through its unique style and plot devices, including chiaroscuro lighting, morally ambiguous characters, cynical outlook, seedy part of town, femme fatales, and a focus on crime. These aspects help create a dark mystery rooted in German Expressionism that reached its height in popularity in the 1940s and 1950s.
Alfred Hitchcock, one of the most influential directors in history, ruled these eras. Most known for Psycho (a horror landmark with undeniable noir elements), Hitchcock dabbled in film noir, although it is more appropriate to say he created his own genre that included film noir elements. Either way, generalizing the films, he made many standout noir films to cement his legacy as one of the greatest directors of all time. - Lucas Kloberdanz-Dyck
