Neo-noir

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Neo-noir is a term given to the modern trend of incorporating aspects of film noir into films of other genres. Similarly, the term can be applied to other works of fiction that incorporate these elements.

Although there have arguably been no new major films in the classic film noir genre since the early 1960s, the genre has had significant impact on other genres. These films usually incorporate both thematic elements, such as the character trapped in a situation and making choices out of desperation or nihilistic moral systems, and visual elements, such as low-key lighting. As film noir can be seen as an early parallel to independent films (given the lack of attention that studios paid to many noir projects) it is fitting that many neo-noir films are also independent.

Works that can be described as neo-noir include dystopian films such as Soylent Green, particularly 1980s cyberpunk, such as Blade Runner. Some other examples from this genre include 8mm, Fargo, Se7en, The Grifters, L.A. Confidential, Pulp Fiction, Streets of Fire, The Usual Suspects, Memento, Miller's Crossing, Reservoir Dogs, The Man Who Wasn't There, Sin City, Dark City, and Brick. The trend has surfaced in television series as well, including shows, such as Miami Vice of the 1980s, Batman: The Animated Series of the 1990s, and Veronica Mars of the 2000s.

A hybrid between film noir and cyberpunk is also called Tech-noir such as seen in Blade Runner and The Terminator.

[edit] See also

• List of film noir, which includes examples of neo-noir.
• Pulp noir

[edit] References