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Witty, Fast-Paced Dialogue: Characters speak in quick, clever exchanges, often laced with sarcasm and wit, reflecting noir’s rootedness in theatre and radio acting.
Voice-Over Narration & Flashbacks: These narrative devices immerse viewers into the protagonist’s perspective, adding depth and noirish introspection.
Gambling & Alcohol: These motifs symbolize the characters’ vice-ridden, escapist worlds.
The McGuffin: A plot device—like a stolen necklace or secret documents—that propels the story without necessarily being significant in itself.
The Many Subgenres Within Noir
Film noir isn’t confined to a single story type. It spans several subgenres, each sharing core stylistic elements: