Yes, yes, I know. I take an 8-month hiatus from watching film noirs, and all I have to show for it is a single rewatch. Cut me some slack here, I’m just coming out of my FNAFHS-induced fugue state! Now, back to business. Born to Kill, while not the greatest noir out there, is still a gripping, terrifying story of how danger can lurk everywhere, and once it gets you it will not let go. Sam Wild (Lawrence Tierney) brings out the worst in Helen Brent (Clare Trevor), driving her to do all sorts of terrible things for the sake of his love—even as she hates every second of it. This alongside his drive for power and money could make him an actual homme fatale figure! But don’t take my word on that. I’ve still got to gather my thoughts about that whole thing. Other elements to point out… The fear of being unsafe in your suburban home. Leaving safety and innocence for danger and passion, something that dooms Helen and Sam together until their last breath at the end. This is also quite the violent noir! You’d think they wouldn’t let some of these brutal murders pass, but here we are.

Overall Rating: Good (thumbs up emoji)

Usually for these film noir parody reviews, what I do is go on TVTrope’s Noir Episode article and go down the list of Western Animation examples. Not this time, oh no. This one caught me completely by surprise while I was watching VBros on my own free time. Which you should do, by the way! I’m amazed at just how well written this show is, and it keeps getting better and better. For that reason I’ll try to abstain myself from any spoilers this time since I really urge you to go watch the entire thing yourself...

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This is the first film noir I ever watched and got me hooked on the genre. From its (fittingly) dreamy orchestral score to its ever expanding murder plot, there's a lot to say abot Laura Hunt, both as the ill-fated dame and as her oh so hauntingly beautiful portrait. If you like murder plots and are looking to get into film noir, I definitely recommend watching it.

The Big Heat is one hell of a film... It's got everything, from dead wives and half-burnt faces all the way to the main protagonist going "Why I oughta...". Seeing Bannion's gradual decline from a decent father down to a revenge-seeking mess of a man is very entertaining. If you're looking for a crazier film noir, this one's bound to do ya good. No joke, I screamed, cried and laughed watching this film.

With its dark lighting, constant feeling of paranoia and a doomed finale felt from the very beginning, I Wake Up Screaming is truly the father of all noirs. Vicky's untimely demise is what launches the plot forward, yet it becomes almost like a background element as everything surrounding her murder starts to unravel in complex loops and tangled knots. This film is another good starting point for folks who are just getting into the genre.

Phantom Lady was such a thrilling, wonderfully shot noir I'm at a loss of words when it comes to describing it. It's just damn good! It's got all the bells and whistles you'd expect; tense, atmospheric, haunting. A story of unfortunate circumstances, and things beyond our control. What really got me was the cinematography: quiet dark areas hidden in corners of the city, a man standing alone in a desolate train station, a looming shadow whose owner is just out of view. If you like stunning visuals and heart-racing plots, you need to see this one.