I originally wasn't planning to put this review on here (and chances are I'll probably watch a new noir this month anyway) but it has now been a couple days since I rewatched Double Indemnity alongside a friend of mine and I can't stop thinking about it. I had forgotten so many little quirks and details about the movie that seeing them again gave me this whole new look towards it and especially how it works with the femme fatale trope. Barbara Stanwyck absolutely kills it as an actress and it's no wonder her as Phyllis Dietrichson has inspired so much discourse over the years (her and the other 'canonical' femmes fatales)... and of course I want to contribute to it, LOL. A mini essay about the subject I began writing a while back has been sitting in the backburner for months but I'll get to it, promise!

Overall Rating: (It's peak GIF)

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.