Contrary to popular belief, film noir is not merely a genre, like romance or horror; rather, it's a distinct era in film history. While genres are dictated by “setting and conflict”, film noir isn’t as easily categorized.

Movies from the film noir period draw heavy inspiration from the disillusionment that emerged after World War II. Post-war era films adopted a darker tone, mirroring the pervasive societal fatigue and cynicism of the time. As a result, characters were complex and subject matter was dark, typically highlighted through the use of angsty voice-overs and intense flashbacks.

These influences shaped not only tone but also visual style. For example, one stylistic element used during the film noir period was the utilization of low-key, high-contrast set lighting. Unlike movies with night scenes filmed during the day (a technique known as day-for-night), the night scenes of film noir movies were often filmed at night (night-for-night).

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