key vocab

Question 1

HARD BOILED

Answer 1

tough, cynical characters
often detectives or antiheroes who navigate a corrupt world

Question 2

FEMME FATALE

Answer 2

seductive and dangerous woman who leads male protagonists into perilous situations

Question 3

VOICEOVER

Answer 3

narration often spoken by a character that provides insight into their thoughts or the story’s events

Question 4

LOW KEY LIGHTING

Answer 4

characterised by strong contrasts between light and shadow, creating a sense of mystery and suspense

Question 5

CHIAROSCURO

Answer 5

use of strong contrasts between light and dark to create dramatic effect, often associated with film noir

Question 6

ANTIHERO

Answer 6

protagonist who lacks conventional heroic qualities and may engage in morally ambiguous actions

Question 7

RED HERRING

Answer 7

a misleading clue or plot device that distracts characters and audience from the true solution or outcome

Question 8

FLASHBACK

Answer 8

narrative device that interrupts the chronological sequence of events to depict past events or memories

Question 9

DOUBLE-CROSS

Answer 9

betrayal or deceit, often involving a characters manipulation of others for personal gain

Question 10

SHADOWS

Answer 10

symbolic of hidden truths, danger or moral ambiguity, shadows are a prominent visual motif in film noir

Question 11

URBAN DECAY

Answer 11

the deterioration or corruption of urban environments, reflecting social decay and moral ambiguity

Question 12

MISE-EN-SCENE

Answer 12

refers to the arrangement of visual elements within a scene, including set design, lighting, costumes and props

Question 13

FATALISTIC

Answer 13

sense of inevitability or doom that pervades film noir narratives, reflecting a pessimistic view of human nature and face

Question 14

DUTCH ANGLE

Answer 14

camera shot in which the frame is tilted to create a disorientating or unsettling effect, often used in film noir to convey psychological tension

Question 15

WHODUNNIT

Answer 15

mystery story centred around solving a crime or uncovering a perpetrator

Question 16

NEO-NOIR

Answer 16

modern films that adopt the style and themes of classic film noir but are produced in contemporary settings

Question 17

FATAL FLAW

Answer 17

character trait or decision that leads to their downfall or tragic outcome

Question 18

MORAL AMBIGUITY

Answer 18

the blurring of moral boundaries, often depicted through conflicted characters or situations

Question 19

FRAME NARRATIVE

Answer 19

a story within a story, where the main narrative is presented within the context of another story

Question 20

PULP FICTION

Answer 20

low budget, fast-paced stories with gritty themes and hard boiled characters, often associated with the origins of film noir

Question 21

PRIVATE EYE

Answer 21

slang for a private detective, often the central character in noir narratives

Question 22

UNDERWORLD

Answer 22

criminal underworld or shadowy underbelly of society, where illegal activities thrive

Question 23

CYNICISM

Answer 23

pessimistic worldview characterized by distrust of human nature and institutions, common in film noir narratives

Question 24

PARANOIA

Answer 24

irrational fear or suspicion of others often depicted in film noir as characters become increasingly paranoid in their search for truth or survival

Question 25

EXISTENTIALISM

Answer 25

philosophical concept explored in film noir, emphasising themes of alienation, meaninglessness and the absurdity of existence

Question 26

CROSS-CUTTING

Answer 26

editing technique that alternates between two or more parallel storylines, often used to build tension or create suspense

Question 27

SILHOUETTE

Answer 27

dark outline or shadow representing a character or object, often used for dramatic effect in film noir cinematography

Question 28

ARCHETYPE

Answer 28

recurring symbol, character type, or narrative pattern that represents universal themes or concepts. In film noir, common archetypes include the hard boiled detective, femme fatale and corrupt authority figure

Question 29

MOTIF

Answer 29

a recurring element, theme or symbol that contributes to the overall meaning or atmosphere of a film. in film noir, motifs such as shadows, mirrors and urban landscapes are frequently used to convey themes of mystery, danger and moral ambiguity.