The Beginner’s Guide to the Subgenres of Film Noir
What's black and white and full of subgenres?
Western-Noir
In her essay “Noir on the Range,” Criterion essayist Imogen Sara Smith writes of the postwar corruption of the cinematic West, which in turn led to a genre-meld between the cowboy and the crook. The result was a revisionist identity crisis where the Western’s obsession with upholding justice eroded into film noir’s clutches, giving way to a psychological reality in which riding off into the sunset was no longer a guarantee.
Meg Shields: Based in the Pacific North West, Meg enjoys long scrambles on cliff faces and cozying up with a good piece of 1960s eurotrash. As a senior contributor at FSR, Meg's objective is to spread the good word about the best of sleaze, genre, and practical effects.