Movies
7 Legitimately Fascinating Neo-Noir Films To Watch Right Now
Noir films were one of the most popular genres back in the 1940s and 1950s, stylized crime dramas charged with pessimism and moral ambiguity. The use of shadows, femme fatales, cigarettes, and antiheroes are some of the aspects that noir films are known for.
But what about neo-noir? In the 1970s and 1980s, the genre took a new form. This style of film making takes classic tropes and subverts them, bringing new elements to the table and mixing them with genres such as sci-fi, fantasy, comedy, etc.
Crime. Mystery. Neon. All the ingredients we need for a night full of twists and visual feasts gather in this list, whether you want to watch a cross-genre film or a more traditional outtake.
Nightcrawler
How far would you go to become successful? Louis “Lou” Bloom ( Jake Gyllenhaal) is a thief who finds in journalism a golden road to achieve massive success.
Remorseless, money hungry, and a fast learner. Louis would use every tactic to be the first to film breaking stories, even involving himself in serious crimes.
Nightcrawler is a film that exposes the link between morbid consumption and unethical journalism, showing how unconsciously we allow sociopaths like Lou to succeed.
The Departed
A personal favorite of mine, this modern classic by Martin Scorcese is a must-watch for movie buffs around the world.
Billy Costigan (Leonardo Dicaprio) is a cop who has the mission to infiltrate a gang led by Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson). On the other hand, Collin Sullivan (Matt Damon) is a criminal who works for Costello with the task of sneaking into the police department. Do you see where I’m heading?
A race to discover each other’s identities starts once both organizations suspect that an infiltrator is ruining their respective plans.
The fantastic ensemble cast and the exhilarating pacing make the film worth investing your time on. The situations in which the characters get involved are freaking intense, including a shocking ending that will blow your mind.
Carmin Tropical
A Latin American addition to the list. This movie presents us with Mabel, a transgender woman willing to return to her hometown to reach the truth surrounding the murder of her loved friend.
Highly recommended. It is a delightful and tragic film at the same time. The movie stands out for its portrayal of hate crimes against the trans community, with a more distinctive and human perspective.
We accompany Mabel in this search for answers while we get to know her personality, her circle of friends, and her reflections on life. The crime is depicted from the innocent look of the main character.
Without the need to show graphic violence, the film’s impact lies in its illustration of how people take advantage of the trust and love placed on them to commit the most unjust crimes.
Fargo
The Cohens already left their mark on modern cinema. If you’re interested in getting to know their filmography, this is a great place to start.
Fargo mixes crime tropes with dark humor to create an irreverent film about a salesman who hires two scoundrels to kidnap his wife to pay a personal debt. The salesman is trying to cheat his father-in-law — a rich man on all counts — into paying a million dollars for the rescue of his daughter.
As the movie progresses, the situation only gets worse. The unpredictable characters help the story become a source of hilarious moments, frustrated plans, and atrocious improvisation.
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
An absolutely depressing movie, in a good sense. Starring Philip Seymour Hoffman as Andy and Ethan Hawke as Hank, two desperate brothers concoct a cynical plan to rob their own parents’ jewelry store.
An outstanding feature is its non-linear structure, as it shows each character’s unique perspective of the situation.
Unlike other movies of this type, the characters show sentiments of guilt and remorse. This subverts the genre while making us feel for the devastating consequences of their actions.
Drive
Ryan Gosling stars as The Driver, a mechanic who also happenes to be a stunt double and criminal-for-hire getaway driver. When he meets his neighbor Irene and her son, Benicio, the Driver starts feeling a devoted affection for them.
Everything is interrupted once Irene’s husband arrives at the house after spending time in Jail. What seemed to be a romantic story quickly turns into endless chaotic situations in which our protagonist will demonstrate his inner demons to protect the family he just met.
A feast for the eyes from start to finish, the use of lighting fills the film with a powerful sense of style. The cinematography will surprise you as it brings emotions and tension in unexpected ways.
If the killer soundtrack doesn’t convince you to watch this film, the jaw-dropping shots certainly will.
The Handmaiden
South Korea has given us many gems in recent years. From the director of Oldboy arrives this erotic thriller ready to shock your mind and melt your heart.
A rich woman hires a handmaiden, unaware that her employee was sent on a mission by a swindler to appropriate her wealth.
Beautifully crafted, The Handmaiden is divided into 3 parts, each section more surprising than the previous one. Blessed with a narrative that continues to absorb in its runtime of almost 2 and a half hours.
The Handmaiden can be very explicit and disturbing at times, yet these characteristics are submitted to tell a unique story about finding love in the darkest places.
Each of these films has unique characteristics that make them worth checking out.
If you have already seen one or more films from this list, what are your thoughts about them? What other recommendations would you like to share? Feel free to write your opinions in the comments down below.
