Film Noir

Film noir is cinematic a term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as stretching from the early 1940s to the late 1950s. Film noir of this era is associated with a low-key black and white visual style that has roots in German Expressionist cinematography, while many of the prototypical stories and much of the attitude of classic noir derive from the hardboiled school of crime fiction that emerged in the United States during the Depression.

An example of a Film noir, Sunset Boulevard
This uses film noir conventions, of chiaroscuro lighting, desperate delusional crazed female character, uses a femme fatale throughout which is shown covering the whole frame whenever shown in the film, making the audience feel vulnerable. A film noir usually is incoherent and confusing for the audience.