Blog Post #8

2.        Double Indemnity contains several elements in its setting, storyline, and characters that creates a generally dark and depressing atmosphere. The setting itself play a major role in this, as well as the cinematography. Most of the movie takes place indoors, in dimly lit, smokey rooms. This creates an ominous mood even before the action of the movie begins and destroys any cheeriness in the movie. Furthermore much of the movie happens at night which adds to the mood of secrecy that is brought about by the characters and other settings. The cinematography also adds to these aspects. In the outdoor scene the characters are often to the side of the screen, hiding or wishing to not draw attention such as when Walter hides in the bushes from Niko. Also the dim lighting combined with small spaces indoors forces the camera close to the characters which makes their grim facial expressions more noticeable, further making the film seem more serious and morbid.
          The storyline also goes to create a depressing and dark film, as it only displays the bad in humanity. Walters lust leads him to commit murder for a person he barely knows, showing an outstanding man in society so easily corruptible. Also when he and Phyllis turn on one another and he has to trap Niko to get out of suspicion, he turns on the only person he thought he could trust making the story more depressing.
          Lastly the characters create a "Black Film" in their actions and in their dress. Throughout the film, Walter wears dark, formal attire making him seem very stiff and depressed. He never wears a light colored jacket and is constantly wearing an overcoat as well, which has become associated with suspicious activity in modern society. Phyllis isn't dressed as grimly in the movie, and plays more to the promiscuous role, as seen in the first scene where she isn't wearing clothes at all, only a towel. Also the personas they take on, both premeditative and lacking compassion, add to the depressing and dark nature of the film/film style.