Horror noir (sometimes referred to asnoir horror or hyphenated ashorror-noir;lit. 'black horror') is afilm subgenre that blends elements of bothhorror andnoir. It combines the dark, atmospheric qualities of noir with thesuspense andfear typical of horror, creating ahybrid genre that integrates aspects of both. These films typically feature a mysterious or unsettling atmosphere, often centering onpsychological drama, tension, and darker thematic elements, particularly those related to crime and its consequences (often depicted incrime dramas, which explore criminal activity and its effects). Common themes include corruption, deception, isolation, alienation, violence, revenge, paranoia, and the unknown, all presented through the visual style of film noir. Horror noir often follows protagonists who face not only external threats, like supernatural forces, but also internal struggles.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

A film genre of this type invites the audience or is meant to experience fear, suspense, and anxiety, often through supernatural or psychological themes. It encourages viewers to confront their deepest anxieties and explore the darker aspects of human nature, often through intense, unsettling situations. It typically aims to provoke an emotional response, whether through shock, terror, or a sense of unease, while also challenging societal norms and exploring taboo subjects. Unlike traditional noir, horror noir incorporates supernatural oroccult elements, introducing unexplained and unseen events into the dark, shadowy settings typical of noir. The genre may include graphic violence, often linked to themes of revenge or retribution. This violence usually serves as a manifestation of deeper psychological or moral struggles within the characters.^[6][7]

Films described as horror noir films includeAmong the Living,^[8]The Mask of Diijon,^[9]The Night of the Hunter,^[10]The Phantom Speaks,The Red House,^[11]The Spiral Staircase,^[12] or, more recently (among what may be calledneo-noir horror films),Blood Simple,^[13]Shutter Island,Lost Highway, andMulholland Drive.^[14][15]

The horror noir genre can trace its roots back to the broader development of film noir, which emerged during the 1940s. Film noir itself was shaped by a combination of Americancrime fiction, psychological thrillers, andEuropean cinematic influences, particularlyGerman Expressionism. This genre embraced dark visual aesthetics, with heavy contrasts of light and shadow, and psychological themes, often involving morally ambiguous or complex characters and bleak narratives.^[16][17]

In the 1940s, horror and noir began to merge in cinema, with early examples showing that horror films and film noir were considered "virtually indistinguishable."^[18][19] As a result, this hybrid genre was rare and not yet well-defined. Many horror films from the 1940s through the 1950s adopted stylistic elements of film noir, including its use of shadows, contrast, and suspenseful atmosphere, although these films often had limited budgets.^[20] The economic conditions of theU.S. film industry in the 1940s and 1950s are known for the rise ofB-grade films, particularly in the noir genre. B-films, produced quickly with lower budgets, often featured shadowy visuals and minimal sets, contributing to the distinctive noir style. The piece also explores the influence of German Expressionism on film noir, with directors likeFritz Lang andBilly Wilder bringingexpressionist visual techniques to Hollywood. TheMotion Picture Production Code (Hays Code) also played a role in shaping the industry during this period.^[21] Additionally, neo-noir gained popularity, establishing a modernized interpretation of noir that contributed to the genre's ongoing evolution. The blend and crossover of horror and noir in mid-20th-century films highlights how these genres shared dark, atmospheric visuals and fatalistic themes. Examples includeNightmare Alley (1947),Strangler of the Swamp (1946), andNight Has A Thousand Eyes (1948), which combined noir’s shadowy lighting with horror’s supernatural elements, as well asVal Lewton'sCat People, suggesting how the genres influenced each other, particularly during this era in which later films likeAngel Heart continued to merge these elements. Such films bridged classic horror of the 1930s-40s and the genre’s resurgence in the 1950s.^[22][18]

InHorror Noir: Where Cinema's Dark Sisters Meet, Paul Meehan states that "when it first emerged as a genre during the 1940s, film noir derived its distinctive visual style from the horror film",^[23] meaning that as film noir emerged in the 1940s, it borrowed visual techniques commonly used in horror, thus forming a stylistic bridge between the two genres. Meehan further explains that "both horror and noir exist inside a haunted universe of night and fear first conjured by Germany's expressionist filmmakers in the 1920s",^[23] suggesting that both genres share a common atmosphere of fear and darkness, originally developed by German filmmakers of that era. The German Expressionist films of that era used intense shadows, strange angles, and eerie settings to create an atmosphere of unease and mystery. This style influenced later horror and noir films, giving them a “haunted” quality, where characters face a world filled with night, dread, and psychological tension. For instance,Blood Simple, theCoen Brothers' debut film, combines elements of horror and noir. It explores how the film pays homage to classic noir through themes of crime and betrayal while incorporating horror’s suspenseful atmosphere and stylistic tension. By blending these genres,Blood Simple creates a unique tone, playing with audience expectations and genre conventions. This approach is believed to have helped establish the Coens' distinctive cinematic voice.^[24][25]

The horror noir genre has evolved through a mix of horror and noir elements, first rooted in German Expressionist films of the early 20th century, likeThe Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920), which used stark lighting, exaggerated shadows, and psychological themes that influenced both horror and film noir. As film noir emerged in the 1940s and 1950s, its themes of moral ambiguity and fatalism began to blend naturally with supernatural or unsettling horror elements, leading to some of the first horror noir films. For example,Jacques Tourneur’sCat People (1942) utilized film noir’s shadowy visuals to evoke a suspenseful, supernatural horror atmosphere, setting a model for horror noir storytelling that explores complex, often unsettling themes in human nature and society.^[26]

In the 1960s and 1970s, directors likeAlfred Hitchcock andRoman Polanski continued to evolve the genre with films likePsycho andRosemary’s Baby, which combinedpsychological horror with noir’s tense, shadowy style, creating a sense of paranoia and existential dread. More recent films have expanded horror noir's scope to include contemporary societal fears, as seen in works likeGet Out (2017), which blends horror noir techniques with social critique on race and identity, andNightcrawler (2014), which combines psychological horror with a noir lens to examine media ethics and ambition.^[17]

Some early examples of horror noir appeared as film noir rose in popularity. Films likeCat People (1942) andI Walked with a Zombie (1943), directed by Jacques Tourneur, are often cited as pioneers of horror noir. Produced byRKO, these films combined horror with noir visuals, using shadows, ambiguity, and psychological suspense.^[27]

The blending of horror and noir elements continued through the 1950s and 1960s, asCold War anxieties and social tensions found expression in horror genres. Horror noir films likeNight of the Hunter (1955) andCarnival of Souls (1962) further cemented the genre, incorporating noir’s visual and thematic style with horror’s psychological andsupernatural elements.^[28][29]

In the 1970s and 1980s, neo-noir and horror noir saw a resurgence, with films likeAngel Heart (1987) andBody Double (1984) adding noir aesthetics to horror narratives. These films explored darker psychological themes and were visually influenced by noir’s stylized lighting and shadow effects, often set inurban landscapes.^[30]

Contemporary horror noir continues to be seen in films such asSe7en (1995) andSin City (2005), which use noir elements to heighten horror’s impact, emphasizing psychological horror and moral complexity.^[31]

In horror noir films, typical elements from classic film noir, such aslow-key lighting, intricate plots, morally complex characters, and confined or urban settings, are used to enhance horror themes. Originating in the 1940s and 1950s, film noir focused oncrime stories and featured dark visuals and morally conflicted characters. In horror noir, these noir elements are combined with horror themes, includingsupernatural aspects like or that might involveghosts,monsters, or other unsettling figures. These films often take place in shadowy urban settings and involve protagonists who are haunted or psychologically disturbed. Both horror and noir genres share a sense of doom andfatalism, creating atmospheric tension and eerie visuals that define the horror noir style.^[26][32][33]

The cinematic styles and techniques in horror noir combine elements from traditionalnoir with the unsettling ambiance of horror, often adopting visual and thematic motifs that underscore darkness, ambiguity, and psychological tension. These techniques often borrow from both horror and film noir, blending visual and narrative tools to create a distinctively unsettling style.

A hallmark of both noir and horror noir is the use ofchiaroscuro lighting—a technique from German Expressionism that creates stark contrasts between light and dark. Shadows, often cast dramatically across characters and settings, add depth and a sense of looming danger, heightening the horror element. This use of light and shadow reflects inner conflicts, as well as the duality ofgood versus evil, common in horror noir themes. For instance, horror noir often uses shadowed environments, such as urban decay or desolate interiors, to evoke feelings of isolation or entrapment.^[34][35]

Another common technique isDutch angles andlow-angle shots, which create a sense of disorientation and unease, complementing horror noir’s psychological complexity. These angles make scenes appear unstable, which can mirror the instability or moral ambiguity of characters. Additionally,distorted reflections—seen through mirrors or broken glass—are frequently used to symbolize fractured identities or distorted perceptions, particularly in stories dealing with supernatural or psychological horror.^[36]

Horror noir also employsnonlinear narratives andflashbacks, which are common in classic noir and serve to layer complex backstories that gradually reveal characters’ motives. This technique builds suspense and mystery, often leaving the audience in suspense or with a feeling of unease as pieces of the plot are revealed out of order.^[5]

Films such asAngel Heart (1987) andSe7en (1995) employ noir’s visual style—shadowy, high-contrast lighting, urban desolation, and claustrophobic framing—alongside horror elements likeserial killers or the supernatural to intensify the suspense.^[33][37]

Horror noir andGothic horror are similar in tone and atmosphere, but they differ in style, setting, and storytelling elements. Both genres use shadowy visuals, create tension through atmosphere, and explore darker sides of human nature, often with mysterious or suspenseful narratives. However, while Gothic horror is more likely to involve supernatural beings like ghosts or vampires, horror noir tends to focus on horror grounded inhuman psychology, though it can also feature supernatural elements if handled in a noir style.^[38][39] Gothic horror has its origins back in 18th-century literature, which typically emphasizes eerie settings, such as haunted castles or isolated mansions, mostly focusing on psychological dread, supernatural events, and sometimes tragic romance. It often explores themes of isolation, madness, and the supernatural within a framework that reflectsVictorian anxieties around social and moral decay. Classic Gothic films likeDracula (1931) andFrankenstein (1931) present characters struggling with internal and supernatural forces, often set against gloomy, elaborate backdrops that evoke a sense of the uncanny.^[39][40]

Additionally, neo-noir is a modern revival of classic noir; it sometimes blends with horror elements but retains a focus on crime, moral ambiguity, and psychological tension rather than the fear and supernatural aspects central to horror noir. It is typically set in modern contexts and may not necessarily include supernatural elements. While horror noir focuses on intertwining both horror's elements of fear and noir's sense of doom, neo-noir may only focus on crime and existential themes without the supernatural or terror. They may share some stylistic and thematic elements; however, the tone and focus of neo-noir often remain grounded in crime and psychological drama.^[41][42]

Horror noir is rooted in film noir. It leans more into human corruption and existential dread, employing crime, mystery, and psychological horror. Like film noir, horror noir often explores the darker aspects of human nature, incorporating elements of crime and psychological conflict. It also adopts the distinctive visual style of noir, including the use of shadows, unconventional angles, and moody settings. According to various sources, each genre emphasizes different elements—horror noir often centers on the horror aspects (fear, violence, the unknown) while incorporating noir's crime and psychological tension, whereas supernatural noir leans more heavily into the supernatural forces that drive the plot. The distinctiveness of each subgenre lies in the balance between crime, the supernatural, and the psychological undercurrents that each one explores.^[14][37][33]

Directors and cinematographers known for their work in the horror noir genre often combine noir’s shadow-driven visual style with horror’s intense atmosphere. Figures such asRoman Polanski,John Carpenter, andWilliam Lustig are frequently noted for their use of suspenseful imagery, psychological complexity, and dark visual language, which are key elements of horror noir. Polanski’sChinatown (1974), although mainly aneo-noir, incorporates a sense of hidden truths and underlying threat that aligns with horror noir aesthetics. Carpenter’sEyes of Laura Mars (1978) merges noir’s mystery-driven narrative with horror’s visceral elements, employing subjective camera angles and dramatic lighting techniques to create an atmosphere of psychological tension and ambiguity.^[34][43]

Directors of photography such asJohn Alcott,Conrad Hall, andOswald Morris are notable for their contributions to the horror-noir genre, particularly through their innovative use of lighting and camera techniques. Alcott’s cinematography inThe Shining (1980) utilizes atmospheric lighting and signature tracking shots, which work together to heighten a pervasive sense of dread that aligns with horror noir conventions. Similarly, Hall’s work onNight Moves (1975) employs a desaturated color palette, enhancing the film's dark and suspenseful tone. Morris, known for his work onMoby Dick (1956), used deep shadows and contrast to create a visually moody environment, embodying the dark, atmospheric qualities central to the horror noir aesthetic.^[34]

• The Night of the Hunter^[33]
• Les Diaboliques^[33]
• Across the Hall
• The Believers
• Lord of Illusions
• Dementia^[15]
• Angel Heart
• The First Power
• The Amazing Mr. X
• Aake
• Burning Kiss
• Singapore Sling

• History of horror films
• Crime film
• Neo-noir
• Social horror (social thriller)
• Crime horror films

• List of horror noir films atIMDb