Body Heat (1981): Darkness to Light

Forgive me for not finding the same video our professor made us watch about Film Noir. However, I managed to find a shorter version of it. :)

According to Corin, a filmmaker and film critic, film noir are tales of survival. And I think Body heat tells that tale.

It qualifies to be a film noir because it has the elements of the genre. The film uses shadows and fog to get the desired reaction from the audience, which is, curiosity, and thus, making the audience engage more into the film.

At the beginning of the film, where Matty and Ned first met, it was established that Ned is not a very smart guy, while Matty is a wise woman. Ned’s eagerness in murdering Matty’s husband is a proof that he is under an effective femme fatale’s control.

* Femme Fatale, according to Merriam-Webster dictionary is a seductive woman who lures men into dangerous or compromising situations. The usual antagonist in Noirs are females who trick men into doing things in favor of them, but, it will not be very evident at the beginning for a woman in films, gain sympathy more. Therefore, the audience will think that the true antagonist is the man.  *

I like the scene where Matty is walking toward the boat house where everything was pitched black and she was completely lit. It made a scary-mysterious kind of effect, for me. 

And during that scene, I like to believe that she was really telling the truth, that she loves Ned. But unfortunately, towards the end of the film, it was revealed that she was just in love with the money.

Also, film noirs have crime, sexuality, or violence in them. And Body heat has those.