The Killers (1946)

 Robert Siodmak's "The Killers"


I once again return to the world of film noir with my watch of Robert Siodmak's 1946 film "The Killers." Often considered one of the greatest film noirs ever made, "The Killers" also happens to be the first film that actor Burt Lancaster ever performed in. It was a critical and commercial success at the time of its release and is an Ernest Hemingway adaptation that Hemingway considers the only good Hollywood adaption of his work.

The film centers on a insurance investigator who gets engrossed in a murder mystery involving a former boxer. Although it was meant to be a quick investigation, the various twists and turns of the mystery only lead the investigator further and further into revealing the insidious truth. 

I've got to say that the more 'film noirs' I watch, the more I feel as though that I'm not a big fan of the film noir as a genre and concept. "The Killers" certainly checks all of the boxes of a film noir: investigation, murder, intrigue, a 'bigger picture' at play, and the classic femme fatale. It scratches the typical noir itch. And although these check marks make a great structural story with a lot of intrigue, I felt myself feeling disengaged and rather uninterested. I think, for me, what "The Killers" lacks is any sort of thematic relevance. It feels more serial and pulpy than anything with any relevance. That being said, it wasn't a boring film and can certainly be considered a mildly entertaining affair.



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