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4 Mar 2024

Intrigue and suspense: Exploring the depths of Southern noir

This week sees the release of the edge-of-the-seat dramatic thriller 'Desperation Road', starring Garrett Hedlund, Willa Fitzgerald and Mel Gibson, which tells of three characters whose lives are intertwined in the violent underbelly of a Mississippi town.


At a glance
  • What is Southern noir?

  • Blood Simple

  • Fried Green Tomatoes

  • Skeleton Key

  • Three Billboards


Described as a Southern noir, the film fits into that raw and gritty subgenre that incorporates the backroads lifestyle into its narrative. Comparable titles to Desperation Road are Scott Cooper's Out of the Furnace, starring Christian Bale, Casey Affleck, and Woody Harrelson, and Tim Sutton's Donnybrook, featuring Jamie Bell, Margaret Qualley, and Frank Grillo. All films tackle sensitive issues such as domestic, sexual and drug abuse, and offer an unflinching glimpse into the lives of others.

We were so drawn to the film that it got us thinking about Southern noir as a genre, or Southern Gothic as some refer to it.

As indicated in its title, the genre typically encapsulates the eerie charm and sinister allure of the American South, bringing together elements of classic film noir and regional and cultural landscapes. The environments are often hot, towns are usually in decline, and characters are almost always troubled.

Naturally, the genre can take on an assortment of tones, from whimsical comedies to hard-edged thrillers. So let's take a peek at four very different films that each embody the hallmarks of Southern noir.


Blood Simple (1984)

Blood Simple is one of the greatest cinematic debuts of all time, marking the beginning of a celebrated career for the Coen Brothers, whose work includes Miller's Crossing (1990), Fargo (1996), The Big Lebowski (1998), and No Country for Old Men (2007).

It follows a Texan bartender who has an affair with his boss's wife and finds himself being stalked by a private investigator hired to kill him and his lover.

Given how celebrated the film is and how prolific the brothers became, it's incredible to learn that neither of them had any experience making movies at the time. They shot a proof-of-concept trailer, which they took around the country in search of backing, eventually landing financiers and producing the film for $1.5 million.

Blood Simple is a fantastic example of Southern noir, with its classic noir tropes and memorable environments. From smoke-filled dive bars to sprawling rural landscapes, it's a film reliant on atmosphere and an unmistakable Southern twang. Who can forget that ironic moment when John Getz's character drags an injured Dan Hedaya into an empty field to an open grave? It's almost Hitchcockian in tone, flirting with humour while enacting a gravely serious situation.


Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe (1991)

Believe it or not, Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe was one of the biggest hits of the '90s and was celebrated and lauded amongst audiences and critics alike. With an impressive cast including Kathy Bates, Jessica Tandy, Mary Stuart Masterson, Mary-Louise Parker, and Chris O'Donnell, the film tells the story of Evelyn (Bates), an unhappy housewife who befriends an elderly lady (Tandy) at a nursing home and becomes captivated by stories of yesteryear.

Moving between the 1920s and the 1980s, the narrative covers a spectrum of themes, seamlessly switching between comedic and dramatic moments while addressing issues such as domestic abuse, sexuality, and racism.

For such a seemingly light, family-friendly film, it came as a total surprise to viewers when murder also ended up on the menu, making it one of the most unsuspecting films of its time, and placing it firmly within the perimeters of Southern noir.

If you've never seen Fried Green Tomatoes then do yourself a favour. See it on our recommendation and stick around for an ensemble of fantastic performances, lots of laughs, and some very dark and salacious revelations. Also, if you've never eaten a fried green tomato then you don't know what you're missing.


Skeleton Key (2005)

Skeleton Key sits on the Gothic noir side of the conversation, telling the story of a palliative care nurse who finds herself caught up in a supernatural mystery when she begins a new job at a Louisiana parish.

Venturing into the shadowy past of New Orleans, the movie delves deep into the city's cultural heritage, intertwining elements of black magic and voodoo from its slave era roots, all while unfolding as a haunting Southern ghost tale.

It stars Kate Hudson, Gena Rowlands, Peter Sarsgaard, and John Hurt and, despite a lacklustre reception upon release, has earned itself a strong cult following, suggesting that it was ahead of its time and is worthy of reappraisal.


Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)

There was no escaping Three Billboards upon its release. The film was declared a masterpiece even before its arrival and was met with laurels and acclaim.

Directed by Martin McDonagh (In Bruges, The Banshees of Inisherin), the film stars Frances McDormand in her Oscar-winning role as a mother who takes matters into her own hands by renting three roadside billboards to spotlight her daughter's unsolved rape and murder, intensifying scrutiny on the local police force's failure to solve the case.

Her actions cause unrest within the local community, prompting many to launch a campaign of intimidation against her in an attempt to have her remove the distressing advertisements.

As well as fitting squarely within the framework of Southern noir through its rural backdrop, gritty atmosphere, and morally ambiguous characters, the film has also left a lasting legacy. It has served as a catalyst for numerous acts of civil disobedience in the pursuit of justice, inspiring the erection of billboards to advocate for unsolved murders, advance social justice causes, and civil rights movements.

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