MovieChat Forums > David Fincher Discussion > Why his movies look so dark?

Why his movies look so dark?

posted 4 years ago by sonans (1666)
9 replies | jump to latest

I have to adjust TV setting to watch his movies.

I though he use digital camera, compare to film, digital can catch more light.

So why his movies look so dark?????

[–] TheArgentinian (7205) 4 years ago

No one knows but it's provocative.

[–] sonans (1666) 4 years ago

"provocative." Really??????

[–] MovieChatUser497 (18943) 4 years ago

I guess the same reason why Jar Jar Abrams always had these flashing lights in our faces. It’s just his style

[–] sonans (1666) 4 years ago

I can think of two reasons why Jar Jar does that, you have to admit it: 1. kind of cool. 2. No one has ever done that (abundantly).

But make movies look dark aren't pretty or cool, and it's overuse on tons of movies.

[–] CaptainCrozier (617) 4 years ago

He and his DPs--especially Darius Khondji and Jeff Cronenweth--like to under-light their movies. Just a stylistic choice, as others have said.

[–] sonans (1666) 4 years ago

"stylistic choice."

That is my question, what make them "choice?"

What are the reasons?

[–] CaptainCrozier (617) 4 years ago

"stylistic choice."

That is my question, what make them "choice?"

What are the reasons?

I know that in the case of Se7en he wanted the film to be visually horrifying and disturbing in a way that was subtle and unique, according to what Khondji told the ASC magazine at the time. And Khondji took that and ran with it.
Likewise, in the case of Fight Club, he and Cronenweth wanted to recreate to some extent the look of both Se7en and The Game as well as American Graffiti. One of them also said that part of the reason for Fight Club being so underlit is so they could disguise the seams in the makeup on Pitt and Norton and the other guys' faces and thereby make it look more real. As well as reinforce the loneliness and depression experienced by the Norton character.
And Panic Room of course takes place in a house in the dead of night during a home invasion so of course it's going to be very dark, literally.

Not sure about the specific reasons for all the other films.
Though I imagine in the case of The Game, it's to reinforce the sense of doom and gloom experienced by Michael Douglas' character, similar to the atmospheres of the other flicks.

[–] Drooch (5333) 3 years ago

Fincher is interested in the dark corners of humanity, so it fits that he’d have a style full of oppressive shadows.

[–] Kowalski (77019) 3 years ago

RACISM?🤔