Thinking about "screwed" as a definition, I've concluded that
it only works as a psychological term. As far as external
events are concerned, "screwed" isn't necessarily noir. An
optimist can be repeatedly "screwed" without batting a noir
eyelid (Candide or Earl Swagger in Pale Horse Coming, for
example). Come to think of it, being repeatedly "screwed" and
not giving a damn is pretty hardboiled. "Screwed" and
thinking the whole world's out to get you, that's one aspect
of noir. But it isn't that simple. Jim Thompson's psychopaths
don't fit the "screwed" definition, but they're sure as hell
noir. They do fit the "psychological horror" definition.
Surely one of the most obvious links between Thompson's
psychopaths and Goodis's paranoids is abnormal psychology.
And those books we really enjoy, but aren't quite noir? Maybe
the protagonist is too sane? I don't know. I'm merely
speculating.
Al
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