That's what noir feels like to me. It feels like some kind of recurring dream, with very strong archetypes operating. You know, the guilty girl being pursued, falling, all kinds of stuff that we see in our dreams all the time.

In this quote, Brian De Palma compares the feeling of noir films to a recurring dream, highlighting the genre's use of archetypes and familiar themes. He suggests that noir films evoke a dreamlike quality, where the narrative often plays out with exaggerated, symbolic characters and situations. The guilty girl being pursued and the themes of falling are common elements in both noir stories and dreams, reflecting the genre’s focus on tension, moral ambiguity, and inevitable doom.

De Palma’s comment emphasizes that noir is not just a genre but an experience that resonates on a subconscious level, much like a dream. The characters in noir films often embody exaggerated, almost mythical roles, such as the femme fatale, and the plots are filled with predestined struggles, guilt, and a sense of foreboding. These elements are often linked to deep-seated psychological patterns that emerge in our dreams, making the noir narrative feel like a psychological exploration of the human condition.

The origin of this quote lies in De Palma’s work as a director known for his contributions to the thriller and noir genres. Films like Carrie, Dressed to Kill, and Blow Out showcase De Palma’s signature style, where the dreamlike quality of the narrative and the intensity of characters’ emotions are central to the experience. His understanding of noir as a reflection of dreamlike structures and recurring psychological patterns connects with the genre’s roots in film noir and the psychological thrillers of the mid-20th century.

Ultimately, De Palma’s statement captures the essence of noir as a genre that blends the surreal, subconscious elements of dreams with the sharp, symbolic imagery of archetypes. By likening noir to a recurring dream, he highlights how these films tap into universal emotions and themes, creating an experience that is as much about the emotional and psychological journey as it is about the plot.