2. A series depicting mystery,violence and danger. Also regarding cynism and fatalism.
In regards to people it means dangerously sexy,mysterious,dark,elusive, and alluring.
Film genre characteristic of the years between with 20's and late 40's. Dark, gritty crime fiction: usually a heist, murder, or other such crime. We're talking Tommy Guns, Private Detectives, and women you could still call broads. Classic examples include The Maltese Falcon and Chinatown: modern examples include The Usual Suspects. Heavily influenced the Cyberpunk sub-genre.