In Gone Girl, the violence primarily centres on emotional and psychological abuse rather than physical or sexual acts. Amy's character is complex, blending the roles of both protagonist and femme fatale, which creates a conflicting dynamic for the audience. On one hand, we may empathize with her, seeing Nicholas as an imperfect husband, but we also recognize her manipulative nature. She manipulates not only the characters in the film but also the audience.
The quote, “Cool girl never get angry at her man”, supports the idea that Amy subverts the hypersexualization often seen in femme fatale roles. Initially, she is portrayed as a modest and successful woman, defying typical femme fatale stereotypes. However, Amy later contradicts this portrayal. She not only alters her appearance to seem less attractive but also becomes angry, violent, and uses her sexuality for manipulation.
While the film incorporates elements of violence, sexuality, and death—hallmarks of the film noir genre—these are not its central focus. Instead, they act as subplots that drive the deeper narrative of psychological and emotional damage experienced by the characters. In a moment of desperation, Amy kills Desi to support her alibi as her plan to disappear unravels. This violent act underscores her use of sexuality to manipulate men, although this is not her primary tactic for personal gain. Although Gone Girl borrows from film noir motifs to portray the femme fatale character, it doesn’t fully conform to the genre, instead drawing inspiration from its themes without being defined by them.
In contrast, the character of Laura Hunt is a more classic example of a femme fatale, though she differs in significant ways from Amy. Laura is mysterious and alluring, the object of male obsession, yet she is not directly manipulative or violent. She does not orchestrate events to control or harm others for personal gain as Amy does. In Laura, the violence and manipulation revolve more around the men who are captivated by her, particularly Waldo Lydecker, who becomes possessive and manipulative. The quote, “You suffer from a common feminine delusion that the mere fact of being a woman exempts you from the rules of civilized conduct,” reflects a deeply misogynistic perspective, often expressed by characters in classic noir.
Thus, Laura's femme fatale qualities lie in her ability to evoke desire, jealousy, and obsession simply by existing outside of the typical boundaries of what is expected from a woman. She doesn’t have to actively manipulate or seduce to have an impact—her very presence and independence defy the societal expectations of "civilized conduct" and make her a threat to the men who wish to control her. This tension between how she is perceived and how she actually behaves is central to her role as a femme fatale.
