M is for Melodrama

While many could argue for a number of genres when classifying Fritz Lang’s 1931 classic M, I think that the film would best be defined as a melodrama. Although there are certainly elements of crime and horror in the movie, the film’s subtle cinematography, uses of sound, and approach to the subject matter make M more of a melodrama than a thriller.

For one, despite the film being about the pursuit of a serial child killer, none of these murders are shown. Only one murder is alluded to in the film, and it is done in a manner that is very subtle and poignant. The rolling away of the ball and the floating upwards of the balloon signifies the murder of the little girl.

The use of sound in the film also creates a more melodramatic ambience as opposed to a horror feel. Lang uses a lot of diegetic sound to add an additional sense of realism to the film, furthering its emotional pull with the audience. The use of the murderer’s whistling as a leitmotif also leaves viewers with a sense of melancholy.

Instead of being a film about the murders of a serial killer or the psyche behind it, the film is about the pursuit of the killer. However, this is not approached in a crime-thriller sense. M creates numerous parallels between the criminal underworld and the police force, exploring political allegories and creating social commentary. This sort of subject matter is more appropriate for a drama as opposed to a horror.

Overall, M is more about the mothers, the criminals, and the police than it is about the serial killer or his victims, which gives the film a more melodramatic resonance rather than leaving the viewer with fear-induced adrenaline.