Walter Neff Character Analysis

In film noir, many of the male leads are weak, frustrated men. While you are watching Double Indemnity, make a mental note of Walter Neff’s characteristics. What kind of man is he? What is his relationship like with women?

In the film of Double Indemnity, Walter Neff was an interesting character who had a weird relationship with a woman that he met in the beginning named Phyllis Dietrichson. At first, I did not get the first impression of Walter as a "weak" man. He was very successful at his work and seemed very focused at what he was doing all the time. Phyllis and Walter first meet at the beginning of the film and Walter is struck by her beauty. He also gave off the impression as a very confident man and maybe a little overconfident. He calls Phyllis "baby" in just about every sentence talking to her. That expresses confidence and a little bit obnoxious as well. If anything, Walter Neff shows little signs of weakness in the beginning of the movie.

Walter Neff's character quickly goes downhill throughout the film and is viewed more and more as a criminal. He starts by getting attached and developing a relationship with Phyllis, who is in fact, a married woman. He also murders two people which shows lack discipline for himself because he was blind from his attraction to Phyllis. He basically partners with her in a murder/scam plot all out of love. This is where his weakness starts to show. He would do anything to keep this woman happy and try to win her over. His feelings overtake his common sense. She seduced him and manipulated Walter to help execute her plan. 

Clearly, Phyllis was the controlling one in the relationship. Walter was a very conflicted man and didn't know right from wrong anymore as the film progressed. She loves to flirt and seduce him, so she can get what she wants.