Characters of Brick: Laura-The Femme Fatale

No, I am not talking about Britney Spears new album, if that's what you're thinking.
So, you may be wondering. What exactly is a femme fatale?
The Femme Fatale literally translates to fatal women in french. The femme fatale is usually a woman that plays opposite of the main protagonist in any noir film. She is considered dangerous, but not in an outwardly violent (murderous maybe) sort of way. She uses seduction and sexuality to entangle lovers into her own deadly plot, just to get what she wants. There's something mysterious about her, but her beautiful looks are enough for you to overlook that.

In Brick, Laura (portrayed by Nora Zhetner) who is seen as the popular girlfriend of highschool jock Brad Bermish, is the films "femme fatale." Though there are many mixed reviews on Noras portrayal of the femme fatale, her deceiving character fits teh description of a femme fatale, but in the form of a high school student. She uses subtle seductive techniques, like making herself vulnerable to Brendan by offering to help him with the case countless times, despite the fact that she is the one who stirred up this complex situation that Brendan is getting himself into.  At first, it seemed like she really did want to help Brendan, and throughout the movie we all get accustomed to her. She drives Brendan to the places he needs to be, follows his instructions, and even cares for him when he breaks down over his dead ex girlfriend. She becomes a likable character, even though something about her rises suspicion. Brendan never fully gave her his complete trust. He asked Brain to keep an eye on her, and was always very cautious around her. The only time he somewhat gave into her seduction was when he broke down over Emily in Tug's room while she was caressing him on the bed. She initiated the kiss, and Brendan, finally breaking down his hard emotionless front, let her kiss him.

The final scene supports the claim that Laura is the films' femme fatale when Brendan calls her out on her deceiving actions that lead to Emily's, Tug's and The Pin's death. When Brendan is asked to retell the tale to her, Laura continued to deny her actions, her eyes wide with artificial innocence, telling him that everything he's saying is false. It's not until Brendan gives her the news that he submitted a letter into the police, basically having her "walk into the slaughterhouse." Laura's character changes as soon as she finds out that she is now guilty of her crime. Her voice suddenly more confident than it was when she was trying to prove her innocence, she shares her side of the story to Brendan and finishes it off with calling him a "Mother--." We don't hear the 2nd part of the word, but I'm sure it wasn't pleasant.
Her sudden change in character reveals the deviousness and slyness that has been kept hidden from the audience the entire movie. Brendan was right to be suspicious of her, for she ended up playing 'villain' afterall.