As I watched Double Indemnity, I consistently noticed the lack of empathetic emotion felt by the characters; the idea of committing murder did not seem to faze them (although the idea of being caught sure did). Because of this, I completely agree with the statement that Double Indemnity was "a film without a single trace of pity or love".
Throughout the film, I had the impression that the relationship between Walter and Phyllis was fake. Neither of the two seemed to actually care for each other, despite their situation. The motivation behind their actions always seemed to be money, desperation, and complete detachment from life. They appeared to disguise these motivations behind the idea of love, preferring to think of themselves as passionate and caring, rather than the calculating and cold-blooded individuals that they truly are. My impression was validated towards the end of the movie, when the scheme unraveled and things went awry. Walter shot Phyllis with (relatively) little remorse, even after she confessed that she could not shoot him. Their love for each other was not substantial enough to carry them through the ordeal that ensued when their true love for money took precedence.
You bring up great points, but lacked any specific examples that would allow for a deeper exploration of the question and the argument you present.
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