Diabolique

Released Jan 29, 1955

1 hr. 56 min.

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

Horror

List

95%

87 Reviews

Tomatometer

93%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

In this classic of French suspense, the cruel and abusive headmaster of a boarding school, Michel Delassalle (Paul Meurisse), becomes the target of a murder plot hatched by an unlikely duo -- his meek wife (Vera Clouzot) and the mistress he brazenly flaunts (Simone Signoret). The women, brought together by their mutual hatred for the man, pull off the crime but become increasingly unhinged by a series of odd occurrences after Delassalle's corpse mysteriously disappears.

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Critics Consensus

Cruel, dark, but undeniably effective, Diabolique is a suspense thriller as effective as Hitchcock's best work and with a brilliant twist ending.

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Rick G

Like a fine French wine, this film has aged so well!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/17/23

Full Review

Elvis D

Les Diaboliques es una intrigante historia de crimen, suspenso y misterio que se gana un puesto alto como una de las mejores películas del cine francés. Lo que empieza siendo mayormente una historia de homicidio perpetrado por las protagonistas, se convierte después de un thriller lleno de misterio y enigma que logra mantener al espectador pegado a la pantalla. El final llega incluso a ser una sorpresa inesperada para quien la mire por primera vez. Tiene buenas actuaciones, un guion ingenioso y una buena dirección. Les Diaboliques es una gran joya del cine francés y una de las mejores películas de suspenso que se hayan realizado. Mi calificación final para esta película es un 9/10.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/26/23

Full Review

누텔라

B+ a charismatic and entertaining mystery. worth a watch and maybe two on a Friday night with a large glass of red wine.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/23/23

Full Review

Ross W

A fantastic and simple storyline with unexpected twists which keeps you guessing throughout. I have genuinley not felt so tense when watching a film from this period. Many older films with horror elements can feel silly, but this one feels like it hasn't aged at all and could easily have be released today.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/06/23

Full Review

Dave S

Often labeled as a psychological horror film, Henri-Georges Clouzot's Diabolique could more accurately be described as a mystery thriller. The film, involving the murder of a brutal and abusive principal of a boys' school by his wife and mistress, puts an interesting spin on the genre – we know who committed the crime and understand the motive, but are left puzzled by the disappearance of the corpse, setting off a strange chain of events. While the story is clever (you've got to love the ending) and the production is well-executed (with the exception of the lighting – what's with all of the shadows?), it is nowhere near the shocking and gruesome affair that many have claimed and will leave anyone who is expecting anything resembling horror terribly disappointed.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

Christina B

Classic films like Diabolique are like black coffee - dark, intense, and likely to make you smarter.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/06/23

Full Review

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Henri-Georges Clouzot

Director

Simone Signoret

Nicole Horner

Véra Clouzot

Christina Delassalle

Paul Meurisse

Michel Delasalle

Charles Vanel

Alfred Fichet, private detective

Jean Brochard

Plantiveau, the groundsman

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Ann Jones

Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com

Hitchcock, even in his earlier and rougher days, never turned out a movie of such diabolical proportions.

Jan 31, 2023

Full Review

Helen Bower

Detroit Free Press

Diabolique is a devilishly good movie, real cool for hot weather.

Jan 31, 2023

Full Review

Marjory Adams

Boston Globe

Don't sell Diabolique short, because it has the most shocking sequences you've ever seen on the screen.

Jan 31, 2023

Full Review

Raquel Stecher

The Movie Palace Podcast

Diabolique is a work of art... the personification of anxiety.

Feb 26, 2024

Full Review

Howard Waldstein

CBR

The story is simple, but executed perfectly...

Jun 27, 2023

Full Review

André Bazin

Cahiers du Cinéma

What is certain is that Clouzot has achieved 100 percent of his goal and that the viewer cannot help but experience all the emotions the director has prepared for him, as if along a scenic highway.

Mar 29, 2023

Full Review

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Synopsis

In this classic of French suspense, the cruel and abusive headmaster of a boarding school, Michel Delassalle (Paul Meurisse), becomes the target of a murder plot hatched by an unlikely duo -- his meek wife (Vera Clouzot) and the mistress he brazenly flaunts (Simone Signoret). The women, brought together by their mutual hatred for the man, pull off the crime but become increasingly unhinged by a series of odd occurrences after Delassalle's corpse mysteriously disappears.

Director: Henri-Georges Clouzot
Screenwriter: Pierre Boileau, Henri-Georges Clouzot, Jérôme Géronimi, Frédéric Grendel, Rene Masson, Thomas Narcejac
Distributor: Something Weird Video, Criterion Collection, Criterion Pictures
Production Co: Filmsonor, Vera Films
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama, Horror
Original Language: French (France)
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 29, 1955, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 19, 2017
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.37:1), 35mm

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