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Diabolique

Play trailer Poster for Diabolique 1955 1h 56m Mystery & Thriller Drama Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
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95% Tomatometer 88 Reviews 93% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
In this classic of French suspense, the cruel and abusive headmaster of a boarding school, Michel Delassalle, becomes the target of a murder plot hatched by an unlikely duo — his meek wife and the mistress he brazenly flaunts. 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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Diabolique

Diabolique

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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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Critics Reviews

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Ann Jones Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com 01/31/2023
Hitchcock, even in his earlier and rougher days, never turned out a movie of such diabolical proportions. Go to Full Review Helen Bower Detroit Free Press 01/31/2023
Diabolique is a devilishly good movie, real cool for hot weather. Go to Full Review Marjory Adams Boston Globe 01/31/2023
Don't sell Diabolique short, because it has the most shocking sequences you've ever seen on the screen. Go to Full Review Diana Tuova Spotlight on Film 08/04/2024
4.5/5
A true classic in the suspenseful thriller/horror genre, with a twist “to die for”. Go to Full Review Raquel Stecher The Movie Palace Podcast 02/26/2024
Diabolique is a work of art... the personification of anxiety. Go to Full Review Howard Waldstein CBR 06/27/2023
The story is simple, but executed perfectly... Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Kevin L @Lakeman Feb 15 Another example of pre-70's acting that just seems wooden, unrealistic to me, so the full effect of the storyline doesn't hit like it could. That said, Director Clouzot & the screenwriters pull off the Hitchock-esque plot well enough that the big twist hit the target for me. Still implausible, sure, but it's a movie. The twist and the set-up that leads to it is not what the movie is 'about'. That's just how it is 'about' it. Per the acting, Signoret & Meurisse are the best of the lot. She's quite convincing as a jilted, abused lover hot for revenge. He's more than up to the task of being a lousy rat of a human being. But many others are a problem in there performances; particularly co-lead Clouzot. And what's the point of the very last scene? 3.2 stars See more Rich C. @RichieNoir Jan 27 Plenty of plot twists. See more Timothy W @Studster Jan 25 Hitchcockian at times with excellent acting. Could have used some more editing with some scenes going too long. The retired detective was too unbelievably engaged. See more Ted B. @Movieaddicted Nov 17 3.5 stars: Well, as they say, I guess you just had to be there to appreciate what happened. This movie was a very good mystery, but I certainly wouldn't call it great. The acting, by 1950s French standards, was very good. It was probably very original in its time, but I guess I've seen too many spinoffs of that plot. I guess I would have prefred dubbing to subtitles. The French dialogue was very fast, and it took a lot of concentration to keep up. See more Tim M @tgmacman Sep 28 Steeped in mood and atmosphere, Diabolique methodically peels back the curtain of a treacherous mystery. See more Stephen C @bob25009 Jun 9 A success in 1 hour and 56 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dubbed and subtitled in worldwide studios!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All ages admitted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Read all reviews
Diabolique

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Cast & Crew

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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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Diabolique

Diabolique (1955) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In this classic of French suspense, the cruel and abusive headmaster of a boarding school, Michel Delassalle, becomes the target of a murder plot hatched by an unlikely duo — his meek wife and the mistress he brazenly flaunts. 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
Producer
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
Runtime
1h 56m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.37:1), 35mm
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