Diabolique (Les Diaboliques) (1955)
95%RT Audience Score: 93%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Cruel, dark, but undeniably effective, Diabolique is a suspense thriller as effective as Hitchcock’s best work and with a brilliant twist ending.
Diabolique” is a diabolical masterpiece that will leave you scorched and scarred, but in a good way. The film is a creaky-door type of melodrama that will keep you guessing, entertained, and horrified all at the same time. Simone Signoret and Vera Clouzot deliver superb performances that will leave you on the edge of your seat. The story is intriguing and twisting, making it a classic of horror cinema. It’s a satisfying, elegant, and nasty thriller that will make you want to watch it again and again. So, grab some popcorn, turn off the lights, and get ready for a diabolical ride!
Production Company(ies)
Films,onor Vera Films,
Distributor
Criterion Collection, Criterion Pictures, Something Weird Video
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Château de L’Étang-la-Ville, 8 Rue de Fonton, L’Étang-la-Ville, Yvelines, France
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
1955
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Color:Color
Black and White -
Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:1.37 : 1
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Runtime:1h 56m
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Language(s):French, English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 29, 1955 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 2, 1999
Genre(s)
Drama/Horror
Keyword(s)
Diabolique, Drama, Horror, 1955, French, Suspense, Thriller, Hitchcock, Twist Ending, Paul Meurisse, Vera Clouzot, Simone Signoret, Henri-Georges Clouzot, Pierre Boileau, Jérôme Géronimi, Frédéric Grendel, Rene Masson, Thomas Narcejac, Criterion Collection, Something Weird Video, Mono, Flat, 35mm, Boarding School, Murder Plot, Abusive Headmaster, Mistress, Cruelty, Murder, Odd Occurrences, Disappearance, Critic Reviews, Guardian, Daily Telegraph, Deep Focus Review, Film Inquiry, Horror Queers Podcast, London Evening Standard, Sight & Sound, Variety, Audience Reviews, Suspense, Horror, Mystery, Psychological Thriller, Alfred Hitchcock, Vertigo, Psycho, Guilt, Religion, Divorce, Chilling, Disturbing, Eerie Scenes, Classic, Best Work, Macabre, Rarely Distributed, Classic Horror Film, Inspiration, Mean Streets, Blood Simple, Eraserhead, The Killer, The Devil’s Backbone, Criterion Pictures, Subscription, Rate and Review, MPAA Rating, Box Office Performance, Budget, Producer, Reviewed by
Worldwide gross: $12,498
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $157,449
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,971
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 17,170
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Véra Clouzot – Christina Delassalle
Paul Meurisse – Michel Delasalle
Charles Vanel – Alfred Fichet, private detective
Jean Brochard – Plantiveau, the groundsman
Noel Roquebert – M. Herboux
Director(s)
Henri-Georges Clouzot
Writer(s)
Pierre Boileau, Henri-Georges Clouzot, Jérôme Géronimi, Frédéric Grendel, Rene Masson, Thomas Narcejac
Producer(s)
Henri-Georges Clouzot
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (51) | Top Critics (12) | Fresh (49) | Rotten (2)
Rarely if ever has such a wallow in the sickeningly macabre been passed for distribution in this country.
February 24, 2017
Derek Prouse
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
Superbly acted, Les diaboliques is as effective a thriller as Hitchcock’s film, if lacking the depth and resonance.
March 22, 2011
Philip French
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
Still riveting stuff, beautifully acted out by Simone Signoret and Vera Clouzot, the director’s wife.
March 18, 2011 | Rating: 4/5
Derek Malcolm
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
It’s a diabolical masterpiece.
March 18, 2011 | Rating: 5/5
Sukhdev Sandhu
Daily Telegraph (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Satisfying, elegant and nasty.
March 17, 2011 | Rating: 5/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
Although this has a few hallucinating bits of terror, the film is primarily a creaky-door type of melodrama.
August 13, 2007
Variety Staff
Variety
TOP CRITIC
The whole experience of Diabolique feels like the bomb that’s about to explode. And by the end, when the bomb goes off, the unforgiving quality of Clouzot’s cinema cannot help but leave the viewer scorched and scarred.
February 14, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
Its intriguing and twisting story will keep you guessing, entertained, and horrified, all while showcasing the craftsmanship behind creating the perfect classic.
August 28, 2021
Stephanie Archer
Film Inquiry
A classy, measured thriller that sadly undercuts its queer vibes in the climax. Simone Signoret is magnetic and no amount of interference by director Clouzot can diminish her star power.
April 3, 2021
Joe Lipsett
Horror Queers Podcast
There’s a reason it’s considered a classic of horror cinema.
March 25, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Trace Thurman
Horror Queers Podcast
I think it’s a beautiful story, it’s a classic story but I just would have liked to see more in the relationship.
October 26, 2020 | Rating: 6/10
Emma Wolfe
SpookyAstronauts
One of the greatest of all psychological horror films and a stunning inspiration for filmmakers fascinated by unexpected resolutions.
August 18, 2020 | Rating: 9/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins…
Plot
Christina Delassalle suffers greatly at the hands of her brutish husband Michel. She inherited the boys’ boarding school they run but it’s clearly Michel who is in charge. She and Nicole Horner, one of the teachers and Michel’s former lover, decide to kill him. Christina, who has a serious condition, is terrified when, by chance, she meets a retired police inspector who decides to look into the case.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Simone Signoret’s performance in Diabolique is described as “magnetic” by one critic.
Henri-Georges-Clouzot.jpg
