THE GREATEST MOVIE THAT HITCHCOCK NEVER MADE

Hi everybody, after seeing this french crime/thriller/horror film today, I can without doubt say this is a textbook example of masterpiece. I want first present you some interesting facts that lead me to this exciting experience and to our new number 33 in "Our top 111" list. The title above is a result of the fact both, Hitchcock and Clouzot wanted to direct the screenplay of the adaptation "She Who Was No More", the novel written by Pierre Boileau and Thomas Narcejac back in 1951. Some source say Hitchcock missed to purchase the rights only by a few ours. So Clouzot got the surcharge and he no stranger too: "With the Wages of…

Blending together the elements of horror & mystery in a seamless manner, cleverly using its available resources to provide a sense of dread & uncertainty, and efficiently sustaining its tense atmosphere from start to finish, Diabolique (also known as Les Diaboliques) is one of the finest examples of its genre(s) that simply refuses to age despite being nearly 60 years old.

The story concerns the wife of a cruel headmaster who, along with the help of her husband's mistress, devises a plan to murder him, and after careful arrangement manages to successfully execute it without leaving behind any traces. However, things are ultimately set in motion when the body mysteriously disappears from site after which a number of strange occurrences ensue.

Ingeniously…

Wow.

I finished this film just moments ago, and I immediately want to go tell the world what I just saw. But I cant. Because at the end, a little message scrolled past that told me not to ruin the surprise. Diabolique is very interesting in the fact that a movie released in 1955, 58 years ago, is still making its audiences keep quiet about the ending. I have to thank the fans of the movie who didnt spoil this for me, and I will become one of those people who will carry the secret of this film to my grave.

Well, thats a little extreme, but I feel its justified in this context. The twist is simple, but planned…

The cold sweat, the uncontrollable trembling, the heavy breathing, the pressure on the chest, the burdensome weight felt by the knees, the inability to move, the faintness of the voice, the paralyzed mind. It’s fear, taking over. The artistry with which Henri-Georges Clouzot produces fear, sustains it and shows its crushing effects in Les Diaboliques elevate not only the film but the horror genre altogether. It is one of those rare occasions when the destabilizing nature of uncertainty, the sheer sense of dread and the spine-chilling force of fear are not taken for granted, but skillfully and vividly conveyed. Les Diaboliques is a film so effectively shrouded in mystery and delusion that it becomes a psychological assault of mind-boggling conviction.…

I’m really glad I lost sleep for this. I really enjoyed this. I had really intended to watch Vertigo and this film basically stole its spot but it was very fitting as there was a very Hitchcockian feel to this. Great tension building as the film moves on and things just get more desperate and desperate as they go. Vera Clouzot’s performance as a woman just being torn apart by the guilt of her action was great and so much of the film is really carried by her and Simone Signoret. The contrast between the two women’s demeanor and confidence is great and engaging the whole way. I had an idea of where the film might end and I’m really…

Added to: Henri-Georges Clouzot – Ranked

The gold standard for creepy thrillers. Tense even when calm thanks to Véra Clouzot's psychologically damaged Christina who's consistently unpredicable. H-G Clouzot shows his mastery of subverting audience expectations by carefully planing the intensity of every single character and revelation. On top of that, a perfectly unexplained feeling of the supernatural is added to his numerous successes in raw suspense. Interessting too is the underlying psychological aspects, resulting from both physical and mental abuse. But this type of abuse is not restricted to the two central women, it seems to be present in almost every character. It's not an entirely hateful atmosphere, but it's strict in the most unsetteling way, the type of place…