Diabolique [1955 film]

A woman's husband's mistress helps her kill her husband.

Very little actual suspense. The "twist" ending is predictable. If there had been suspense throughout the film as there should have been, it might not have been so obvious that there would be a twist. Or if the movie wasn't agonizingly slow, you might not have to sit there with nothing better to do than figure out how it's going to end.

2024 movie #231. 1955. The wife and mistress of a loathed boy's school headmaster murder him in what they believe is the perfect crime. But then the body goes missing. The closing credits warn viewers not to reveal the shocking conclusion of the film. Pretty good.

SHE WHO WAS NO MORE by Pierre Boileau and Pierre Ayraud (aka Thomas Narcejac) was originally published in 1952. Collaborating as they did on mainly police stories I found the idea that Boileau was responsible for the plot and Narcejac the atmosphere and characters particularly intriguing. Both of which aspects really delivered in this film - the story of an unfaithful husband (Meurisse), his ambitious doctor lover (Signoret) and his passive, stay at home wife (Vera Amado). Atmospheric, restrained and deeply dark noir, SHE WHO WAS NO MORE was utterly compelling watching. Carefully plotted there's little that can be said about that aspect without giving away a lot (and to be honest, astute spectators may pick up on a series of clues along show more the way), but more's to the point with this film, it's the unraveling of Ravinel that's the most fascinating aspect. show less

Before Psycho, Peeping Tom, and Repulsion, there was Diabolique. This thriller from Henri‑Georges Clouzot, which shocked audiences in Europe and the U.S., is the story of two women—the fragile wife and the willful mistress of the sadistic headmaster of a boys’ boarding school—who hatch a daring revenge plot. With its unprecedented narrative twists and terrifying images, Diabolique is a heart-grabbing benchmark in horror filmmaking, featuring outstanding performances by Simone Signoret, Véra Clouzot, and Paul Meurisse.

El director de un colegio, el señor Delasalle, convive con su esposa y su amante, la profesora Horner. Pero las dos mujeres, cansadas de sufrir la constante tiranía y malos tratos del hombre que comparten, deciden que esa situación no puede continuar... (FILMAFFINITY)