Drama,Horror,Mystery,Thriller
United States of America
Diabolique is a French suspense thriller released in 1955, directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot. The movie stars Simone Signoret, Véra Clouzot, and Paul Meurisse in lead roles.
The story starts at a rundown boarding school, where the abusive headmaster Michel Delassalle (Meurisse) terrorizes the staff and students. His wife Christina (Clouzot) and the timid Nicole Horner (Signoret) are both mistresses of Michel and plan to murder him together. They decide to drug Michel with a powerful sedative, drown him in a bathtub, and then dump his body in the school swimming pool.
After carrying out the plan successfully, Christina and Nicole throw a party to cover up their tracks. However, when the body disappears from the pool, the women get nervous and start suspecting each other. Meanwhile, a retired detective named Alfred Fichet (Charles Vanel) begins to investigate the disappearance after finding an anonymous letter.
As the investigation progresses, Christina and Nicole's mental state deteriorates, and they begin to suspect that Michel is still alive and playing mind games with them. Moreover, a young boy from the school claims to have seen Michel alive, which adds to their confusion and paranoia.
Diabolique is known for its excellent direction, suspenseful plot, and unexpected twists. The film's eerie tone, coupled with the brilliant performances by the actors, keeps the audience on the edge of their seats until the very end. The movie was a commercial success when it released and remains a classic of the suspense/thriller genre.
