I have been on a roll lately with movies! I have had such good films come my way over the last few weeks that I'm a bit concerned. A run of good movies usually means I will be watching a bunch of dogs soon. Looking back, I have really enjoyed everything through the Honeymoon Killers at the beginning of this month, but before that I watched Shoot the Moon, The Hunger and Time after Time. Ick.
Anyway, this one - Les Diaboliques (also known as Diaboliques or the Fiends) is top of the line all the way. I have read in different publications that this is the best movie Hitchcock never made, and I totally get it. It is listed in many places as a horror film, but to me it is suspense, like Rear Window is suspense. I think Psycho crosses the line to horror, but where that line exists is hard for me to say - perhaps it's just personal.
Paul Meurisse plays Michel Delassalle who married his wife for her inheritance: money and a boarding school. He abuses his wife, Christina (played by Véra Clouzot), both physically and emotionally. His girlfriend, Nicole, is a teacher at the school, played by Simone Signoret. (FYI - this is one of France's most famous actors, and this movie displays her well.)
The two women work together and are friends, as they both detest Michel. He is abusive to both and this draws them together. Nicole has had it, and she wants to kill Michel, but needs Christina's help. Christina reluctantly agrees; they drown the husband and throw him in the school's dirty pool. But his body is never found, and eventually they realize the body is missing. Christina has a heart condition, and these strange occurrences begin to wear on her. Nicole is torn between helping her friend and taking off, as this situation is a mess.
I guessed what was going on in the beginning (if you watch Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte you will figure this one out as well, plus the movie has been copied 4 million times), but I was very uncertain as the movie rolled on. The suspense really ratchets up, and the atmosphere is great. It could have ended many ways - and it did have a surprise at the end that I did not expect at all. This is a great movie - you can watch it with your kids (if they can read).
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