Rating: 
Summary: The Perfect Script
Review: Henri-Georges Clouzot created a masterpiece of suspense that rewards the attentive viewer with a fine tale well told. Remember that "Diabolique" is nearly a half century old, yet has a refreshingly realistic (i.e., dark) edge absent from American films of the early fifties. Clouzot's real life wife plays the saintly long-suffering wife; the great Simone Signoret the calculating mistress, and the taut scenes and water imagery keep the story snowballing 'till that knockout ending. "Diabolique" demonstrates that "art house" and "thriller" need not be separate genres.
Rating:
Summary: An exercise in pure dread.
Review: Henri-Georges Clouzot's 'Diaboliaue' is a finely spun web of suspense, starting to weave itself slowly at first, and then faster and faster, until all hope of escape has vanished. It's power is paralyzing, it's images are haunting, and it's atmosphere is thick and merciless. The film begins and proceeds in a stately manner, with beaten, suffering wife (Vera Clouzot) plotting the death of her abusive husband (Paul Meurisse) with his mistress (Simone Signoret). All three work at a provincial boy's school, Clouzot is the rightful owner, Meurisse is the cold director, and Signoret is a teacher. The school itself is remarkably photographed, with long, dark hallways and decaying, ancient walls. After drowing him in a bathtub, the two ladies dump his body into the school swimming pool. When the pool is drained, however, the body is missing. The fear he may still be alive... and out for vengence. What follows is a carefully sculpted piece of suspense, on par with any of Hitchcock's films. The final half-an-hour of 'Diabolique' is relentless in it's terror, pushing the limitations of it's audience further and further up the cliff before kicking them, brutally and unforgiveable, off the edge. All the performances are fine, with assured direction from Henri-Georges Clouzot. Watching the film, which was made back in 1954 (6 years before Hitchcock tested the stomachs of moviegoers and censors alike with 'Psycho), i was amazed at just how advanced the French film community was in relation to the Uniter States. Not only is the subject matter and dialog much more harsh and natural, the whole film seems years ahead of it's time. It is an unnerving and unforgettable horror film. A film that sticks to the inner walls of your mind. Pure nightmare fuel and a must see for anyone.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Classic Thriller
Review: I don't have too much to say, except to echo the accolades that your other reviewers have given this masterpiece of suspense from France. The few people who found it too tame or dull are perhaps those enamoured of films with characters named "Jason" or "Freddy" ! For anyone who reveals the surprise ending, this would be a crime even more atrocious than the one depicted in the movie, and should be punishable by a re-instated guillotine ! Simone Signoret and Vera Clouzot are unforgettable in the leads, each character playing beautifully off the other. One other comment--this is a 50s film, yet schoolboys are portrayed with brutal accuracy--they swear, act rudely, are preocuupied with sex--these are real children, not those that are found in Disney films. The DVD is nice--some wear is visible here and there, but does not detract from your experience. Of course, the film is in French, but the subtitles are smooth. The absence of music is another plus. In some Hollywood suspense films, you can tell that "something is about to happen" because of the music--not the case here. If you collect Hitchcock films and other suspense thrillers, your library is not complete without this true classic.
Rating:
Summary: Real Horror!
Review: I first saw this as the original in a movie theter when I was a teenager and it was the scariest movie I ever saw. It is still an excellent example of the genre, if not still the most terrifying experience I have had from a movie, even though I already know the plot. One of the reasons for its success is that there are no fancy sets, no supernatural effects, no ghosts . . . a story that can take place just about anywhere. The modern re-make is an insult to the original and should be scrapped.
Rating: 
Summary: Diabolique
Review: I have heard about this movie for decades but the tv prints were always unwatchable. I bought the DVD and was pleasantly surprised with a good old-fashioned thriller. I was disappointed that the Criterion DVD did not give me choice to have the english speaking version as well as the original french. I do not understand french and listening to the actors meant nothing to me as I still had to read the subtitles. I will never buy a non-dubbed DVD again as there is certainly the abilty to do so on DVD.
Rating: 
Summary: Slow.
Review: I kept thinking "hitchcock ripoff" the entire time. It's not really that scary, but if you're into these "non scary" types of horror films, then check it out. Not bad but not good either.
Rating: 
Summary: Swimming against the current
Review: I've looked at the other reviews of this film, and I'm puzzled by the exuberance and admiration of this film. It is a good murder mystery with several good twists, but the dialogue seems very choppy. That might be, at least partly, because of the dubbing, but the actors seem stilted and caricaturish, with lots of heavy-handed smarminess from the male lead and simpering from the wife. I saw no reason why anyone would like or trust any of the people portrayed, and yet they are fascinated with one another. They seem to be caught up in romantic games that would fit some of the older students at the private school that serves as the film's setting. I actually preferred the television remake, REFLECTIONS OF MURDER, starring Sam Waterston, Tuesday Weld, and Joan Hackett, where there seemed to be more polish and less extremism in the characters.
Rating:
Summary: A sometimes confusing, angst ridden classic
Review: If "Diabolique" influenced Hitchcock's "Psycho", one would have to say that the classic French film exceeds the 'classic' American slasher flick. In a twisted and at times really confused turn of events, a shy schoolmarm teams up with her husband's mistress to kill him (or so we think). The husband is a real SOB, constantly bossing both of them around and treating his students like dogs. Since he is in a position of provincial power, however, his petty control games and short temper go unremarked upon. There are tones of lesbianism in this sleek thriller, with the wife and mistress and forming (*(it seems*) a strong bond in their hatred of the husband. The only lucid character we have is a private investigator who precipitates a tragedy, perhaps without knowing it. (Or is he in on it too?_ I won't spoil the rest of the film for the viewer, but it would be safe to say that this is one of the strangest plots I have ever encountered, and one of the most intriguing. We are confronted with weakness versus strength, good versus evil, and the standard collection of themes, but in a subtle, disturbing fashion. The last scene in the film, when a child comments on the schoolmarm's appearance in the school, is enough to leave one wondering whether there is yet another element at work which we have not yet seen. This is far better than "Psycho", although one can see the parallels. A must see.
Rating:
Summary: A sometimes confusing, angst ridden classic
Review: If "Diabolique" influenced Hitchcock's "Psycho", one would have to say that the classic French film exceeds the 'classic' American slasher flick. In a twisted and at times really confused turn of events, a shy schoolmarm teams up with her husband's mistress to kill him (or so we think). The husband is a real SOB, constantly bossing both of them around and treating his students like dogs. Since he is in a position of provincial power, however, his petty control games and short temper go unremarked upon. There are tones of lesbianism in this sleek thriller, with the wife and mistress and forming (*(it seems*) a strong bond in their hatred of the husband. The only lucid character we have is a private investigator who precipitates a tragedy, perhaps without knowing it. (Or is he in on it too?_ I won't spoil the rest of the film for the viewer, but it would be safe to say that this is one of the strangest plots I have ever encountered, and one of the most intriguing. We are confronted with weakness versus strength, good versus evil, and the standard collection of themes, but in a subtle, disturbing fashion. The last scene in the film, when a child comments on the schoolmarm's appearance in the school, is enough to leave one wondering whether there is yet another element at work which we have not yet seen. This is far better than "Psycho", although one can see the parallels. A must see.
Rating:
Summary: SUSPENSE
Review: If you have seen the major films of Alfred Hitchcock, you will surely have some moments of deja vu with 'Diabolique'. Like Hitchcock, Clouzot is able to generate suspense in a way that is so striking and methodic it hits you like a punch in the gut - even watching this film 50 years after its release! So it is this feeling of masterful suspense that makes us think of other films - like Psycho for example. That being said, I think 'diabolique' is every bit as original, stylish, and well-made as anything Hitchcock made. I would put this one right along side 'Vertigo' as the best suspense film ever made!
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