Movie #112 Diabolique *1955*

Simone Signoret - Nicole Horner
Vera Clouzot - Christina Delassalle
Paul Meurisse - Michel Delassalle
Henri-Georges Clouzot (Director)

What a great surprise!  I was in the mood for some modern, light horror tonight.  I have had this film on my Netflix Streaming account for a while.  For some reason I was thinking it was an American horror film from the 70's.  Boy was I wrong.  I guess I should pay more attention to the synopsis.  But in this case I am glad I didn't or I wouldn't have selected this film.  As a matter of fact after the first 5 minutes I almost shut it off.  Not because it was bad, I just wasn't in the mood for a foreign film.

This film, made in 1955, is a French production.  It is less horror than psychological thriller.  It is the story of an abusive boys school principal.  Both his wife and his mistress work at the school and they are fully aware of each other.  The male, Michel, is not only abusive to the children, but to both of the women in his life.  Headed by the mistress, Christina they make up and follow through on a plan to murder Michel by drowning him in a bathtub then disposing the body in the murky school pond.  When the pool is drained however the body is missing!  Strange events begin to happen around the school and the town within.

This is one creepy, scary film.  I would whole heartedly recommend this movie to any horror enthusiast.  Now I might loose a few friends in doing so (not all my friends take kindly to 1950's French cinema).  I loved that at the end of the film there is a plea to please not tell your friends what happen during the movie.  It is a film that is centered around a major plot twist.

One issue for me was the pace at which the sub titles appear and disappear on screen.  I am a slow reader and there is a lot of talking.  This means that I spend a lot of time reading and not as much time appreciating the shots and camera work.  I was able to notice all types of scenes that must have been totally stolen by later films from this one.  I really enjoyed one shot in particular from inside the empty pool shot upwards at Nicole.

WOW!  I was surfing IMDB just now and saw that there is a remake of this film with Sharron Stone as the wife and Chazz Palminteri as the abusive principal.  I've never seen that movie, but it sounds horrible.  Kathy Bates, Spalding Gray and JJ Abrams all have small roles in it.  That is simply bizarre.

This film is available through Criterion Collection.  Gotta love it when you are totally and pleasantly surprised.  I give this film a 4/5 stars.  Check out the Trailer Park to see for yourself.