Just Because Wednesday, Movies at Home: ‘Les Diaboliques’

The cover-up is worse than the crime. Isn’t that what public relations specialists always say? Well, it applies when a politician commits adultery, but what if John or Jane Q. Citizen murders someone?  The crime is bad enough on its own, but in “Les Diaboliques” (1955), the immediate cover-up morphs into something else: unbearable paranoia and a deep mystery. Well, it’s no mystery that AHFW features one of our favorite movies every Wednesday…just because!  This week, we’re going back in time 65 years and jumping across the pond to France…

31 Scary Movies: ‘Diabolique’

“Diabolique” (1955) – The cover-up is worse than the crime. In the case of director Henri-Georges Clouzot’s sensational “Diabolique” (1955), the cover-up morphs into something much more: unbearable paranoia and a deep mystery. It is not a mystery that Christina Delassalle (Vera Clouzot) isn’t happy.  She enjoys her job as a teacher and an owner of Delassalle Boarding School, but she’s married to a boorish jerk, Michel (Paul Meurisse). He openly cheats with another teacher, Nicole (Simone Signoret), and when Michel actually spends time with Christina, he usually browbeats her. …