Les Diaboliques

Language: French                                Year: 1957

Widely considered 'the best film Hitchcock never made', Les Diaboliques is a bench mark for suspense thrillers and a film that has been imitated for the last fifty years. Directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot, a rival of hitchcocks at the time and a deserving runner up for the 'master of suspense' plaudit.

The Headteacher of a boarding school (Paul Meurisse) is drowned and killed by his long suffering wife and mistress (played by Vera Clouzot,the director's wife and Simone Signoret respectively). When the body appears to have disappeared and supposed sightings of the dead man appear around the school, the murderers start to lose their grip on reality.

This film is incredibly powerful. Over half a century old and still as gripping and affecting as was reported on it's release. The ending has a superb twist and is played out perfectly.

One of the more successful films of its time and one that showed filmmakers what you could really do with cinema.

WARNING: steer well clear of the Hollywood remake from the nineties staring Sharon Stone.