MovieChat Forums > Les diaboliques (1955) Discussion > Not for a second did i feel scared, thri...

Not for a second did i feel scared, thrilled or mystified....

posted 8 years ago by CalibMcBolts
5 replies | jump to latest

I expected so much from this film, i heard lots about how great the plottwist was (I didnt know what it was but only that it was great), i heard how unbearably intense and thrilling it was, and how terrifying and scary it was.

Well, in my humble opinion it was none of that, not for a second in the entire runtime did i feel scared, thrilled or mystified. The buildup was way to long, the plottwist/ending/payoff, was as predictable as can be, i saw that one coming from a mile away, because why the hell would the mistress help the wife of Michel? and obviously if the body was gone, he must still be alive. Putting 2 and 2 together, it was painfully obvious that the plottwist was going to be that Michel was still alive and that it was the works of the mistress and michel. and what a surprise i was right.

This film didnt do anything for me, i wasnt scared, i wasnt thrilled, i wasnt mystified, and above all, i wasnt entertained. Why this is labeled as a susenseful horror/mystery/thriller/drama is wholy surprising to me

Comparing this to Psycho is almost disrespectful to Hitchcock. He made Psycho to outreach what Clouzot did with Diaboliques, and he succeeded big time. Psycho is better in every single aspect of filmmaking. Psycho is a wholly engrossing film experience that can be watched time and time again, Diaboliques is a dry, sloggy, and painfully uninteresting exocution of a phenomenally captivating premise.

I love Clouzot, Wages of Fear is one of my favorite films of all time, so that also build some high expectations.

Favorite films of all time list
http://www.imdb.com/list/ls031708001

[–] nm-33602 8 years ago

I agree. After watching I read some of the 10/10 reviews saying how this is undoubtedly the greatest psychological thriller ever made, or it is extremely suspenseful and just thought "WTF are these people talking about?"

It is also one of the moviesin which the resolution is so predictable that it makes you 2nd guess yourself because that 'twist' would just be way too easy.

Anyway, I rated it a 6/10. If it was a modern movie I would give it a 5, but +1 since I am slightly forgiving towards old films.

[–] yamen-yamel 8 years ago

It's all opinions you know :/ :3
9/10 to me .

[–] CalibMcBolts 8 years ago

Ofcourse, ofcourse ;)

Favorite films of all time list
http://www.imdb.com/list/ls031708001

[–] Beau_Buffet 7 years ago

The problem, here, is that you knew there was going to be a big twist, you were looking for one.

I did not know anything about this movie and was pleasantly surprise by the end twist.

Your post comforts me in my habit of knowing the less possible before watching a movie (never watch trailers, etc).

I also think Psycho is the better movie, but I'm baffled with why people on this board keep comparing the two. I don't think they're alike in any ways.

[–] CalibMcBolts 7 years ago

I knew that Psycho had many twist before watching it, but that film wholly surprised me in every way & still didnt see it coming at all.

Even if i wasnt looking for a plottwist i most definitely know i wouldve still figured it out before the end. It's sooo unbelievably predictable & w/ a bit of logical reasoning you know the ending 20+ minutes before it happens

Diabolique & Psycho are famous examples of films to compare, because Clouzot was called the "new-Hitchcock" at the time after making succesful thriller in france, & Hitch himself was offended by it, so he made Psycho to out-do Clouzot. Which he did, big time.