“It's a fantastically fine, grisly suspense shocker; a deep-freeze exercise in conscienceless killing; a tricky, murderous little honey dealing in sheer horror.” - Mildred Martin, Philadelphia Inquirer
“Through his sheer cunning at moviemaking, Clouzot soon breaks down our disbelief; and with the situation - and us - well in hand proceeds to tighten his vise so steadily that we are soon powerless to escape.” - Philip K. Scheuer, Los Angeles Times
“A devilishly good movie, real cool for hot weather.” - Helen Bower, Detroit Free Press
Sunday, July 6, 2:00 p.m. & Saturday, July 12, 6:00 p.m. | In this suspenseful French classic, the sadistic headmaster of a boys’ school becomes the target of a murder plot by two women: his sympathetic wife and his headstrong mistress. With twists on top of turns, DIABOLIQUE is an absolute hair-raising moviegoing experience, with The New York Daily News declaring, “The horrors, psychological as well physical, make this a shocker worthy of the devil himself.” As the film concludes, text appears with a simple plea: “Don’t be devils! Don’t ruin the interest your friends could take in this film. Don’t tell them what you saw. Thank you, on their behalf.” In its review, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette went a step further, writing, “If somebody insists, against all warnings, on telling you how DIABOLIQUE comes out, kill him in cold blood. There isn’t a jury in the land that would convict you.” Imported 35mm print courtesy of Institut Français.
Awards & Nominations
Winner - Best Foreign Language Film, New York Film Critics Circle Awards
Winner - Best Foreign Film (Special Edgar), Edgar Allan Poe Awards
Spoiler Alert | July 4–29, 2025
Zip your lips, hold your tongues, and keep it to yourself: you are entering a spoiler-free zone! The eight films of Spoiler Alert include twists, turns, and jaw-dropping conclusions, and the secrecy makes their reveals all the more satisfying. Some of you might try to guess the endings (beware of red herrings, false leads, and smokescreens!); others will relish the uncertainty. Either way, there’s nothing quite like the moment when everyone in the movie theater experiences the “aha!” together. No spoiler here; it’s the best.
The Film Center is ADA accessible. This presentation will be projected without open captions. The theater is hearing-loop equipped. For accessibility requests, please email filmcenter@saic.edu