LES DIABOLIQUES (1955) & H.G. CLOUZOUT: THE FRENCH HITCHCOCK

HORROR 101 with Dr. AC

LES DIABOLIQUES (1955) d. Henri-Georges Clouzout (France) Slip into the dark and suspenseful world of “The French Hitchcock,” Henri-Georges Clouzot (The Wages of Fear), and his extraordinary nonpareil of suspense, 1955’s Les Diaboliques, where nothing is as it seems and every twist keeps you on the edge of your seat. Set in and around a remote boarding school, a frail wife (Vera Clouzout) and her romantic rival (Simone Signoret) plot to murder her cruel, abusive husband (Paul Meurisse). But when things do not go as planned, the two women are thrust into a terrifying psychological nightmare where nothing is what it seems. From its chilling atmosphere to the unforgettable performances, we’ll explore every haunting detail that makes Les Diaboliques one of the most daring and suspenseful features ever made, ripe for rediscovery by a new generation on this, its 70th anniversary! Packed with secrets and surprises, AC and his marvelous panel of guests (Don Bapst, Mark Easteadt, Melissa Hannon, Doug Long, and Cullen Wade) break down this cinematic masterpiece’s groundbreaking narrative, exploring how it revolutionized psychological thrillers and inspired countless filmmakers, including The Master himself. ---------------------------------------- DON BAPST is an American-Canadian novelist, filmmaker, and playwright whose titles include The Hanged Man, Recalculating Euphoria, and Doppelgänger. He’s currently developing a horror film set in the Yukon. https://donbapst.com/ MARK EASTEADT is a movie-lovin', trivia-spoutin', music-sharin', pop culture nerd that loves talking about all of the above. He also hosts the horror movie Meetup, Charlottesville Horror Film Fanatics https://www.meetup.com/charlottesville-horror-film-fanatics MELISSA HANNON is a horror fanatic, Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, and the founder/EIC of http://horrorgeeklife.com, packed with the latest news about all things scary and spooky. DOUG LONG is a theatre director, writer, and on the faculty at DePaul University, where his classes include “The Films of Alfred Hitchcock.” He has written book reviews for several film journals, including Film Quarterly and Film & History. CULLEN WADE is the author of S(p)lasher Flicks: The Swimming Pool in Horror Cinema, out in 2025 from McFarland Books. Follow him on letterboxd @tobe_whooper and Bluesky @cullenwade.bsky.social -------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!