“Meeting the Criterion” is a series dedicated to exploring the arthouse and independent movies within the Criterion Collection.

Five years before Psycho shocked audiences around the world, the French masterpiece Diabolique established a groundwork in 1955 for what would become of the horror genre. 

Many of the horror and thriller films during the 1950s depicted otherworldly creatures out to kill, like in The Blob or Creature from the Black Lagoon. These creatures would normally be from another planet or hiding in the dark recesses of our own world. Diabolique, however, took a much subtler but just as effective approach. 

Centered around a mistress and wife of a not-so-likeable boarding school dean, the unlikely duo concocts a plan to murder him, but the plan goes awry when his body goes missing. This sets in motion a suspenseful mystery that ends with a shocking conclusion. Although the twist ending isn’t incredibly plausible, the gradual pacing and superb performances (especially from Simone Signoret) keep you guessing and thoroughly invested throughout the film. 

Although Alfred Hitchcock was already an established director, he was inspired by Diabolique, and also employed similar approaches that Psycho would become infamous for. From the use of shadows to twist endings, many Hitchcock staples are present in this French classic. In the same way that Psycho created dread during showers, you may get a similar feeling about bathtubs and pools after watching Diabolique.