Diabolique 4K 1996 Ultra HD 2160p

Story Movie

Two beautiful women hatched a plan: “We’ll poison that scumbag who treats us like dirt. We’ll toss his body into the dark water, and it’ll lie there until someone discovers this surprise.” But a surprise awaits them instead.

Review 4K Movie

Is the devil a man or a woman? Many directors have put forward various theories on this subject. This film is no exception. The devil is a woman (as the title itself suggests). There’s just one difference: there is no devil, strictly speaking, here. There are two women—teachers, both intelligent and beautiful. There is a man—not smart, nor even handsome, but a tyrant and a villain. And it’s probably not all that obvious which of them is the devil. But right at the beginning of the film, the man joins the ranks of the dead (not for long), so all attention is focused on the two she-devils and their escapades.

Isabelle Adjani and Sharon Stone. A blonde and a brunette. Coldness and emotion. In short, two complete opposites. That’s probably where all the interest lies. First, they help each other out; then they clash; and then peace and friendship return... Actually, it’s not entirely clear why the film is titled this way, since Isabelle Adjani doesn’t quite cut it as a villain, and while Stone does have the potential, she falls short. And at the center of all the events is once again Mr. Dostoevsky with his pangs of conscience and remorse. Which is exactly where Ajani’s character ends up, having ruined the entire course of events with her righteousness.

Once again, I’m amazed at how much American screenwriters love our Raskolnikov and his inner turmoil. I won’t argue—conscience is a serious matter, and it won’t lead to anything like that. Well, that’s exactly what this film will tell us, using the example of two charming women.

Generally speaking, the film is good—oh, so good. In terms of the emotions it evokes in the viewer (myself included), I rank "Diabolique" alongside *The Perfect Murder* and *Basic Instinct*, which hold top spots in my personal list of thriller classics. It has it all: atmosphere, tension, and beauty. I wasn’t distracted once throughout the entire film, and my interest never waned from start to finish. And just when, halfway through, the thought crept into my head that there probably wouldn’t be anything new anymore, the director introduces yet another woman—a detective with just one breast—and everything is turned upside down.

And even if ‘Diabolique’ isn't a perfect film, and even if the plot isn't new, and even if the actors aren't the best, it's an hour and a half of life spent in one breath.