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Horror in Black and White: ‘Les Diaboliques’ (1955)

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Les Diaboliques

The year was 1955, and American audiences were riding the wave of suspense created by Alfred Hitchcock with Rear Window and To Catch a Thief. Little did most of them know that across the ocean in France, Les Diaboliques aka Diabolique had taken the country by storm and had audiences on the edge of their seats.

Based on a novel by Boileau and Narcejac and directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot, Les Diaboliques would challenge Hitchcock’s finest works to date. In fact, it was rumored that the Master of Suspense had missed the opportunity to buy the rights to the novel by mere hours.

In the film, the wife (Vera Clouzot) and the mistress (Simone Signoret) of an abusive school headmaster (Paul Meurisse) have had enough and together they devise a plan to be rid of him once and for all. They drug him, drown him in a bathtub, and dump him in the school’s swimming pool, but when the pool is drained for cleaning, the body has disappeared.

In the following days, both women are haunted by strange, inexplicable events that terrify them and will bring them to the brink of madness with a twist ending you have to see to believe.

Les Diaboliques the moment of death
Vera Clouzot, Simone Signoret, and Paul Meurisse in Les Diaboliques

Is there any wonder why Hitchcock wanted the property?!

Upon its release, the film became one of the top grossing films in France that year, but it was not an easy film to bring to the screen. In fact, some of the drama going on behind the scenes nearly rivaled what made it to the screen.

For starters, the film’s star Vera Clouzot was the wife of the director, and their marriage was tumultuous at the best of times. He demanded realism from his actors, and at one point, when Vera’s character was forced by her husband to eat rotten fish, Henri-Georges actually served her rotten fish during the scene which she had to consume.

Needless to say, she was not pleased, and tensions rose on set.

Vera was also prone to bouts of depression and mania and when Henri-Georges and Simone Signoret would clash on screen she would either arbitrate or exacerbate the situation depending on her mood.

Speaking of Simone, her contract stated that she would be paid for an eight-week shoot. When the shooting schedule doubled in time, Henri-Georges hunkered down and refused to pay her for the extra eight weeks. She fought the decisions, unsuccessfully.

Les Diaboliques poster

To add fuel to the flame, Signoret had agreed to a role in a stage version of The Crucible which was set to go into rehearsals well after the shoot for the film was supposed to end. Because of the scheduling issues and because the director would not work around the rehearsal schedule, she was forced to film all day, rehearse well into the night, and scrape together a few hours of sleep where she could.

By the end of the shoot, neither the director nor the two leading actresses were speaking to one another.

Despite what went on off-camera, the film was received well by critics and audiences alike. Today, it holds a nearly perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes, and has been included in the lauded Criterion Collection.

It is widely considered one of the greatest films of its kind ever made, and has appeared on numerous “Best Of” lists since its release.

Les Diaboliques is available for streaming on numerous platforms and is even free for members on Amazon Prime, and if you ask me, it’s perfect for a late night movie with the man or woman you love.

Then again, my sense of romance has always been a little different…

For more Horror in Black and White check out last week’s entry: The Bat.

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The Top-Searched Free Horror/Action Movies on Tubi This Week

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The free streaming service Tubi is a great place to scroll when you’re unsure what to watch. They are not sponsored or affiliated with iHorror. Still, we really appreciate their library because it’s so robust and has many obscure horror movies so rare you can’t find them anywhere in the wild except, if you’re lucky, in a moist cardboard box at a yard sale. Other than Tubi, where else are you going to find Nightwish (1990), Spookies (1986), or The Power (1984)?

We take a look at the most searched horror titles on the platform this week, hopefully, to save you some time in your endeavor to find something free to watch on Tubi.

Interestingly at the top of the list is one of the most polarizing sequels ever made, the female-led Ghostbusters reboot from 2016. Perhaps viewers have seen the latest sequel Frozen Empire and are curious about this franchise anomaly. They will be happy to know it’s not as bad as some think and is genuinely funny in spots.

So take a look at the list below and tell us if you are interested in any of them this weekend.

1. Ghostbusters (2016)

Ghostbusters (2016)

An otherworldly invasion of New York City assembles a pair of proton-packed paranormal enthusiasts, a nuclear engineer and a subway worker for battle.An otherworldly invasion of New York City assembles a pair of proton-packed paranormal enthusiasts, a nuclear engineer and a subway worker for battle.

2. Rampage

When a group of animals becomes vicious after a genetic experiment goes awry, a primatologist must find an antidote to avert a global catastrophe.

3. The Conjuring The Devil Made Me Do It

Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren uncover an occult conspiracy as they help a defendant argue that a demon forced him to commit murder.

4. Terrifier 2

After being resurrected by a sinister entity, Art the Clown returns to Miles County, where his next victims, a teenage girl and her brother, await.

5. Don’t Breathe

A group of teens breaks into a blind man’s home, thinking they’ll get away with the perfect crime but get more than they bargained for once inside.

6. The Conjuring 2

In one of their most terrifying paranormal investigations, Lorraine and Ed Warren help a single mother of four in a house plagued by sinister spirits.

7. Child’s Play (1988)

A dying serial killer uses voodoo to transfer his soul into a Chucky doll which winds up in the hands of a boy who may be the doll’s next victim.

8. Jeepers Creepers 2

When their bus breaks down on a deserted road, a team of high school athletes discovers an opponent they cannot defeat and may not survive.

9. Jeepers Creepers

After making a horrific discovery in the basement of an old church, a pair of siblings find themselves the chosen prey of an indestructible force.

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Morticia & Wednesday Addams Join Monster High Skullector Series

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Believe it or not, Mattel’s Monster High doll brand has an immense following with both young and not-so-young collectors. 

In that same vein, the fan base for The Addams Family is also very large. Now, the two are collaborating to create a line of collectible dolls that celebrate both worlds and what they have created is a combination of fashion dolls and goth fantasy. Forget Barbie, these ladies know who they are.

The dolls are based on Morticia and Wednesday Addams from the 2019 Addams Family animated movie. 

As with any niche collectibles these aren’t cheap they bring with them a $90 price tag, but it’s an investment as a lot of these toys become more valuable over time. 

“There goes the neighborhood. Meet the Addams Family’s ghoulishly glamorous mother-daughter duo with a Monster High twist. Inspired by the animated movie and clad in spiderweb lace and skull prints, the Morticia and Wednesday Addams Skullector doll two-pack makes for a gift that’s so macabre, it’s downright pathological.”

If you want to pre-purchase this set check out The Monster High website.

Wednesday Addams Skullector doll
Wednesday Addams Skullector doll
Footwear for Wednesday Addams Skullector doll
Morticia Addams Skullector doll
Morticia Addams doll shoes
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1994’s ‘The Crow’ Coming Back to Theaters for A New Special Engagement

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The Crow

Cinemark recently announced that they will be bringing The Crow back from the dead once again. This announcement comes just in time for the film’s 30th anniversary. Cinemark will be playing The Crow in select theaters on May 29th and 30th.

For those unaware, The Crow is a fantastic film based on the gritty graphic novel by James O’Barr. Widely considered one of the best films of the 90s, The Crow’s lifespan was cut short when Brandon Lee died of an accidental on set shooting.

The official synapsis of the film is as follows. “The modern-gothic original that entranced audiences and critics alike, The Crow tells the tale of a young musician brutally murdered alongside his beloved fiancée, only to be risen from the grave by a mysterious crow. Seeking revenge, he battles a criminal underground that must answer for its crimes. Adapted from the comic book saga of the same name, this action-packed thriller from director Alex Proyas (Dark City) features hypnotic style, dazzling visuals, and a soulful performance by the late Brandon Lee.”

The Crow

The timing of this release couldn’t be better. As a new generation of fans eagerly awaits the release of The Crow remake, they can now see the classic film in all of its glory. As much as we love Bill Skarsgard (IT), there is something timeless in Brandon Lee’s performance in the film.

This theatrical release is part of the Scream Greats series. This is a collaboration between Paramount Scares and Fangoria to bring audiences some of the best classic horror films. So far, they are doing a fantastic job.

That’s all the information we have at this time. Make sure to check back here for more news and updates.

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