The twist ending of Diabolique entered pop-culture like a tidal wave. Shortly after, television shows like The Twilight Zone and The Alfred Hitchcock Hour would routinely use twist endings.

The central plot twist of Ira Levin's play Deathtrap (1982) is a direct lift from Diabolique.

The movie's shock killing paved the way for such movies as Psycho (1960).

The movie was remade several times, including Reflections of Murder, a 1974 made-for-TV-movie, directed by John Badham, starring Tuesday Weld, Joan Hackett and Sam Waterston and in 1996 for theatrical release, starring Sharon Stone and Isabelle Adjani.

The bathtub scene is mirrored in the book and movie versions of Stephen King's The Shining (1980). The discovered typewritten page, with Michel's name typed repeatedly in different formations, also shows up in the film version of The Shining with the now famous discovery by Wendy of Jack's "All Work and No Play Make Jack a Dull Boy" manuscripts.

by Greg Ferrara