Review of Repulsion (1965) by Paolo S — 06 Oct 2009

You know at times we're often to concerned with Roman Polanski's personal faults we often forget to look at his highly stylish and captivating movies of the 60's and 70's. Of course Chinatown, starring Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunway, is perhaps his greatest and most famous achievements. Rosemary's Baby another psychological thriller is a magnificent tale which always keeps the viewer in constant focus. But its Polanki's original 1965 classic which would make him a star, a legend, and would of course introduce him to the country that would later ridicule and practically banish him. America.

Now psychological thrillers aren't an easy thing to do. I mean if you want to make a goo one of course. These thrillers are often the hardest form of horror to create. They have to be spot on, engrossing, and they nee to be so well made that the viewer doesn't want to see it again. Psychological thrillers don't rely on making the audience scared. They focus more on making you feel uncomfortable. A more deeper fear, a fear of well pretty much yourself. You need to be truly "freaked out" of yourself to enjoy a good thriller. Repulsion is the pinnacle of those thrillers.

Repulsion follows the story of a young woman named Carol(Catherine Deneuve) who happens to have arrhenphobia, fear of men. She manages to become completely and utterly REPULSED at the though of, sight of, or even the mentioning of men. Weirdly enough though she is a virgin but still marvel at the thought of sex, even though se can't have it. Though most of the facts are only innuendo, there is no clear cut fact of why she has this fear. She just does. And thats something that makes it all the more enticing. After her sister leaves for vacation, Carol lives in her flat, her "little" phobia quickly turns into a full fledged psychosis. She never leaves the home, lives with the food as it rots, and kills men. Innocent young men. Now of course the plot my not seem all that much but Polanski is able to create something so vivid, so real you think it's actually happening to you. As you sit there in the dark(yes I do recommend you see this in the dark) you start to become just as paranoid as she is. Claustrophobic as she is. You become her. Her fear is your fear. Why you have no idea, it just happens.

The entire film is shot in black and white, which only heightens the tension that builds up throughout the whole film. Deneuve turns a performance worthy of the highest honor. Her weird, creepy, and brilliant performance is not only something to marvel at, but is just plain respectable. Often considered as a pretty face in her hay day, she manages to create this psycho often reminiscent of a female Norman Bates.

Roman Polanski crates this whole world just within the confines of a woman's flat. This creepy and extremely real look into the mind and all it's functions is only the beginning of Polanski's "Apartment Trilogy". This tale of a woman's own paranoia and fears consuming her until there's nothing left has often been copied but never successfully duplicated. An excellent piece of film making which is no surprise as to why it's part of the Criterion Collection. This film, in all it's remastered glory, still maintains the fear, the darkness, and the intensity of when it was first released. And even when the movie is done and you see that final glimpse of Carol hiding under her bed, you just might find yourself doing the same thing.