Review of Repulsion (1965) by Phillip K — 24 Nov 2007

Barking mad, but that's the point. catherine deneuve goes slowly but comprehensively insane in a flat on her own. she hallucinates the wall caving in, she dreams of being raped and wanders through the film with such a dead, bored expression on her face.

the whole thing is pretty intense, especially once she's stopped interacting with the outside world. but I think polanski is careful to make sure it's the world that informs her madness; she is surrounded by lascivious men who repulse her.

I loved the scene of her sniffing a man's vest then vomiting. I also liked the uncertain ending. to her neibours she seems to be the innocent victim of a brutal attack, but her madness makes her strong and formidable.

mad stuff.