Repulsion (1965)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

Roman Polanski

Writers:

Roman Polanski (original screenplay) &
Gérard Brach (original screenplay) ...

Release Date:

3 October 1965 (USA)

Genre:

Thriller | Horror | Drama

Tagline:

From the Award-Winning "Knife In the Water"

Plot:

Left alone when her sister goes on vacation, a sexually repressed young beauty goes insane with surreal fantasies of seduction and rape.

Plot Keywords:

Hallucination | Seduction | Rape | Purse | Sister Sister Relationship

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Catherine Deneuve	...	Carole Ledoux
Ian Hendry	...	Michael
John Fraser	...	Colin
Yvonne Furneaux	...	Hélène Ledoux
Patrick Wymark	...	Landlord
Renee Houston	...	Miss Balch
Valerie Taylor	...	Madame Denise
James Villiers	...	John
Helen Fraser	...	Bridget
Hugh Futcher	...	Reggie
Monica Merlin	...	Mrs. Rendlesham
Imogen Graham	...	Manicurist
Mike Pratt	...	Workman

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Finland:(Banned) (1965) (uncut) | Finland:K-16 (1993) (uncut) | Finland:K-18 (1965) (cut) | UK:15 (2004) | Hungary:16 | Iceland:16 | UK:15 (theatrical re-release) | South Korea:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Australia:M | Norway:16 (original rating) | Norway:18 (video rating) | Sweden:15 | UK:18 (video rating) (1984) | UK:X (original rating) | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Earl's Court, London, England, UK

Company:

Compton Films

Trivia:

The scene where Catherine Deneuve stumbles across the bridge and down the street was filmed at Hammersmith Bridge, London.

Goofs:

Continuity: The position between shots of the telephone and the envelope when Carole picks up the rabbit and goes to answer the phone.

Quotes:

Carole Ledoux: I must get this crack mended.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Commune (2009)

MUST be seen in a theatre

Disturbing, harrowing tale of one girls' (Catherine Deneuve) descent into madness.

Catherine Deneuve's performance is fantastic--she plays it just right. Quite an accomplishment considering she was only 22 at the time! Roman Polanski's direction, beautiful black and white photography and effective use of sound really helps the film. Ahead of it's time.

Some people have complained about being bored by this film...I'm assuming they're watching in on TV. It's true--the film doesn't play as well on TV. I was lucky enough to see it for the first time in a theatre and it scared me silly. On a big screen you're pulled into the girls' madness--I was jumpy for days afterwards.

On TV it just doesn't work. It's still good, but nowhere near as unsettling. So, if you're going to see it, try to see it on a big-screen TV. This film almost never plays at revival cinemas--a real shame. Probably Polanski's best film next to "Chinatown".