Repulsion (1965)

A sex-repulsed woman who disapproves of her sister's boyfriend sinks into depression and has horrific visions of rape and violence.

Director:

Roman Polanski

Writers:

Roman Polanski (original screenplay), Gérard Brach (original screenplay) (as Gerard Brach)

Stars:

Catherine Deneuve, Ian Hendry, John Fraser

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Catherine Deneuve	...	Carol
Ian Hendry	...	Michael
John Fraser	...	Colin
Yvonne Furneaux	...	Helen
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

Storyline

In London, Belgian immigrant Carol Ledoux shares an apartment with her older sister Helen, and works as a manicurist at a beauty salon. Helen uses the word "sensitive" to describe Carol's overall demeanor, which is almost like she walks around in a daze, rarely speaking up about anything. When she does speak up, it generally is about something against one of those few issues on which she obsesses, such as Helen's boyfriend Michael's invasion of her space at the apartment. That specific issue may be more about men in general than just Michael's actions, as witnessed by Carol being agitated by hearing Helen and Michael's lovemaking, and she not being able to rebuff the advances effectively of a male suitor, Colin, who is infatuated with her. One of those other obsessive issues is noticing cracks and always wanting to fix them. While Helen and Michael leave on a vacation to Pisa, Italy, Carol chooses largely to lock herself in the apartment, ditching work. There, she is almost hypnotized...

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Plot Keywords:

female protagonist | mental illness | hallucination | delusion | fear of sex | 

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Taglines:

"A classic chiller of the 'Psycho' school!"

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Anthony Chinn, who appears as an interrogator in The Man Who Came in From The Cold, is seen here as a workman sitting next to Mike Pratt in the early sequence when Catherine Deneuve's character Carol crosses the road and Pratt requests Carol for sexual relations. Chinn would later appear as main alien in the TV series UFO.

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Goofs

Carol hallucinates a man breaking in her room and molesting her; the camera's shadow is cast on the bed in between shots.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Mrs. Rendlesham: Have you fallen asleep?
Carol: Oh, I'm sorry.
Mrs. Rendlesham: I think you must be in love or something.

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Alternate Versions

Entertainment Programs Inc. DVD release only runs 100 minutes (despite the 105 minute running time listed on the package).

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Connections

Referenced in Mr. Robot: eps3.6_fredrick+tanya.chk (2017)

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Soundtracks

Seduzione Al Buio
Written, Arranged and Conducted by John Scott
Performed by John Scott and Chico Hamilton

User Reviews

Terrifying and well-made movie.

This young woman's descent into insanity is so well documented that you truly thank God that it is not you that is going through this. Leave it to Roman Polanski to scare the hell out of you! I was grieving the death of someone who was very close to me when I saw this movie, and this movie snapped me out of that grief; the awareness that it could always be worse helped. Highly recommended.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 October 1965 (USA)

Also Known As:

Repulsion

Filming Locations:

Thurloe Place, South Kensington, London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$300,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$33,174

Company Credits

Production Co:

Compton Films, Tekli British Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1