Synopsis
In 'Repulsion' (1965), Catherine Deneuve stars as Carol, a fragile and repressed beauty repulsed by human contact and left alone in her London flat. As she descends into an increasingly volatile state, paranoid hallucinations and fantasies grip her, leading to violent impulses.
Why Watch It
Polanski transforms a single apartment into a nightmarish psychological maze, tracing one woman's descent into madness through increasingly disturbing imagery and sound design that feel genuinely unhinged. Catherine Deneuve delivers a haunting, near-silent performance as a woman whose repressed anxieties manifest into visceral, body-horror hallucinations that still unsettle audiences today. Essential viewing for anyone seeking early psychological horror that proves you don't need gore or jump scares—just pure, architectural dread.
Did You Know?
- Roman Polanski's first English language film.
- The first part of Polanski's 'Apartment Trilogy'.
- Catherine Deneuve was just 22 when she starred in 'Repulsion'.
- Film debut of actress Helen Fraser.
- Polanski appears in the movie as a spoon player.
Iconic Quotes
- "I must get this crack mended."
- "I won't be here, I won't be here."
- "All men are the same: they only think about one thing."
- "I wish Carol would keep these dates, she must live a little."
- "We must get this crack mended."
