Repulsion

At first glance, the second feature (and first English-language film) by Polish director Roman Polanski might look like another 1960s Psycho knockoff (it was released in 1965)—which is certainly all its producers expected. What Polanski delivered, however, was a thriller with horror-movie elements and the sensibility of a European art film. The true horror of Repulsion lies not in the murders perpetrated by an unbalanced young woman (Catherine Deneuve) plagued by nightmares and phobias, but rather in her loss of self as an alienated immigrant who disconnects from the world and unravels into fantasies and fears. Deneuve's Carol is a child-woman both fascinated and terrified by sex, unnerved by the mere touch of men (even her very respectful would-be boyfriend). But her nightmare fantasies of rape also suggest repressed memories of abuse, now bubbling to the surface in her isolation. Rather than explaining, Polanski explores these themes with imaginative detail, eerie imagery (walls split with a thunderclap, hands reach out from the hallway as in a Cocteau nightmare, food decomposes), and a haunting soundtrack, as the fragile girl slips into madness. Criterion's releases of Repulsion on DVD and Blu-ray (which looks absolutely stunning) share the same extras: commentary by Polanski and Deneuve that was recorded for the film's 1994 laserdisc release, a 2003 retrospective with Polanski and many of his collaborators (though not Deneuve) discussing the film's production, and an archival 1964 French TV show featuring priceless behind-the-scenes footage of Polanski on the set directing Deneuve. Highly recommended. (S. Axmaker)