Repulsion (1965) (Dir. Roman Polanski)
Having seen
Rosemary's Baby multiple times, I thought it was only right to check out the rest of Polanski's
Apartment Trilogy. The great thing about a non-narrative trilogy is that it doesn't matter which order you watch them in.
I appreciate horror that grounds the roots of fear in something very real. There might be no more effective foundation for the genre than mental illness. I'd go so far to say that
Repulsion fares far better in that respect than predecessors such as
Psycho and
Peeping Tom. It's a very natural and seamless progression here, never falling victim to same degree of cinematic affectation that the former rely on.
Gilbert Taylor does spectacular work behind the camera despite being confined almost entirely to one location. Catherine Deneuve delivers a very nuanced and disturbing portrayal of a schizophrenic break. The sound design uses organic noise better than other horror films have used their scores. More importantly it knows how to use silence, an essential ingredient in horror.
It's really a flawless picture as far as my tastes are concerned.
How unfortunate that Polanski's later life might spoil the experience for some.