Repulsion is in black and white, and for those uninterested in the history of film, this does not make it pretentious. Many popular color films and franchises, such as the Harry Potter film series (referring to the visual style of the films, not the books), borrow their look from German Expressionism, modernist styling, and a touch of film noir. Some of those stylistic touches are on display here as well. On my way to film school, I also learned to separate the art from the artist. Roman Polanski is a gifted filmmaker, though he may be a deeply troubled man. However, I am here to critique the movie, not the man. This is not an excuse for his actions, but you can read about him elsewhere. In the film, Carole, played by Catherine Deneuve, suffers from a mental breakdown while isolated in the apartment she shares with her sister, who is away on holiday. The signs of Carole’s breakdown are apparent, but they are also interwoven with nightmarish interactions with men who may have only one thing on their minds when it comes to the beautiful Carole. The horror in the film stems from the sense of dread and the initial ambiguity of whether these events are merely happening in Carole’s mind or are real. If the viewer plays along, it becomes a haunting experience. However, for those who don’t, much of the film may come across as silly by the end. I found myself in the middle; much of it worked, but at the same time, Carole becomes so unlikeable that it was difficult to appreciate the closure of her story.
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