Repulsion
Seen it?1965 | 105 min | Drama, Thriller, Horror
Saturday SpecialWhy it’s a Saturday Special
Critics loved it (95% on Rotten Tomatoes), it made about 10 times its budget and it's still drawing plenty of interest. A strong pick for the weekend.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who likes to be kept guessing and horror fans. If you loved The Tenant or Barbarian, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Scary.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 45 min.
- What might put you off
- Made in 1965: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Beautiful young manicurist Carole suffers from androphobia (the pathological fear of interaction with men). When her sister and roommate, Helen, leaves their London flat to go on an Italian holiday with her married boyfriend, Carole withdraws into her apartment. She begins to experience frightful hallucinations, her fear gradually mutating into madness.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
95% on Rotten Tomatoes, 91 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.4 out of 10
- AwardsWeak
Won 1 Berlin award: Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize.
- Box office & staying powerStrong
$3 million worldwide on a $300K budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 115K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Roman Polanski
- Catherine DeneuveCarol Ledoux
- Ian HendryMichael
- John FraserColin
- Yvonne FurneauxHélène Ledoux
- Patrick Wymarkle propriétaire
- Renée HoustonMme Balch
- Valerie TaylorMme Denise
- James VilliersJohn
- Helen FraserBrigitte
- Monica MerlinMme Rendesham