Film Review - Repulsion (1965)

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The film Repulsion is a work of art in regards to the Horror Genre, the representation of Carol (Catherine Deneuve) in relation to the mise en scene is brilliant. Carol is a metaphor for 'repulsion' and 'desire' in men and women, the film shows exacerbated forms of this throughout the film and throughout her transformation through Dementia or madness.  
"Carol is not simply a Hitchcockian aberration of what lies beneath the “perfect woman,” she is the reflection of what lies beneath repressed desire — in men and women." (Morgan, 2011)

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Throughout the film we are given symbolism and metaphor for Carols current mental state, and with time, its complete decline. For example, the rabbit meat which is left on the plate in the apartment is slowly rotting, it is arguable the rotting rabbit is showing visual representation of Carols mind and an indicator of repulsion. "The interior and exterior environs of the film are locked in heady combat, a commentary perhaps on the push-pull effect of the movies." (Gonzales, 2006)

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The representation of desire in Repulsion is reflected heavily in regards to the males who frequent the film, there is a level of repressed desire in every interaction Carol has with the male characters, it is an over the top and surreal experience from the first interaction with the the Road worker who 'cat calls' Carol as she walks past to the interaction between her at the end of the film with the Landlord, who exhibits traits reminiscent of a predator grooming her with niceties before forcing himself on her. They represent an uncontrollable and dangerous state which we as the viewer feel continuously uneasy about. "The men she meets are far from sympathetically portrayed, and we are led to understand her fear and revulsion by the surreal expressionism used to portray her mental state." (Anon, 2016)

Bibliography:

Anon, G. (2016). Repulsion. [online] Time Out London. Available at: https://www.timeout.com/london/film/repulsion [Accessed 1 Dec. 2017].

Gonzalez, E. (2006). Repulsion | Film Review | Slant Magazine. [online] Slant Magazine. Available at: https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/review/repulsion [Accessed 1 Dec. 2017].

Morgan, K. (2011). Roman Polanski Understands Women: Repulsion. [online] HuffPost. Available at: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/kim-morgan/roman-polanski-understand_b_301292.html [Accessed 1 Dec. 2017].

Illustrations:

Figure 1 - Repulsion. (1965). [film] Directed by R. Polanski:  Compton Films: Tekli British Productions 

Figure 2 - Repulsion. (1965). [film] Directed by R. Polanski:  Compton Films: Tekli British Productions 

Figure 3 - Repulsion. (1965). [film] Directed by R. Polanski:  Compton Films: Tekli British Productions 

Figure 4 - Repulsion. (1965). [film] Directed by R. Polanski:  Compton Films: Tekli British Productions