Repulsion

You could say that "Repulsion" came out of the culture of '60s "Psycho" knock-offs. But the horror of Roman Polanski's second feature and first English language film is not in the murders perpetrated by an unbalanced young woman (Catherine Deneuve) losing herself in nightmares and phobias. It's in the terrifying psychology observed by Polanski as Deneuve's Carol, an alienated child-woman both fascinated and repulsed by sex, disconnects from the world and spirals into fantasy and nightmare. Polanski doesn't explain, he just explores with imaginative detail, eerie imagery (from decomposing food to an apartment that cracks open and reaches out to grab her like a Cocteau nightmare) and clinical detachment as the fragile girl slips into helpless madness. One thing is for sure: Apartment living is detrimental to your health and your soul in Polanski movies.

Criterion released the film more than a decade ago on laser disc but offers a new digital transfer approved by director Polanski for its DVD and Blu-ray debut. "I always considered 'Repulsion' as the shabbiest of my films," confesses Polanski in the commentary track, originally recorded in 1994 for Criterion's original laser disc release and edited together with reflections from star Deneuve. It's not that he thinks it's a bad film, merely technically sloppy because of the low budget. Polanski is joined by numerous collaborators in the 24-minute "A British Horror Film," a 2003 retrospective documentary profile of the film and its production, and there's priceless footage of Polanski directing Deneuve in the archival 1964 French TV program "Grand Ecran." Also features the original trailer and a booklet with a brief essay.