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Repulsion

Play trailer Poster for Repulsion 1965 1h 45m Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
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96% Tomatometer 67 Reviews 86% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
In Roman Polanski's first English-language film, beautiful young manicurist Carole (Catherine Deneuve) suffers from androphobia (the pathological fear of interaction with men). When her sister and roommate, Helen (Yvonne Furneaux), leaves their London flat to go on an Italian holiday with her married boyfriend (Ian Hendry), Carole withdraws into her apartment. She begins to experience frightful hallucinations, her fear gradually mutating into madness.
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Repulsion

Repulsion

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Critics Consensus

Roman Polanski's first English film follows a schizophrenic woman's descent into madness, and makes the audience feel as claustrophobic as the character.

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Critics Reviews

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Andrew Sarris Village Voice Jul 27, 2021
Repulsion is the scariest if not actually the goriest Grand Guignol since Psycho. Go to Full Review Peter John Dyer Sight & Sound Mar 31, 2020
The rest of the film has that gurgling, soapy sound of muffed intentions going down the plug hole like bath water. Go to Full Review Derek Malcolm London Evening Standard Jan 4, 2013
4/5
Deneuve, as the woman whose fear of sexual contact is at the base of her neurosis, has seldom been less like her icy self. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Oct 29, 2024
3/4
The real focus is on detailing how the callous treatment of Carol by practically everyone around her only further serves to denigrate her standing as a “real” person rather than just a desirable beauty. Go to Full Review Diana Tuova Spotlight on Film Aug 2, 2024
5/5
Led by Deneuve’s committed performance, Repulsion is an innovative, atmospheric and effective psychological horror, which is clever in a way it uses its entire low budget cinematic arsenal to induce one particular sense of apprehension and dread. Go to Full Review Jorge Loser Espinof May 29, 2024
5/5
... A subjective portrait of mental illness that has become almost a manual to describe psychological breakdowns, especially the dimension of trauma and female repression. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Kyle M @RT77296778 Oct 18, 2026 Polanski’s knack of psychologically projecting fear showed evident certainty for a more effective grip besides the disconnected resonance when analytically devalued as simply unchecked, withheld mental wellness thematically haunted whilst spiking at bland chills. (B-) See more B P @Bradster69 Sep 27, 2026 Definitely Recommend It See more Robert P @Superbad Sep 21, 2026 Repulsion = a 4.5 star Movie... See more Luca D @JoeCamel7 Sep 19, 2026 A sadistic nightmare. Hard to watch in the best way, especially considering when this was made. Every floor creak and razor slit can be felt in the eeriest way possible. A little backstory on the main character or any character for that matter would really perfect the film. Also the main song is a bit overplayed during the soundtrack and is not very good. Those are the only flaws I could find. See more Huntin P @PaxVobiscum80 Sep 18, 2026 The title alone. Repulsion. It frightened me off this movie for many years. When I finally saw it I was bowled over by how good it is. The original intention, in the mind, that is, of the folks who bankrolled it, was to make a cheap and cheerful horror b-movie. When they realised they had captured the service of a genuine artist, Polanski, and let's not forget a leading lady as beautiful as Deneuve, well, then... Some effective jump scares, and some very original hallucinations, but this is a study of disintegrating sanity, and a masterly one. It is also an accurate reflection of how young dollies lived in London flatshares of the 1960s. A period piece, in other words, and a modern one. Polanski always knew, as we should know, sex is a dangerous and potent concoction. See more Stephen C @bob25009 Jul 4, 2025 Successful horror movie in 1.75 hours. See more Read all reviews
Repulsion

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Cast & Crew

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Roman Polanski

Director

Catherine Deneuve

Carole Ledoux

Yvonne Furneaux

Helene Ledoux

Ian Hendry

Michael

John Fraser

Colin

Patrick Wymark

Landlord

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Repulsion

Repulsion (1965) Repulsion (1965) Repulsion (1965) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In Roman Polanski's first English-language film, beautiful young manicurist Carole (Catherine Deneuve) suffers from androphobia (the pathological fear of interaction with men). When her sister and roommate, Helen (Yvonne Furneaux), leaves their London flat to go on an Italian holiday with her married boyfriend (Ian Hendry), Carole withdraws into her apartment. She begins to experience frightful hallucinations, her fear gradually mutating into madness.
Director
Roman Polanski
Producer
Gene Gutowski
Screenwriter
Roman Polanski, Gérard Brach, David Stone
Production Co
Tekli, Compton Films
Genre
Horror
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 16, 2010
Runtime
1h 45m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
35mm
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