Repulsion

In this psychological horror film by Roman Polanski (“The Pianist,” “Chinatown”), Catherine Deneuve plays Carol, a young, shy manicurist. When her sister leaves her alone in the apartment to go on vacation, Carol’s already fragile psyche begins to unravel. Her fear of men manifests itself in terrifying hallucinations. What begins as a mild irritation develops, under the direction of veteran filmmaker Polanski, into an increasingly threatening state of paranoia and isolation. The apartment, once a safe haven, transforms into a stage for Carol’s psychological abyss. “Repulsion” is considered a classic of psychological horror and paints an intense portrait of a mental breakdown—with powerful imagery, a claustrophobic atmosphere, and a haunting protagonist.