what if the thing you feared most was consumed by the idea of possessing you?

I hate that I loved this as much as I did, but this was a shockingly effective movie that became way more of a horrorshow than it first lets on. I hate that Polanski is so good at making a film so centered on the subjective experience Carol goes through, but god is it a banger. I'm so glad I watched this for the first time unawares of its reputation, because it really put me through the wringer. Outstanding.

More than a woman losing her mind, a woman losing the ability to control the inner demons she kept suppressing her whole life. The slow pacing can be a little demanding at times, but it mirrors Carol's apathy and helplessness perfectly. Most of this film's charm comes from Carol's decadent beauty (even though her hair looks too good for someone who hasn't taken a bath for days) and the various ways her apartment morphs as she descends into paranoia. Jumpscare alert! The editing is a little stiff, but usual for the time.

Repulsion is slower paced, but its depictions of delusion are remarkabley effective. The story itself is engaging. Where the film stumbles is in the editing. Some shots demonstrate such patience, while others feel cut much too early, and transitions can feel a bit awkward.