New ‘Repulsion’ DVD to be less repulsive

Roman Polanski's 1965 thriller, “Repulsion,” will soon get a new-and-improved DVD treatment.

Catherine Deneuve
in ‘Repulsion’According to DavisDVD.com, Sony Home Entertainment will reissue “Repulsion” on Dec. 4.

The remastered transfer is expected to be a vast improvement over the current DVD version of this classic film.

Entertainment Programs Inc. put the currently available DVD out a couple of years ago and it is a bona fide stinker.

The movie itself is fantastic. It's one of Polanski's best psychological thrillers. I consider it required viewing for anyone who loves horror films or great cinema in general.

Catherine Deneuve brilliantly portrays a paradoxically complex killer. Her character is every bit as pitiable and haunting as Anthony Perkins in “Psycho.” Polanski showcases many visual/auditory techniques that he would later use to great effect in “Rosemary's Baby.”

But the DVD transfer by Entertainment Programs Inc. is one of the worst I've ever seen. I highly suspect it wasn't even struck from a film print, but rather a video master. The sound is muddy, too.

Fortunately, it seems Sony's December re-release will fix those problems. But it's still not going to be a perfect release. DavisDVD.com reports the movie will come with no extras.

Oh, well. You can't have everything for $15 bucks, can you?

(Jorge Sosa is a staff writer for the Hutchinson Leader. He can be reached at sosa@hutchinsonleader.com)