HOW COULD HE ESCAPE FROM HIS NIGHTMARES?

Trelkovsky (Roman Polanski) rents a Paris apartment; the last tenant threw herself out of the window and Trelkovsky begins to feel the haunting effect of his new home.

The last chapter of the director’s unofficial “apartment trilogy” goes along the same lines as Repulsion and Rosemary’s Baby; it’s a psychological thriller about what might go wrong in confined spaces, be it your apartment or your mind. Few will be surprised by the journey of paranoia leading to the predictable ending, but there are plenty of horrifying moments along the way, skillfully staged by the cinematographer who creates an eerie feeling.

Polanski is very good as the fragile tenant.

1976-France-U.S. 125 min. Color. Directed by Roman Polanski. Screenplay: Roman Polanski, Gérard Brach. Novel: Roland Topor. Cinematography: Sven Nykvist. Cast: Roman Polanski (Trelkovsky), Isabelle Adjani (Stella), Melvyn Douglas (Zy), Jo Van Fleet, Shelley Winters, Bernard Fresson, Lila Kedrova. 

Trivia: French title: Le locataire. Jack Clayton was initially set to direct. 

Last word: “At that point I was working with Paramount and they had the rights to the Roland Topor novel. I thought it would be a good role for me. As a matter of fact, I found it more interesting to play the part than to direct the film. I find this with a lot of scripts, and it’s actually rare that both things appeal to me at the same time. You shouldn’t forget that I started as an actor and only became a director later.” (Polanski, interview with Gerhard Midding)