THE TENANT (1976) at 50 - Polanski's Psychological Horror Masterpiece Still Has Teeth!

THE TENANT (1976) d. Roman Polanski (USA)

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The Tenant (1976) follows a quiet man named Trelkovsky (played by director/co-writer Roman Polanski) who locates a Parisian apartment right as he is about to be evicted from his current one. It’s available, he discovers, because the previous tenant, Simone Choule, threw herself out the window. Trelkovsky’s celebration of his good fortune is short-lived when he realizes the vacant apartment comes at a hefty price, as he soon becomes convinced that his neighbors are the reason for Simone’s attempted suicide, and that they are intent on driving him to the same fate.

Many city dwellers will immediately relate to the trials of angry neighbors beating on a shared wall or ceiling/floor, and the acute sense of embarrassment, guilt, and anger associated with an outside entity implying that we are taking up too much space, either physically or sonically. The film also serves as a commentary on how quickly our behavior can become conditioned, even in a space as personal as a home which we consider ours.

However, in addition to this universality, the film also feels extremely personal for Polanski, who was initially attracted to the project as an actor, realizing that he would be a good fit for the titular character. But upon reflecting how he and frequent collaborator Gerard Brach handle the faithful adaptation of Roland Topor’s novel, it becomes clear that the acclaimed director relished the challenge of bringing Topor’s surrealistic nightmare to life, hewing very closely to the source material’s narrative. Polanski clearly identifies deeply with this outsider desperately trying to find a place where he can be himself, whatever that might mean, and enjoys poking and prodding every slice of nightmare imagery to its full potential.

Aided by an incredible creative team that includes Oscar-winning cinematographer Sven Nyquist, composer Phillipe Sarde, and production designer Pierre Guffroy, and then surrounding himself with a celebrated cast that includes Melvyn Douglas, Shelley Winters, Isabelle Adjani, Lila Kedrova, and Jo Van Fleet, Polanski delivers a film that challenged audiences and critics of the day.

The Tenant still feels like a movie that is rarely spoken of with the same reverence as the preceding chapters of his so-called “Apartment Trilogy,” Repulsion and Rosemary’s Baby. But for those viewers patient and open to its particular charms, The Tenant contains a multitude of moments, with real and metaphorical teeth, that will live rent-free in your head for years to come.

Join AC and his awesome panel of guests (Nile Arena, S.A. Bradley, Thomas Puhr, Nathaniel Thompson) as we celebrate 50 years of THE TENANT!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dnxc3JjEF0

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