While Polanski's direction is first rate, and there are plenty of memorable moments throughout this film, the problem of having a central character without any empathetic moments makes everything fall somewhat flat. From the beginning I got the feeling that this woman had some serious mental issues which other women seem to ignore and men want to exploit. I can accept the fact that this is a disturbed woman, but that alone does not make her interesting or sympathetic. We rarely see her happy, and have no idea what has driven her to this point. Has she always been a half-wit? Did something traumatic happen to push her over the edge? We don't know and the film as a whole suffers as a result.
I must admit that by the time she murders her first gentleman caller the film had reached a sort of comic morbidity. The fact that all of these men are willing to completely ignore the signs of this woman's shaky mental state in an effort to bed her crosses a line from horror to parody.
It is especially interesting to compare this film to Antonioni's "Red Dessert", which also examines the life of a woman on the brink. However, Antonioni accomplishes more in having his central character be sympathetic. Both women are dealing with similar issues and similar threats (in the form of horny men), but Antonioni's is the hunted, while Polanski's, the hunter.
I must admit that by the time she murders her first gentleman caller the film had reached a sort of comic morbidity. The fact that all of these men are willing to completely ignore the signs of this woman's shaky mental state in an effort to bed her crosses a line from horror to parody.
It is especially interesting to compare this film to Antonioni's "Red Dessert", which also examines the life of a woman on the brink. However, Antonioni accomplishes more in having his central character be sympathetic. Both women are dealing with similar issues and similar threats (in the form of horny men), but Antonioni's is the hunted, while Polanski's, the hunter.