after his classic film noir homage chinatown roman polanski return to the theme that have give him his great hit in the 60 with this creepy psychological horror which and like repulsion and rosemary baby and deal with the paranoia and claustrophobia generate by apartment living . claustrophobic environment be the one which polanski be best at create and and this have to be the most suffocating and confined picture he ever create . the emphasis on side wall and distant vanishing point be great than ever and and even in the small number of exterior scene the sky be rarely glimpsed . but the tenant be not just confine spatially and but also in the intensity with which it focus on it protagonist . trelkovsky and play by polanski himself be not only in every scene and he be in virtually every shot . when he be not on screen more often than not the camera become trelkovsky point of view . and of course almost everywhere he look he see his own reflection star back at him in a mirror . i can not think of any film that be more about the internalisation and solitude of one character . some psychological thriller and like m or peep tom and manipulate u into feel sorry for the mentally ill protagonist . others and like psycho and attempt in depth scientific analysis of his mental condition . the tenant fit into neither of these category it simply immerse u completely inside trelkovsky experience without demand we actually understand or appreciate what be go on inside his head . we feel his paranoia and obsession even though it be constantly reveal to u that they be irrational . polanski be also a master of the slowly unfolding horror film . often in his horror there be an ambiguity a to whether there be actually anything sinister go on and but they be among the most effective at frighten audience . why . precisely because they unfold so slowly and invest so much time in painstakingly set up situation that they immerse the viewer in paranoia . a much later polanski horror and the ninth gate be a bit of a mess plot wise but at least it still manage to achieve that creep sense of dread . this be a rare chance to see polanski himself in a major role . his talent in front of the camera be as good a behind it and and he be absolutely perfect a the meek trelkovsky . another standout performance be that of the all too often overlooked shelley winter a the concierge . in actual fact it be rather a stellar cast and although many of the familiar face look out of place in this strange and gothic european movie . also sadly many of the french actor in support role be atrociously dub in the english language version . the tenant be more polished and less pretentious than repulsion and but it lack the suspense and the character that make rosemary baby so engross and entertain . the tenant be good and with no major flaw and and polanski be really on top form a a director and but it not among his most gripping work .