Cul-de-sac is a darkly comic, claustrophobic psychological thriller from Roman Polanski’s acclaimed 1960s period. Donald Pleasence and Françoise Dorléac play a troubled couple living on an isolated island castle whose fragile domestic world is upended by the unexpected arrival of a brutish American gangster on the run, portrayed by Lionel Stander.
What unfolds is a bizarre and tense “mental ménage à trois,” a shifting series of power plays filled with sexual, emotional, and psychological humiliations. Blending absurdism, paranoia, and pitch-black humor, Cul-de-sac stands as one of Polanski’s most inventive and unsettling explorations of identity and entrapment.
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Director: Roman Polanski
Actors: Donald Pleasence, Françoise Dorléac, Lionel Stander
Studio: Criterion Collection
Subtitles: English
Number of Discs: 1
ASIN: B005152C6Y
Product Dimensions: 0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches; 2.93 ounces
Item Model Number: CRRN2031BR
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| High-Quality Blu-ray Transfer | A restored presentation supervised by The Criterion Collection. |
| Interviews & Archival Material | Behind-the-scenes insights and select archival content featuring the cast and crew. |
| Scene Analysis | Detailed examination of Polanski’s staging, tone, and claustrophobic visual style. |
| Original Trailer | Includes the film’s theatrical trailer. |
| English Subtitles | Optional English subtitles for clarity and accessibility. |