Possibly the best horror film ever made, this brilliant adaptation of Ira Levin’s best-selling novel is the story of a loving young New York City couple who are expecting their first child. Like most first-time mothers, Rosemary (Mia Farrow) experiences confusion and fear. Her husband (John Cassavetes), an ambitious but unsuccessful actor, makes a pact with the devil that promises to send his career skyward. Director Roman Polanski elicits uniformly extraordinary performance from the all-star cast. Ruth Gordon won an Oscar-® for her performance as an oversolicitous next-door neighbor in this classic chiller.
Starring: Mia Farrow, John Cassavetes, Ruth Gordon, Sidney Blackmer, Maurice Evans
Directed by: Roman Polanski
Runtime: 136 minutes
Studio: Paramount
Amazon USAmazon UKIMDBReview: Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
It’s hard being a fan of films and not hearing something about Roman Polanski’s classic horror film, Rosemary’s Baby. I had never seen this one until now I’m ashamed to admit but I knew the film had something to do with a pregnant woman carrying a somewhat sinister child but other than that my knowledge was a bit slim so it was good to finally join Rosemary in babysitting duties and find out what it’s all about.
The film focuses on couple Guy (John Cassavetes) and Rosemary Woodhouse (Mia Farrow). They move into a new apartment and hope for a change in fortune. While Rosemary is a housewife, Guy is a struggling actor desperate for a break. The couple become friends with an elderly couple Minnie (Ruth Gordon) and Roman Castevet (Sidney Blackmer) who Guy is initially wary of but soon spends a lot of time with while Rosemary becomes suspicious. When Guy’s career suddenly improves he and Rosemary try for a baby and soon find themselves pregnant. Although the couple are overjoyed with the news, as the months pass Rosemary becomes suspicious of her two neighbours and of her husband being part of a plot to confiscate her baby for human sacrifice!
Rosemary’s Baby begins steadily with Guy and Rosemary moving into their apartment and settling into a new life. Guy’s continual struggles to get acting work puts a strain on things but the couple try to remain positive. When they meet Minnie and Roman it is Rosemary who is initially drawn to the couple while Guy isn’t keen. This soon changes after Guy visits the couple alone and not long after his career starts to blossom under mysterious circumstances. Guy’s main acting rival suddenly goes blind, ruining his career, and propelling Guy’s forward. In celebratory mood Guy suggests to Rosemary that they start trying for a baby to which she agrees. The night of conception is unusual for Rosemary. Minnie gives the couple a chocolate mousse which Rosemary doesn’t finish. That night she passes out and dreams of naked people in her room including the Castevets before a demon climbs into bed and rapes her! Worryingly, Rosemary wakes the next day with scratches on her back but Guy politely explains he got a bit excited when he had sex with his unconscious wife! He sounds a nice chap doesn’t he?
Rosemary’s Baby remains intriguing throughout the but the revelations that come at the end are not particularly surprising which is a shame. A decent cast work well under Polanski’s direction and the film has an eerie feel to it throughout though I wouldn’t put this up there with the scariest films I’ve ever seen. If you’ve never had the chance to see Rosemary’s Baby then it is worth a look but I personally don’t believe it to be an unrivalled horror masterpiece, just another good horror film.
Rosemary’s Baby is a tense and unnerving experience at time and builds up well towards a somewhat disappointingly predictable conclusion. This is certainly worth seeing if you’re a fan of horror films but it’s not a film I would choose to grace the top 10 best horror films ever made.
Verdict: 3/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
Film Review: Rosemary’s Baby | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
