While not a particularly bloody movie as others in the Horror genre, its devilishly clever writing and screenplay make sure that it maintains an eerily sinister atmosphere throughout. The nightmare sequences will lurk in your memory for a while.

Acting is first-rate all round, but the picture simply wouldn't work without the passionate conviction that Mia Farrow brings to her portrayal. She exudes vulnerability, but also brings so many other subtle but passionate shadings to her characterization that we can never simply pity Rosemary.

Very few movies have been able to mix intense psychological horror, raw emotion and a delicious air of ambiguity with such flair. You're all at once bewildered, scared to death and on the verge of tears.

Grab it if you get a chance, this is a cinematic marvel.


Polanski & Farrow Deliver   December 31, 2002
 21 out of 28 found this review helpful

Rosemary's Baby is a horror film, but in the traditional sense. It's not going to make you jump out of your seat or make you scream. In fact, you pretty much can guess the outcome of the film early on. What makes the film so scary is the plot almost seems plausible and the four lead actors convince of you that by playing their parts so well. Director Roman Polanski has created more of psychological thriller and he tortures you by making you wait throughout the whole film as Rosemary slowly pieces together the insidious plot against her. Mia Farrow is beguiling as Rosemary. She desperately wants to start a family, but her actor husband, Guy (John Cassavetes) is wrapped up in his career. When they move into a new apartment, they met their elderly next door neighbors, The Castevets. At first they seem to be typical folks, Minnie (Ruth Gordon) is the classic nosy, pushy neighbor who invites herself into Rosemary's apartment and is constantly chattering on and on and Roman (Sidney Blackmer) is the wizened old-timer full of stories. But they are actually witches, with whom Guy makes a deal that Satan will impregnate Rosemary in return for fame and fortune as an actor. The scene of Rosemary's rape is chilling and creepy as she fades in and out of hallucinations and she doesn't know what's real or a dream. The final scene where Rosemary breaks into the Castevets apartment and sees her baby is extremely effective as we hear a description of what the baby looks like, but we never see it. Mr. Polanski leaves it to our imagination to wonder how Satan's child would appear. The theme music is one of the most chilling of all-time, with a simple la-la-la phrase repeated over and over in girlish, sing-song voice. Ms. Gordon won the 1968 Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role as Minnie and Mr. Polanski's first Hollywood film showed his immense directing talents.


"Pray for Rosemary's Baby"   June 28, 2002
 14 out of 16 found this review helpful

This is the greatest horror film, and one of the greatest films ever, period.

Everything in it works. From that terrific tag line to the creepy poster art, to that off kilter lullaby Mia Farrow croons, to every single performance, line of dialogue and scene. The cast is perfection. The terror is palpable. The extras set the movie in its time, but the movie has surpased its time and become, like all true classics, for the ages. The Bramley will never be razed for a parking lot. Ira Levin's superb novel was blessed by Roman Polanski's film. Both are landmarks touched with more than a little genius.

The movie is wickedly funny, deliciously entrancing, groundbreakingly "real" because it's horror is set in present day New York; also, the elderly couple next door, who are the coven leaders, are played to the hilt by nosey Ruth Gordon and the intriguing Sidney Blackmer; therefore, it's easy to come under their spell. Blackmer especially gives an almost noble performance that is rich and wise. The entire cast is at the top of their game.

Maurice Evan's Hutch is the hope and comfort of the film, the logical reality against what is inexorably happening, while Ralph Bellamy's Dr. Saperstein (he was on "Open End," you know)is that soft spoken easygoing evil that you just know hides a little below the surface of most of his ilk. It's also fun seeing Hope Summers (Clara Edwards of "The Andy Griffith Show") as a Satanist. Not out of character here, really. Did Aunt Bea ever find out?

It's ironic that the movie probably could not be made today. The current crop of puritans would rail against it; odd, since the bare bones of the plot hew to what they say they believe. But while those lame Left Behind movies and the others artlessly propound beating foolish stuff into its audiences heads, "Rosemary's Baby" plays knowingly with fiction, with what ifs, with the paranoia come true, all in a twisty gripping eerie exciting film, produced by the great William Castle, who has just the right cameo that comes with the chill first, then the laughter.

Mia Farrow's heart wrenching Rosemary Woodhouse leads us into her terror and pain, then into her first goosebumpy nightmare come true reaction to her son, propelling into that final reaction, maybe even scarier, as the camera wisely pans to the window and the outside of the Bramley. There are some fine character actors as well, always dependable Elisha Cook, Jr. Philip Leeds and Patsy Kelly.

John Cassavetes, as Guy Woodhouse, also creeps us out as he sells himself and Rosemary, and I guess, their baby, and the world, to Satan, to further his acting career. Being in bit parts in "Luther" and "Nobody Loves an Albatross" can only take an actor just so far. Priorities, after all. So settle down with some "plain old Lipton Tea," a bowl of "chocolate mouse" and a Vodkda Blush, and watch a classic again or for the first time. Watch out for mouse bites, though.


"They use blood in their ritual's, and the blood that has the most power is baby's blood."   October 31, 2007
 13 out of 13 found this review helpful

Rosemary's Baby is satanic good fun. This is one of the most impressive horror film's I've ever seen in my life and may be my favorite horror movie of all time. Roman Polanski's Rosemary's Baby is extremely ahead of it's time with the use of strange dream sequences, experimental cinematography and truely disturbing subject matter. Mia Farrow's performance is amazing to say the least and she has cemented her role as one of my favorite actesses of all time. Not much blood or gore in this movie but focuses on it's acting and satanic vibe to scare viewers......and it does! This is an amazing movie I recommend to anyone who has not seen it, GO BUY IT NOW!