Review of Rosemary's Baby (1968) by Davide L — 27 Apr 2014

Based upon the 1967 book by Ira Levin, and produced by horror producer/showman William Castle, who wanted to direct it, but Paramount chief Robert Evans said no, and sent it to Roman Polanski to write and direct.

This would be Polanski's first American film, and the film has a slow, brooding tone, where it's horror comes out of it's black mood and chilling roles throughout. Rosemary Woodhouse (Mia Farrow) and her actor husband Guy (John Cassavetes) move into an apartment block called the Bramford in New York.

Rosemary and Guy are trying for a baby, and after meeting their neighbours Minnie (Ruth Gordon) and Roman Castevet (Sidney Blackmer), some strange and inexplicable things start happening. First, the Castevet's tennant Terry Gionoffrio (Angela Dorian) commits suicide, then Guy wins a part in a play after the other actor competing for the part is struck blind.

Then Rosemary becomes pregnant, and she's plagued by weird and dark dreams and visions, then she suspects the neighbours are up to something. This was new territory for horror. Dark, nihilistic and psychological thoughout, there hadn't been anything like this before.

It would help put Polanski on the map as a talented director, and it also started a new trend in Satanic horror films to come. Castle had come a long way since his brand of films.