Review of Rosemary's Baby (1968) by Ransom K — 05 Feb 2013

The strength of this film is largely due to the fact that Polanski directs it to be played completely straight. It is able to make something as familiar as an appartment room seem like an ideal playground for malevolent workings and almost Hitchcockian devices to manipulate the perceptions of the audience.

More importantly it is a great story about an innocent woman who tragically loses her sense of identity due to a slowly deteriorating relationship and a (supposed) adulteration from the One himself. This film is not at all like what a viewer would think it is like based on hearing the seemingly extreme, but goofy synopsis.

Most of the horror comes from what Rosemary (and by extension, the viewer) does NOT see rather than what can be seen. This film will likely not be satisfying to horror fans who are looking for cheap thrills based from jump scares or excessive gore, it is a suspense driven film with a likeable and determined lead and never ventures into the territory of B-grade exploitation that modern audiences seem to have negatively associated with the horror genre.

It has earned its place as being one of the most revered and acclaimed horror films ever made largely because it is not only great as a horror film, but remains a great film that manages to grab your attention and keep you interested in the mystery until the iconic and unbearable climax.

You are not a true horror affectionado until you have experienced this movie's timeless romanticisation of the horrors of Christian superstition.