Review of Rosemary's Baby (1968) by Juan C — 14 Sep 2010

The mistrust of medicine and helpful neighbours and fears of witchcraft is perfectly married with the insecurities of pregnancy in this beautifully crafted film.

Mia Farrow plays her character in such a way that it is hard but not to feel the utmost sympathy for her. She plays an everyman to beat the best of Hitchcock as she becomes trapped in a situation she cannot control. I loved the ambiguity that played throughout the film always keeping open the possibility that she had become unhinged. It is the realism of the atmosphere that allows these thoughts of paranoia to truly develop.

I also like the way in which the film develops its paranoia and has respect for the intelligence of the audience. The husband becomes ever the more shifty throughout the film. The way in which the previous girl was effectively being groomed by the neighbours is never specifically mentioned, nor is the anagram of the Tanas Root. This are also hilarious touches, none more so that the Asian cameraman fulfilling every stereotype at the climax of the film.

Another particularly interesting point to note of this film is the sheer lack of set pieces. If it were to be remade today there would be numerous chase sequences and cheap shocks. This actually acts as a detriment to the character performances and in this film they are its core. It also fully maintains the film in a realistic world.

The problem with this film is that it all leads to a particularly lame revelation. Obviously at the time this may have seemed realistic but this is one of the few times I will say a film has significantly dated to the point it is a detriment to the enjoyment of it as a whole. Part of this resides in the fact that the buildup is so masterfully crafted which Polanski would later revisit in The Tenant. If only it left on a more open-ended or thoughtful note it would be perfect. The threat still exists and the mother faces an impossible choice but this is not ideally conveyed.