Rosemary's Baby (1968)

 

Yes, another classic in the horror-genre, and rightfully so. Shot by a young Roman Polanski, this one is another example of why studios should let young directors handle this sort of film, as that usually leads to great things. And even if there isn't a lot of visceral horror to be seen or found, the creepy atmosphere and unbearable tension are what makes this one work so well. 

Rosemary and her husband Guy are a young couple who move into an new apartment. Guy is a struggling actor, but they make do with what they've got. They soon discover the building they've taken up residence in used to be the home of a devil worshipper named Adrian Marcato, who was also killed there and of two sisters who apparently killed and ate children. 

Groovy.

When they meet their eccentric elderly neighbours the Castavets, things start to get difficult for Rosemary. Not only do they impose on the young couple quite a bit, but it feels as though they are also slowly but surely taking Guy away from Rosemary, especially since he gets more and more roles all of a sudden as strange mishaps befall his competition. Not just that, but they are trying to have a baby and one night it seems as though Rosemary is raped by a demonic entity, but this isn't clear whether or not it is just a fever dream. 

Rosemary is being cut off from all of her friends and regular acquaintances and in her isolation, she begins to feel something is amiss. But is everything a conspiracy or is she just losing her mind? Is she truly carrying a demonic child or not? And are the people in the building part of a witches' coven? 

And this is where this film truly shines: the feeling of paranoia, isolation, mentally breaking down. You can feel Rosemary's descend into madness. Sure, the Castevets are annoying neighbours, nosy as all heck, but who doesn't know such characters? Or are they truly up to something sinister? Polanski cleverly plays with this and the feeling of always being alone does hit home. Your mind would wander for less. 

Mia Farrow carries this story and if she wasn't so believable, this wouldn't have worked. She is a timid little mouse, but that makes the events even harsher on her. It also transpires that her husband Guy (John Cassavetes) is a total prick who is only self-absorbed and doesn't care one iota about his wife. Maybe the events here only make Rosemary see this in the end, but as a viewer you slowly grow to loathe the man for being such an unfeeling and obtuse prick. 

Is there a downside to this one? Yes. That would be the ending sequence after Rosemary has given birth. This spells out what has transpired all along and it is a shame, as the constant doubt of whether Rosemary is right about the conspiracy or whether she is going insane is blatantly put on display. This downplays the events leading up to this moment and it is a shame. Maybe this film would have been even stronger if Polanski had kept it all vague. 

Then again, it is only a minor blemish and the film as a whole is rightfully hailed as a classic. It is also a horrorfilm without any explicit horror in it and yet it still works. Quite a feat.