04 December 2024
Rosemary's Baby (1968)
134 min.
Directed by Roman Polanski.
With Mia Farrow, John Cassavetes, Ruth Gordon, Sidney Blackmer, Maurice Evans, Ralph Bellamy, Angela Dorian, Patsy Kelly, Elisha Cook, Charles Grodin.
Director Roman Polanski's masterpiece of psychological terror.

Rosemary (Farrow) and Guy Woodhouse (Cassavetes) are a married couple who move into a charming NYC apartment (in the famed Dakota building).

After their pushy neighbors the Castevets (Gordon, Blackmer) ingratiate themselves into the lives of the Woodhouses, Guy begins to have wonderful career success...but it's not without a price.

Soon, a pregnant Rosemary suspects the Castevets - and others in the building - are out to possess more than just friendship.

More to the point, they've impregnated Rosemary with the Devil's own child, and they want her to give birth to their hallowed Son of Satan!

Talk about your pushy neighbors.

Together, Farrow and Polanski perfectly capture Rosemary's increasing paranoia in Rosemary's Baby. The outrageous premise is instead handled with subtletly, innuendo and nuance. As the tension rachets, Rosemary will no doubt make a believer of you as well.

Topped by an untoppable horror moment at the climax.

Also of interest are Polanski's other two Apartment horror films: Repulsion (1965) and The Tenant (1976).

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