Rosemary's Baby (1968)

I like the storyline of this show,it attract me so much

While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

Oh yes, horror thrillers do not come much classier than this. 1968 and yet impressively still feels fresh when watching it for the first time today. It's one of those classic films that I think every film buff or cinephile or average movie fan should watch and I'm sure it's a popular choice when studying the medium of film. The story revolves around a young woman called Rosemary who moves into a new apartment with her husband. She wishes to conceive a baby, but when her obsessive neighbours become involved things start to take a turn into the realm of surrealism. A prime example of this, would be her "dream". She dreamt that she was being raped by Satan and that her neighbours and husband were watching as if it was a ritual. But of course we all know what actually happened (I shan't spoil it). It's a plot of mystery and intrigue. Roman Polanski's intelligent direction and screenplay was quite unique. We all knew what happened to Rosemary and we all knew what the end result was going to be, but we as the audience were interested in how Rosemary unravels the plot herself. This could've been a mystery with several twists and turns, but it's more than that. This was all focussed on her. Mia Farrow was excellent and easily held her own against the rest of the supporting cast. She exhumed innocence, fragility and transformed herself. I was impressed. Ruth Gordon won the Best Supporting actress award, I thought she was good but nothing outstanding. Although, she got that New York accent down to a tee! loved how we never saw what Rosemary's baby looked like, the imagery that is conjured up relies on the audience's imagination and I found that to be powerful. There were a few plot conveniences and I found the pacing to be inconsistent. A scene that oozed intrigue was then followed by a slower scene that seemed to negate everything that was before it. However, this is a solid classic horror film that, I'm sure, will never be forgotten.

After having ordered and watched 3 of the best Roman Polanski's movies in a row -Chinatown, The tenant, Rosemary's baby- I'm inclined towards putting Rosemary's baby at the same level of Chinatown. Of course they don't have anything to do with each other but the whiff of great cinema is as strong in one as it is in the other. Chinatown went down in the history of cinema as a landmark movie that meant a utter turn-around of the genre both in terms of themes the plot or sub-plots are shaped around and storytelling; however Rosemary's baby doesn't fall short in its attempt of telling a horror story in a new and original way. To define myself as a expert on Horror films would be nothing short of cockiness, an unnecessary amount of showing this review isn't worthy of having. So, don't worry dear reader, I'll be honest and declare that I'm treading on water when it comes to this genre. There is something I know, though. And that it's when a movie hits you, makes you want to feel what the characters feel and be the characters themselves so to better comprehend what they are going through. The story appears to be quite simple: a young couple moves in to an apartment only to be surrounded by peculiar neighbors and occurrences. When the wife becomes mysteriously pregnant, paranoia over the safety of her unborn child takes over her life.What makes this movies stands out is the way in which is told. Every little piece bit of mystery is carefully given away at the exact moment, which only adds to the viewer's sense of fear and tension. Here there's nothing of a hidden monster that somehow breaks free from his owners and develops a never ending human-driven appetite. That might be the scope of 70 or 80% of movies of the genre; not in this case. What would you rather see: horror/terror only hinted at or a close-up on a horror scene? My choice is clear and I hope yours is too. The tension is so well build up that at times seems as if Polanski was a musical composer conducting an orquestra of seasoned musicians. You, as a viewer, are never let down because the essential ups and downs in tension are masterly handled; never it feels too much to diggest, never it is too low to keep the scrypt from going forward. I guess the comparison is worth elaborating on: the cast is fantastic, namely Mia Farrow as Rosemary. Only she could convey such fragility and determination to keep going through until the very ending of the picture. One that reaps the benefits of having carefully planted across the films "seeds of horror" and of having been able to create a plot that's as luring and riveting as it is crammed with twists and turns. Let me sign off by formulating a question: Is a mother always a mother?

Hollywood would have None of that "Devil" Worship or "Heil Satan" Stuff in the Hays-Code Era. It was a Taboo. But by 1968 Attrition had set in and the Zeitgeist of the "New" Hollywood was Slowly Eroding the Previously "Forbidden" Restrictions of the "Watchdogs of Morality" Censorship Board and All "Hell" was Breaking Loose.Roman Polanski's First American Movie can be Credited for Starting the Wave of Occult Films that would become Full Blown with "The Exorcist" (1973) and "The Omen" (1976) and its Ilk.It was a Huge Hit with the Public and Critics. More of a Psychological Thriller with a Supernatural Theme than a Pure "Horror" Movie, the Tension and Creepy Atmosphere of the Characters and the Surroundings Unleashed a Relentlessly Suspenseful Picture Anchored by Mia Farrow's Endearing and Sympathetic Performance.The rest of the Cast, John Cassavetes, Ruth Gordon and others all made this a Believable Unbelievable Story of Modern Witchcraft in New York City. Its Captivating Milieu of a Woman Caught Between Liberation and Tradition both Socially and Spiritually.The Script, by Polanski, from a Best Seller by Ira Levin Teases with Taut Complications and Black Humor. There are Shades of Hitchcock and Val Lewton with Scenes of Hidden Meanings and Messages Lurking Everywhere.Overall, Moderns seem to have Trouble Considering this More than just a Bore, but its Slow Burn Sears the Senses and Captivates with its Considerable Suffering of Rosemary and the Forces of Evil around Her.In the End She is Stronger than She Seems and Motherly Love Notwithstanding stands Alone in Her Convictions and the Strength and Wherewithal it took to Survive the Ordeal was Considerable. Her Liberation has Crossed the Previous Boundaries of a World that may have the Answer to the Question..."Is God Dead".

Boredom! Overrated. Everything is spelled out. Fine actors in a sub par story and direction, overlong film. Music sucked. Garbage ending. Garbage middle. Garbage beginning. Cult film. Excellent promotion.Another cult film disguised as a masterpiece. My first Roman Polanski film and last. I heard about this for years so I sat through this bore-fest, waiting for something to happen. Nothing did.The movie starts with the most disgusting and simple lullaby soundtrack over decent cinematography of Manhattan. Then we get a scene with completely underused Elisha Cook as a building manager showing an apartment to Mr. and Mrs. Woodhouse, John Cassavetes and Mia Farrow. Elisha Cook was a great actor and I will now recommend you to watch Messiah of Evil. Cook is in only one scene in that movie, but it is great. John Cassavetes is also a solid actor and he's been in some decent crime films. Mia Farrow was decent in the film but not great. The problem with the film is not the actors. It's the screenwriter, a guy named Polanski. The dialogue is all just everyday ordinary small talk boring crap for over 2 hours. It's not a horror film. It's Horrible.We meet the old neighbors, who are satin worshiping witches, Ruth Gordon and Sidney Blackmer. These are fine actors. Gordon won the Oscar for her performance. Maurice Herbert Evans plays a friend of the Woodhouses. But could have provided more entertainment if he had the orangutan outfit of Dr. Zaius from Planet of the Apes. Ralph Bellamy is a witch Dr. Abraham Sapirstein, and Charles Grodin as non witch Dr. Hill. All decent actors.Basic story: The Woodhouses move into an apartment next to witches. The witches cut a deal with the husband to help his acting career if the wife has satin's baby. The wife is drugged, impregnated by satin in a funky dream sequence that everyone who loves this pile of crap says is a great and spooky scene. Dr. Zaius tries to help the wife understand what is going on with the strange behavior of the neighbors and husband, but he is soon put under a coma and dies 3 months later. Now, maybe Polansky would show us a quick scene of Farrow visiting Dr. Zaius at the hospital. No, we just hear about his death 3 months later.After Zaius is dead, we find out that he came out of the coma briefly to tell the attendants that he has a book for Farrow. Great stuff right? No. The freaking guy just happens to come out of the coma briefly and thinks about Farrow's well being. They say it can only happen in movies and it did here. Now Farrow knows that there is a conspiracy against her and the baby, and she runs away and finds Dr. Hill, the un-witch doctor. The scene where she explains all the witch stuff to Dr. Hill is Unbelievable, again can only happen in movies. Dr. Hill knows she's nuts, has her lie down in a room and calls her husband and the witch Dr. who come and take her back to the apartment, where she eventually has her devil baby. We get some more boredom where they try to drug her and collect her breast milk to feed the devil baby. We get scenes where she hears the baby crying through the walls. Farrow finds a path to the next door apartment with the witches cult and all the idiots yelling Heil Satin! and she sees a baby crib. We never get to see the devil baby. She spits into her husband's face when he says they can now have normal babies. The baby starts to cry and now she accepts the devil baby. The End.So, is this devil baby the antichrist? Will this baby grow up to destroy the world? Why didn't the witches just impregnate a prostitute or a drugged out bum chick for the devil baby? They mentioned that Rosy was a catholic, was that a prerequisite for the devil to impregnate her? We don't know. We are just brainless movie goers. Who are we to question the great Polansky? FU Polansky! We then get a bonus track of the opening garbage lullaby reminding me that I should have shut it off with the first notes.Rating 1, or F. Complete failure. No suspense. Everything is spelled out. Unlikable boring characters. Disgusting music.Finally, I would like to mention the phenomenon of cult films. Rosemary's Baby has a cult following, people loving it for some reason, maybe pregnant mothers to be, who knows. Alien is another cult film. I hate the film, mainly because the story, characters, dialogue, everything just plain sucks. Alien won the Oscar for special effects, so maybe people love it for the props and sets. Another cult director is Dario Argeno. I hate his film Suspiria, mainly for the amateur story, acting, basically everything. But, it has a cult following, maybe because of all the funky cartoon colors he uses, or that stupid band Goblin making the music. Argento is crap. And his films Plumage and Four Flies are also crap. I also hate Dawn of the Dead. When I saw that years ago I was impressed. But watching it now, I see it as a cartoon amateur acting and story pile of crap. You need to make up your own mind. Please don't be fooled into loving a film because they label it as an art film.Recommended instead: Messiah of Evil, Footprints on the Moon, Last Man on Earth, Night of the Living Dead, White Zombie, All the Colors of the Dark, Don't Torture a Duckling.I skimmed through the IMDb user and critic reviews. Most love this crap as THE BEST HORROR FILM EVER. Nonsense! A handful are awake to this garbage. Click Hated It to see their thoughts.