A Comedy For Sadists

Rating: 10/10 (11 December 2017)

Polanski had already revealed a penchant for cruelty in his previous films, as well as the sadist's core belief that innocence equals victimhood and victimhood is a character defect that justifies cruelty. In "Repulsion" we get some voyeuristic fanservice of a fragile, virginal character (thanks to some careful lighting). In "Fearless Vampire Killers" we see the joke is that fearlessness has made the heroes into victims. But in "Rosemary's Baby" Polanski has created an entire film to be served up as delicious comedy to those in the know.
The film needs Rosemary (think Virgin Mary, think thorns) to be innocent and weak. Sadists would see that right away as deliciously inviting. (If she were the girl at the beginning of Salo, those four monstrous men would indeed be on their feet at her pleas for help). She's in a web, and her future is already decided. That's one notable thing about this film. Her fate is already decided before the film starts, and we're just watching her approach that grim end helplessly.
As one finds in transgressive cinema, or in, say, the writings of the Marquis de Sade, a sadist's fantasy would not be complete without a momentary escape for the victim. A seeming end to the madness. And we get that. Cruelty depends on crushing hope. Of course she is broken finally, and at that moment of tragedy made to submit to her captors.
Her increasing hysteria is meant to be funny. Maybe to "straight" audiences -- or at least straight audiences unaware of the tropes of sadism -- this is scary. But I don't think it's really supposed to be that way.
With all this going on in the background, "Rosemary's Baby" works very well on repeat viewings. It doesn't matter how down with the comedy you are. Study yields endless (bitter) fruit. And I can see why people say it's cursed. (Probably a myth.) It remains one of the most evil films ever released.
Of course it also represents Polanski at a creative peak, and that's saying something. "Knife In The Water" and "Repulsion" were masterpieces in their own right, but this is a tour de force. Worth studying, for the camera, for the performances, for the atmosphere and detail -- as well as for the transgression beneath the suspense.