Still a classic!

Rating: 8/10 (30 March 2012)

Rosemary's Baby may have been released over 40 years ago, but I can still see why it is considered a classic horror film. For me it is definitely a classic, containing all the usual horror clichés (family moves house, hears haunted stories, woman goes crazy and runs round with a knife etc etc)but with added twists and interests, through the form of artistic dreamlike sequences that even Dali would be proud of. I think this definitely saved it from becoming boring; it was a very long film and, for me, seemed to take a while to build up to a climax, had it not been for these surreal moments pulling me back in.
Polanski's use of direction and editing cleverly built up the tension and foreshadowed the traumatic events ahead. He used slow tracking of the camera forward and backwards to create suspense, as well as a lot of close ups, and there was a lot of the usual high pitched tense music that no horror film would ever be the same without. I also noticed a discreet ticking noise in the background every now and then, subtly creating suspense. Every scene featured Rosemary, the title character, meaning the audience was always on her side, which I think is very clever.
Although I may have been 40 years late in seeing this film, I'm glad I did. Everyone loves a classic horror and I think Polanski did a fantastic job. It may be long but if you keep with it I guarantee you won't be disappointed!