Polanski's colorful classic

Rating: Null/10 (10 February 2002)

Normally, I'm not very keen on diabolical films, but "Rosemary's baby" is a good film and possibly even a classic in its genre. Talking about genres, I think this is not really a horror movie as there's simply no gore to be found whatsoever. Roman Polanski made a fine thriller in which a young woman experiences the great but somewhat mysterious hospitality of her neighbours. At first she accepts everything what has been offered to her. But after a while (and certain suspicious happenings later) she starts to reconsider.

The storyline of "Rosemary's baby" isn't bad, but there are other and far more impressive things about this film. For example: the way how Polanski builds up the tension by adding some very nice twists to the story now and then. Not to mention the great camera work as well as the use of different colors to create a certain atmosphere in the film. Much of the film is shot in close-up. This is another typical Polanski characteristic. By doing so, he points out the expressions on the faces of the different characters in this film. This is done in a truly magnificent but nevertheless dramatic way.
Another aspect of the Polish director is the way in which he represents a dream or a hallucination by the use of amateurish images. This is all brilliantly mixed with a dreadful silence that lasts through the whole sequence. These are often the most realistic scenes in the whole film as no steady-camera was used for such shooting. Polanski's directing is one of the main reasons why this film was so successful. He's really made a difference here.
What about the acting then? John Cassavetes is all right and Ruth Gordon as the nosy and annoying neighbour is even better. But the star of this film is, beyond any doubt, Mia Farrow. Her acting is so life-like that I felt sorry for her at times; even when I knew that she was only playing a character in a film.
Tragically enough, Polanski's wife was brutally murdered by Charles Manson and his cult members. This horrible incident happened right after this film had been released. I guess some people shouldn't watch films at all.