Polanksi's Masterpiece? Maybe...

Rating: 8/10 (27 June 2011)

'Rosemary's Baby' (1968) was master director Roman Polanski's first American film and is a thriller/horror based on Ira Levin's novel of the same name. The film follows Rosemary Woodhouse (Mia Farrow) as she moves into apartment 7-E in New York City with her actor husband Guy (John Cassavetes). After making friends with elderly couple Minnie (Ruth Gordon) and Roman Castevet (Sidney Blackmer) who also live in the building, Rosemary falls pregnant, to the delight of many. However, as Rosemary's health begins to deteriorate during pregnancy she starts to become suspicious about the actions and behaviour of those around her.
Staying extremely true to Ira Levin's novel, Polanski has created a slick, smart thriller that is, at times, genuinely terrifying as we follow the tale of the beautiful and perfectly cast Mia Farrow as she strives to protect her unborn child. Ruth Gordon, gives an Oscar winning performance as the nosy Minnie, and while you become more and more concerned about the safety of Rosemary as the film progresses, there are still genuine funny moments to be had, a credit to Polanski's script and Mia Farrow's timing.
Right now I am still debating whether to give it a 7 or 8, as there are certainly problems I have with it. Most notably I felt John Cassavetes was not as convincing as the other 3 main cast members, which lets down the story slightly as he is integral to the final scenes. I am however to give it the latter score, mostly because I saw this film having been given a full description of the film and its climax beforehand, which, undoubtedly lessened the impact. Overall, 'Rosemary's Baby' is a must-watch, as it shows how true terror can be created without the need of blood and gore, a feat that horror/thriller directors of today have struggled to achieve.