Why wasn't Mia Farrow nominated?? (mild spoiler)

Rating: Null/10 (12 October 2000)

"Rosemary's Baby" is, without a doubt, my favorite horror film. Instead of relying on blood and violence to scare audiences it uses genuine psychological tension. This film shows that you don't need to witness gore and violence in order to be scared.
I think what makes this movie scary and disturbing is the fact that all these terrible things are happening to such an innocent, trusting and helpless character like Rosemary. Casting the then 22-year-old Mia Farrow was ideal. A delicate beauty, Farrow projects Rosemary's vulnerability to perfection. Never have I felt sorry for a character the way I feel sorry for Rosemary in this film. The paranoia and tension she experiences throughout the film is contagious.
You can particularly empathize with her at the party scene when her girlfriends are comforting her in the kitchen. What makes this scene so painful is that it shows how truly alone Rosemary is, the way her pent-up anxiety pours out in the presence of her estranged friends. The compassion she receives is very moving. The scene where she contacts Dr. Hill from the phone booth is another one of my favorites, because it gives you a nervous feeling in the pit of your stomach as well as a glimmer of hope that someone may finally believe and help Rosemary. The fact that we trust Dr. Hill the way Rosemary trusts him makes his ultimate betrayal all the more horrifying.
It is too bad that Roman Polanski's most recent films aren't of this caliber. Before he directed "Rosemary's Baby" he directed "Repulsion", another great psychological thriller. Both of these movies are creepy in ways most movies are not. The apartments in both films provide great atmosphere. To anyone who happens to read this review, I urge you to rent both this film and "Repulsion" for Halloween night. They make a great double feature!