Out and out horror classic

Rating: 10/10 (30 October 2007)

Based on a novel by Ira Levin, Rosemary's Baby is a slow building and suspenseful tale of horror based on Satanism. Rosemary's Baby is often cited as being one of the best horror films ever made, and there is a good reason for this. The genre is famous more for blood and scenes that make the audience squirm - Rosemary's baby doesn't feature any of that, but it does feature an atmosphere of constant dread and a plot that always remains interesting even when the pace is rather slow, and that more than makes up for any gratuitous scenes of gore. The plot is fairly simple and focuses on young couple, Guy (an actor) and Rosemary Woodhouse. They move in to a new apartment building and meet a friendly elderly couple living next door, Roman and Minnie Castevet. Guy begins to spend a lot of time with the couple next door, and before long Rosemary has become pregnant - strangely around the same time she has a dream about being raped by something inhuman. As soon as the neighbours realise she pregnant, they take a keen interest; and strange things start to happen.
The rights to Ira Levin's novel were originally acquired by William Castle; and while I don't mean to discredit Castle as I do love most of his work, I have to say that I'm glad that Polanski was brought in to direct as this is not the sort of plot that Castle would have done well with. This film is the second (and best) part of a trilogy of films by Roman Polanksi focusing on Paranoia - the other two being Repulsion and The Tenant. Polanski's direction is really what makes this film what it is; while the plot often plays out like a soap opera and there are periods where nothing really happens, though the atmosphere hanging over the mystery of the story - as well as the fact that we know certain things that are unknown to the central character - ensure that the film is always interesting. I wont spend too much time talking about the actors; but suffice to say, all four of the central performances are excellent; Ruth Gordon's supporting role representing on the few times that a horror film has been recognised by the Academy. It all boils down to a fantastic final ten minutes, which manages to be chilling while still following what has gone before it - i.e. not showing the audience everything. Overall, it's impossible to deny that Rosemary's Baby is a masterpiece and also one of the true 'must see' horror films.