Product: Rosemary's Baby (El Bebe de Rosemary) [ NON-USA FORMAT, NTSC, Reg.4 Import - Latin America ] (1968)
Rating: 5.0
A mother's love...
So my best Ammy buddy MKIA just posted a review for this very film (and he only gave it three stars AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH) and so it got me thinking about the controversial nature of film and the fact that, as I've mentioned in previous reviews, the media does seem to paint a picture of greatness behind certain films deemed classics, which can serve as a disservice in the end. Yes, when a film becomes so widely lauded that the individual sitting down for the first time is already guarantied he's going to love it, you can only walk away with an unsatisfied taste in your mouth.I just think about my personal feelings towards films like `GoodFellas', `2001: A Space Odyssey', `Gone With the Wind' and `The Maltese Falcon' (all of which are very good films but none of which lived up to the hype for me).So that brings me to `Rosemary's Baby', a psychological horror film from director Roman Polanski dating back to 1968. The film has been lauded as one of the best horror films of all time, and I think that may be where the `hype' begins to work against the movie. For me, the emphasis of that assessment needs to be directed towards the psychological part, not the horror part. In fact, this film is not really horrific at all, that is until you start dwelling on the psychological aspects of the film.This film is a mind[....].The movie revolves around a young married couple named Rosemary and Guy. When they move into a new apartment in New York, the couple becomes the target of an older couple named Minnie and Roman. The couple (especially Minnie) becomes very intrusive, but in a way that makes it difficult to break ties with them. They seem to mean well, and Rosemary and Guy don't really have anyone else. When Rosemary becomes pregnant strange things begin to happen (with the most intense subtlety imaginable) and her hysteria (as well as ours) begins to mount.Thinking of `Rosemary's Baby' makes me think of the recent `Bug', another psychological horror movie that I was totally in love with. The way the horror becomes invested in every tiny detail, slowly simmering until the audience is overtaken with their foreknowledge of the inevitable; it's just breathtaking (latterly, it takes away your breath and refuses to give it back).The film (much like `Bug') relies heavily on the performances within, and much like Ashley Judd, Mia Farrow is just simply brilliant here (how has she gone without a single Oscar nomination?). The way that she captures the wide-eyed terror that formulates inside her own naivety is just flawless. You can feel her working things out for herself, and the way she doubts her own fear is impeccably rendered with every subtle move she makes towards the truth. She portrays paranoia effortlessly. The rest of the cast is also spot-on, especially Ruth Gordon (OSCAR WINNER!) and Sidney Blackmer, who play the devilishly terrorizing neighbors. For me, Blackmer is just top notch with his sly charm and maniacal intentions.The films conclusion (which is fantastically void of any real closure) presents us with a deeply disturbing portrait of maternal love. Just wait, for watching Rosemary exact her responsibility, no matter how grotesque the nature of it, is something that will chill your bones and turn your stomach. No, it won't make you jump out of your skin but sit a second and dwell on what you are witnessing, just what this movie is telling you.Then try and close your eyes.