Movie Review: Rosemary's Baby

Roman Polanski's horror masterpiece Rosemary's Baby makes use of unconventional scare tactics and amazing acting to flesh out a bizarre story of paranoia and witchcraft. A wonderfully foreboding setup, innovative cinematography and an utterly shocking conclusion make this film a suspense classic and a staple of the horror genre.

Set in 1965, Rosemary Woodhouse (Mia Farrow) and her actor husband Guy (John Cassavetes) move into a new apartment shrouded by mystery. Her neighbors Minnie (Ruth Gordon) and Roman (Sydney Blackmer) Castevet are a bit strange and off-putting, and her husband spends less and less time with her. They have plans to have a baby but she falls asleep on their special night and dreams of being raped by something not entirely human. When she wakes the next morning her husband informs her that he didn't want to miss the opportunity and the planning for that night, despite her unconscious state, and she soon discovers she's pregnant. The annoying neighbors cater to her needs, but she seems to grow continually weaker and struggles with unnatural pains. As her baby nears its birth, her friend Hutch (Maurice Evans) warns her of the possibility of witchcraft that may have been used to influence the pregnancy.

The film opens with an eerily mellow tune hummed by star Mia Farrow. Foreshadowing occurs instantly with the introduction of mysterious situations in the Woodhouse's new home. A secretary has been moved to cover a doorway inside a closet, and a tenant who had lived with the neighbors kills herself hours after Rosemary meets her. Other major events are best left a secret since, like Psycho, this film is much more enjoyable the less you know about it.