Director Roman Polanski
Music by Krystof Komeda
La la la, the soft haunting sound enticing you in to the opening of one
of the most chilling supernatural films in Cinema History - "Rosemary's
Baby" based on the novel by Ira Levin.
The setting is Manhattan; the camera closes in using highly structured
shots, finally arriving at the destination of our story, an apartment
building called The Bamford. Here we find the newly married couple Guy
and Rosemary Woodhouse, played respectively by John Cassevettes and Mia
Farrow.
Guy is an aspiring actor, self-absorbed, and career orientated. He has
all the characteristics of a budding actor attempting to reach stardom
in a competitive New York environment. He spends his days working in T.V
commercials and arrives home bitter that the substantial acting roles
are always being handed to others less talented then him.
Rosemary is young and totally in love, almost blinded by it. She is compliant
to a certain degree, yet she does have a strong inner personality. She
is cleverer than Guy although she has no prominent interests or work of
her own; her infectious enthusiasm is for homemaking and being a good
wife, Rosemary is an extremely likeable and a caring young woman.
After only a short time in their newly rented apartment building, they
hear strange, sinister noises echoing from the next room. A young woman
jumps to her death in an apartment occupied by an elderly couple; Minnie
and Roman, played by Ruth Gordon and Sidney Blackmer.
The couple invite Guy and Rosemary to dinner; they are loud, very opinionated
people. Roman charms Guy with his stories of world travel, however the
atmosphere of the couple themselves is stifling and rather horrible especially
for Rosemary. You sense s6omething unpleasant is transpiring at the dinner
table, certainly there exists an unpleasant undercurrent that lurks beneath
the neighbourly pleasantries.
Soon they appear at Rosemary's door at every opportunity, there simply
is no escaping them. They begin to cause tension and interfere in the
privacy of the couple in a detrimental manner, although Guy seems to do
everything to encourage them even when he witnesses his wife's distress.
Guy's future as an actor becomes assured, prematurely, when he is offered
the lead role in a play after the man he is understudying for suddenly
becomes ill and blind. Although Guy comments "what a way to get a
part" he hardly shows any significant concern for the tragedy that
has befallen a fellow human being. He decides to fulfil Rosemary's wish
to have a baby, although previously showed no interest at all, even circling
the days on the calendar marking the best time for Rosemary to become
pregnant.
Soon after half drugged Rosemary has a violent, disturbing nightmare,
which includes being raped by a beast resembling the devil, the imagery
and filming of these particular scenes is the first instance of the horror
and evil that Rosemary has encountered in her life. These scenes also
convey the religious guilt of a girl brought up in the Catholic tradition.
The morning after Guy looks amused by Rosemary's nightmare telling her
that he made love to her while she was asleep, Rosemary is sickened and
soon finds out that she is pregnant.
The film is excellent at conveying all the fears, confusion and hormonal
changes that can occur for a young expectant mother. Rosemary is overcome
with panic and paranoia; she becomes more withdrawn and sullen. Instead
of gaining weight she loses it, a close friend who becomes suspicious
suddenly dies in a mysterious accident.
Rosemary now believes that her husband and neighbours are Satanists who
want her baby. The suspense and tension reach a climax; the anxiety heightens
as Rosemary begins to unravel the truth about her situation. The scariest
part of all is that she is fighting against an evil that is impossible
to escape from - and everyone is involved. The birth itself is totally
terrifying and completely unnerving. Throughout the entire film we are
never quite sure if Rosemary is imagining things or they are actually
happening.
The horror of Rosemary's baby is found in the circumstances that take
place on a daily basis, occurrences that we take for granted - the polite
handshakes of neighbours. The film explores human interactions in a disturbing
and negative manner.
The horror is inconspicuous, yet it is real and powerful. When we finally
see what Guy has been capable of doing to Rosemary for the sake of his
career, we are truly revolted. Watching the transformation of Rosemary's
personality turn from healthy and vivacious to an eerie empty shell of
her former self is frightening.
To read a fantastic DVD review by Mike Long click here
To read some reviews for the movie the best place to go is RottenTomatoes
they have many reviews on this film. This movie is available on DVD from
Amazon.com
©2002 MinaDream.com
|
