Anyone in the film industry would know that if you undertake a horror film project, chances are your finished product will not be highly praised of by critics. Rosemary's Baby is one of the few exceptions.
Directed by the controversial and Oscar winning European director, Roman Polanski, the film tells the gripping story of Rosemary Woodhouse (Mia Farrow) who becomes impregnated after just moving in with her husband, Guy Woodhouse (John Cassavetes) into their New York apartment. They befriend an older couple living on the same floor who aid the Woodhouses with their first pregnancy. Noticing their over-generosity, Rosemary's increasing suspicion of the couple lead to a doubt-ridden string of events which end in one of the most memorable climaxes in horror movie history.
Much like the novel on which it is based on, the narrative progresses solely in the view of Rosemary. What she doesn't know, we don't know either. This style works to its favour, allowing viewers to not only suspect everyone around Rosemary but gives us room to suspect Rosemary herself. The viewer goes on a tumultous journey, constantly doubting everyone that graces the screen.
Rosemary's Baby works because of its subversion of its own genre, letting it stride past other horror films, in both story and execution. Polanski does a brilliant job handling the material and selecting shots that greatly benefit the film's unique style. But I have to give most credit to Mia Farrow, who seems to carry the whole film on her delicate shoulders. She wholly embodies the character and is an actor who relies on instinct rather than method. Simply put, Rosemary's Baby is an outstanding film, and should definitely be upheld as one of the true classics.
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