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Rosemary's Baby (1968) - Roman Polanski


Rosemary's Baby is a fantastic film from Roman Polanski that showcases Mia Farrow in a role that pits her against just about everyone in the movie. She does a fantastic job as Rosemary, a young woman that has moved into a strange apartment with her husband Guy. The tenants of the apartment building happen to be mostly senior citizens that love nothing more than to reminisce and talk with the young couple. When Rosemary becomes pregnant, under strange circumstances, the entire apartment building becomes obsessed with her well being and pregnancy. A little too involved. 

Everything in this movie is timed out perfectly. The pacing is fantastic and the imagery is terrifying. You can definitely identify with Rosemary and you become frustrated when you realize this conspiracy that is unveiling around her. She really looks troubled through the entire movie. The actors playing the tenants do a great job of becoming caricatures of the seniors at the time. Terrifying caricatures. I didn't really like Guy, but I guess you're not supposed to. 

This movie goes for the long scare. Keeping you on the edge of your seat with really creepy buildup and tense sequences. It doesn't start out scary or even suspenseful. However, it gives you really thorough character development with a really engaging screenplay. It really flows. The first half of the movie is mostly like a romantic dramedy in which our characters are starting to question their newly blossomed relationship. The second half is the horror story... The conspiracies and the sneaking around are far more suspenseful but loses context if you don't have that intricate first part of development. Polanski executes this perfectly. 

I recommend this movie to anyone that is a big fan of horror or anyone that is interested in Roman Polanski's body of work. It is really engaging, really scary, and really well made. If you are looking for that one movie to put on your horror playlist, this is it. 

He chose you, honey! From all the women in the world to be the mother of his only living son! 
  • Mia Farrow went through a divorce to Frank Sinatra during this movie. She received the divorce papers while on set. Apparently she broke down and was consoled by the cast and crew on set. 
  • Roman Polanski's wife Sharon Tate was murdered a short while after the release of this film in 1969.
  • John Lennon and Yoko Ono lived in the apartment that this movie was filmed in during the eighties. John Lennon was murdered outside of the apartment building. 

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