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I recently saw Rosemary's Baby

post #1 of 11
9/12/04 at 4:04pm
Thread Starter 
I rented Rosemary's Baby, knowing full well of it's reputation as a landmark horror film, and I have to say that I was not impressed at all. What is it that makes this film such an adventure in horror? Was there supposed to be some sort of psychological horror from Rosemary's point of view, not knowing for sure if she was carrying the devil's child? Was there some sort of amazing new camera technique invented that I should know about? I'm just afraid that for me the movie is dated and there's no way for me to fully appreciate what is right in front of me. If anybody could throw their two cents in on this film I'd really appreciate it.
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post #2 of 11
9/12/04 at 4:22pm
Quote:
Was there supposed to be some sort of psychological horror from Rosemary's point of view, not knowing for sure if she was carrying the devil's child?
Psychological horror, but I think the fear was actually that the neighbors were going to hurt her baby...

Iiiiiinyways...I saw it while running a slight fever and found it very disturbing....my brother-in-law saw it while on pain medication for an injury and will not watch it. Maybe that helps.
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post #3 of 11
9/12/04 at 8:17pm
What I find so effective and disturbing about ROSEMARY'S BABY is the way Roman Polanski is able to create this forboding sense of dread that slowly builds throughout the film ... As with REPULSION and THE TENANT, there is this somewhat undefined terror looming overhead ...

As we watch, we are uncertain as to whether what we are seeing is actually happening, or only occuring in the main character's mind ... The paranoia our main character is suffereing could be justified, or, it could be that they are truly disturbed .... and what is so effective is that as viewers, we begin to relate to what is transpiring onscreen ...

Polanski is so good at using subtlety in regards to anything psychological, mostly trust ... The scene in ROSEMARY'S BABY in which Mia Farrow is contacting her doctor and doubting just about everyone around her is really terrifying ...
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post #4 of 11
9/12/04 at 8:49pm
It didn't terrify me, but it disturbed me a bit, and I thought about it for a long time after the credits rolled.

This movie was sort of like a slow delirious nightmare that you can't wake up from, a sort of nagging bad feeling that grows and grows inside of you. I think having a fever or being on pain medication would definetly help the experience because this movie is like a fever dream. All the confusion, delirium, and paranoia she experiences are handled very well and it is interesting to watch her decline into near insanity as this nightmare grows around her.
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post #5 of 11
9/13/04 at 9:45am
It's certainly a product of it's time in that it was playing off of the women's lib movement, the counter culture, and fears of American moving away from "traditional values". But I wouldn't call it dated. It still holds plenty of dramatic resonance. And as WerewolfGirl noted, it's very effective at building dread. The direction is pitch perfect (Rosemary's dream sequences are the most realistic and believable ever put to film). Also, the ending is both a loud and quiet shocker. The revelation of what Rosemary's baby looks like is a great jolt. But it's Rosemary's acceptance of him and her role as mother that packs the most power.
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post #6 of 11
9/13/04 at 12:06pm
Definitely psychological horror, it preys on our fears for our children. I think my fav part has got to be the ending with the great Sidney Blackmer going "Hail Satan!".
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post #7 of 11
9/13/04 at 12:49pm
i'D HAVE TYO SAY THAT THE BEST LINE.....damnit......that the best line that is the one that was echoed by Mike Patton.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ITS' EYES??!?!"
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post #8 of 11
9/13/04 at 2:05pm
I also really love how they don't totally give away the baby's appearance at the end, we only get a little hint. Polanski knows one of the great rules of horror filmmaking. Nothing is as scary as your imagination.
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post #9 of 11
9/14/04 at 2:20am
Psychological horror, creepy neighbors, and a satanic cult - what's not to love? How about Mia Farrow's riveting performance? She's in almost every scene. She perfectly conveys Rosemary's paranoia and despair. The perseverence of her maternal instinct, despite the circumstances, made for a nice ending.

And the cause of her paranoia? Those neighbors, the elderly Castevettes, who presided over a far-reaching evil subculture that would stop at nothing to bring Satan's child into the world. Sounds ludicrous? Just ask Rosemary's doctor. Better yet, ask her husband who traded his soul - and her womb - for success on Broadway.

Speaking of that, I like how Polanski gave us little tidbits of the relationship between Guy and the Castevettes. He didn't just put it all out there, he kept it from us as they kept it from her.

And that rape scene was quite chilling. But I suppose Roman's no stranger to rape......
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post #10 of 11
9/14/04 at 3:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by bunnymud wants tacos
i'D HAVE TYO SAY THAT THE BEST LINE.....damnit......that the best line that is the one that was echoed by Mike Patton.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ITS' EYES??!?!"

Which leads into the films best line..."HE HAS HIS FATHER'S EYES!" Then all the old people starting chanting "Satan Lives" and all that shit .

Not a great film, but kinda creepy. It's at least better than the sequel.
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post #11 of 11
9/14/04 at 11:08am
For those who say you must seperate the artist from the art, I give you that rape scene. A woman is drugged and taken advantage of while surrounded by a group people? You can never completely seperate the artist from their art.
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