Arguably the most iconic horror film I had left to cover, Rosemary’s Baby casts a long shadow. Schlock director William Castle got the rights to the book but realized he was not up to the task of putting it on the screen. This task was given to rising star Roman Polanski, but allowed himself a Hitchockian cameo. Filmed at the Dakota Apartments, that would later be the location John Lennon would meet his fate.
This may be the first film to lean hard into the occult. Castle felt the production was cursed. His health started failing and was getting hate mail for bringing the devil back. 23 year old Mia Farrow’s fifty two year old husband didn’t approve of the subject matter so he served her divorce papers on the set. Polanski’s wife and unborn child were later brutally murdered by cultists, causing him to start finding thirteen year olds irresistible.
Here we see some old friends. Eliza Cook Jr. visits us once again, as does that Ralph Bellamy fellow. We see a young Charles Grodin, rest in peace, but the standout performance goes to Maude herself, Ruth Gordon. She was amazing as the nosy, annoying neighbor. Who might worship Satan.
Adult life can be terrifying. Economic uncertainty, pregnancy, new situations are frightening enough without the specter of neighbor satanists with designs on your unborn child. Polanski and the source material exploits this theme expertly. The Take YouTube channel did an excellent video exploring elements of control and lack of it. Rosemary is young, frail, and pregnant, and alone in her fight. Check it out.
Rosemary’s Baby is a slow burn, and quite frankly did feel a bit long. Also, traditional horror elements are noticeably absent. The production designer called it the greatest horror film without any horror in it. While not exactly true, it’s close enough to not be wrong. But it is iconic for a reason, influencing The Exorcist, The Omen, and many others. AMRU 4.
"Shut up. You're in Dubrovnik, I don't hear you."
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