ViewGuide

Created Nov 04, 2011 10:46AM PST • Edited Nov 04, 2011 10:46AM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Great 4.0

   Solid storytelling, creepy special effects, and a great acting job by Mia Farrow make Rosemary’s Baby a delightful and spooky movie.

   Farrow plays Rosemary, a young woman who moves into a creepy old apartment building with her actor/husband Guy (John Cassavetes). Surrounded by peculiar neighbors, they quickly make friends, and start a family. But things aren’t quite what they appear to be, and Rosemary begins to suspect that evil reside in the building and may cause her baby harm. Her paranoia grows and grows until a climatic finish.

   Edgy for it’s time, this movie was frightening because of what you can’t see. The fear comes form the unknown, fueling the protagonists suspicions, as well as those of the viewers.

   The movie has elements of it’s time period, including awkward clothing, and syntax that would be out of place in today’s world. But the tension and horror transcend the generation gap, and grabs you, pulling you into the madness.

4. Acting

   Very Good 3.5

5. Male Stars OK 2.5

   Cassavetes is ok as the bumbling husband who will do anything to get ahead in his career.

6. Female Stars Great 4.0

   Mia Farrow is great in her role as the young mother who has fears and apprehension.

7. Female Costars Really Great 4.5

   Ruth Gordon won an Oscar for her role as Minnie, the nosy and loud wife of Roman. She was easily one of the highlight if this movie for me.

8. Male Costars Very Good 3.5

   Sidney Blackmer gives a good performance as the fatherly neighbor Roman.

   Ralph Bellamy is creepy and solid in his role as the doctor.

10. Film

    Very Good 3.5

11. Direction Very Good 3.5

    Roman Polanski does a wonderful job in building the tension in this film. His creative use of camera angles for the time, including closeups of faces, only helps augment the great acting job.

12. Play Good 3.0

13. Music Good 3.0

14. Visuals Great 4.0

    Wild visual imagery help create the confusion and terror.

15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 1.9

17. Sex Titillating 1.9

    a rape scene and some back nudity.

18. Violence Fierce 2.2

    a rape scene, and a suicide scene

19. Rudeness Salty 1.6

21. Reality

    Glib 1.8

22. Circumstantial Glib 2.0

23. Biological Glib 1.3

24. Physical Glib 2.0