31 Days of Horror: Rosemary's Baby (1968)

As psycho-supernatural thrillers go, Rosemary's Baby is tops thanks to a creepy performance by Ruth Gordon and an ethereal one by Mia Farrow. Farrow is really the one to watch. Her degradation through the 2+ hours is remarkable. This cute hopeful darling becomes a waif-like crack user thanks to the spawn of Satan.

Rosemary Woodhouse (Farrow), newlywed and wanting children has just moved into a new apartment in the infamous Bramford building. The Bramford has an unusual history of residents: cannibal killers, Satanist and witches or so says their friend Hutch (Maurice Evans) Still, the young couple thinks Manhattan is the place to be what with Guy's (John Cassvetes) promising TV career. Her neighbors, Roman and Minnie Casevet are a bit too nosy for her liking, but Guy thinks they're harmless. When Rosemary auspiciously becomes pregnant, Rosemary's health takes a turn for the worst. Surrounded by decidedly strange neighbors and odd occurrences, Rosemary's mental and physical health is in great danger.

Roman Polanski {love/hate} directs a perfectly nuanced film with great taste, beautiful detail and solid cast. Ruth Gordon annoys me; but damn, what a freak! Along with Sidney Blackmer, the two play eerie neighbors from hell. Gordon puts in an Oscar-winning performance, I believe.

Farrow makes this movie. She builds paranoia perfectly, slowly, allowing each unusual event to heighten the tension and fear. Polanski further the effect with an angelic focus on Farrow. Everything is light and airy with Rosemary around. In contrast, is the entire cast. Each character has a trail of evil and darkness. The symbolic play of light and dark is amazing.

As Rosemary becomes more and more isolated, the suspense builds. The execution is spot-on. The fear isn't tangible; but there's a consistent 'somethings-not-right' foreboding that just chills to the core. Therein lies the fun. You will watch with an expectation of things jumping out or the baby popping out of the stomach a la Aliens. No, Polanski is too good for that.

Rosemary's Baby is slow burn. It doesn't set out to scare as much as make you squirm. Even now, this movie is the ultimate creep-out.