Rating: Summary: haunted... Review: i am still haunted by this film and i swear i will never watch another horror film as long as i'm alive in the dark. THIS early roman polanski chiller proved to be everything i had been told through the years and i should've known to first watch this in broad daylight. now as i go to sleep, i almost afraid to shut out the lights. there is still a bathroom light on in the hallway as i'm writing this. what gave this film the ultimate thrill was it's complete exercise in paranoia which many women could relate to while they are expecting. the film also taps into mortal fears of the unknown or the things which we have no control over. some of the other elements which one might find entertaining here are the costumes and styles of the mid-sixties and this film could serve as a great milestone for what we remember so well in this time period. in addition to all these goodies, we have memorable performances by all which couldn't easily be forgotten. the film weaves a suspenseful tale which may be in fact a variation of faust and will haunt us long after the credits have rolled off the screen. after awhile, you too may have to stop and ask yourself what happened to rosemary and her baby after all this. i won't tell. unpleasant dreams, my faithful viewers.
Rating: Summary: A truly suspenseful movie Review: I couldn't sleep last night and got up at 4 am and watched "Rosemary's Baby" by myself while my boyfriend slept. I am in my early 40s and had never seen it. It truly scared the holy heck out of me. This is a story of a woman who slowly learns that something horrible has happened to her and and slowly learns that she can trust absolutely no one, and it's done very effectively - you are constantly sliding back and forth with hope and despair for her. She cannot escape, although she desperately tries. And you are right there with her, hoping it isn't true, hoping she can find a way out. It is not a bloody gorefest, and I didn't notice any special effects. It relies on good acting and EVERYONE in it is superb, especially Ms. Farrow. Her every look and movement is perfect. Ruth Gordon as the intrusive neighbor is also very good; she is a strange mix of comedy and evil. I stopped the movie near the end at one point, where I really felt all hope was lost. My heart was pounding. I almost wanted to ask my boyfriend to not go to work and leave me by myself. Then after he left I just couldn't stand not knowing how it ended, so I watched the rest of it. If I say anymore I will ruin it. Let's just say that it is a very unforgettable movie.
Rating: Summary: Long flat boring movie Review: This movie failed to ignite the sense of fear to the audience. All you see is a very slow pace of a drama movie where the wife gradually find out that her husband will sacrifice her baby for his unfortunate career. The ending is also very bad, you don't even see the baby! A boring 136 minutes movie!
Rating: Summary: Attention Grabber Review: Who hasn't heard of the movie Rosemary's Baby? I know I have. In fact, I heard about this movie so often throughout the years, that I actually thought that I had seen it; at least once, when I was a child. I was wrong, I would have remembered getting such a jolt, from a movie. I bought this dvd as sort of a Halloween package of dvds, and watched it over the weekend. This movie is a psychological powerhouse that, without a doubt, belongs in the ranks of the Exorcist and The Omen. If you're tired of, and avoid the slasher flicks of recent years, this movie is a must see. This film is story telling in it's purest form. Roman Polanski's classic is visually stunning, full of gothic tales, and outstandingly acted by Mia Farrow, Ruth Gordon and Ralph Bellamy. The mini-retrospective, added in the 'special features' section, with commentaries by Polanski, Robert Evans and Richard Sylbert are informative and interesting. Watch this AFTER the movie, otherwise, you'll know too much, and won't get the full effect. A breath of chilled air, from the second golden age of Hollywood.
Rating: Summary: What I wouldn't give for "1/2" stars! Review: I review a lot of things here that would actually be on the cusp, such is the case here... I bobble between a 3 and a 4... let's say 3.5 shall we? I have seen many horror movies in my day but somehow this movie was always one "I'd get to"... well, today I got to it. Wow, what a strange movie. The dream sequences are Jacobs Ladder-esque, and the mood is just right throughout... the characters even manage to grow on you. Right away it seemed VERY dated but once I got settled and realized this was actually a great story all was well. The story was a little confusing, particularly the way "the history" of the building was rushed through then not really brought up until 2 hours later. It became a matter of "who was he?" Or "what year was that again?" Also, there were lines of dialogue that were never really addressed or explained (what about the "moved pictures" in the elderly couples home?) The sound was another great part of this, the ominous ticking of the clock throught the dream sequences was a very nice touch. Now for the bad... The ending was very disappointing. Having not read the book, I suppose it had to end the way it was written. But having seen so many "new" movies with nicely crafted endings, it was like, "Are they kidding me about the Baby Satan?" How ridiculous! Still, great performances overall, and it was nice to once again hear the dramatic voice of everyones favorite ape, Dr. Zaius (Maurice Evans). If you wish to compare every old horror movie with the Exorcist don't bother with this, you will be let down. However if you want to open your mind, give this try.
Rating: Summary: This Isn't a Dream--This Is Really Happening! Review: As faithful to Ira Levin's bestseller as a movie could be, Roman Polanski's ROSEMARY'S BABY is a masterpiece of cinematic horror that draws its subtle atmosphere of psychological terror out of the superstitious underpinnings of Western Judeo-Christian culture and from the uncertainty and emotional turmoil that young women suffer during pregnancy. Using the film's young protagonist, Rosemary Woodhouse, as a sort of symbol for the common person, Polanski artfully compels the audience to buy into the ostensible security of everyday American life. Then, with only little glimpses of the true evil that can exist behind the facade of common surroundings and behind the masks of trusted acquaintances, he insidiously pushes the viewer towards the film's fearful and surrealistic crescendo. Great performances, especially from the principals, create a strong understructure for the movie's suspenseful and frightening plot. As Rosemary, Mia Farrow initially exudes both the innocence and the optimism of American youth, and later in the film, she is very effective in relaying the hysteria and paranoia of a woman who ultimately finds herself the victim of a conspiracy. John Cassavetes is also quite believable as Rosemary's driven and egocentric husband, Guy. But it is the tour-de-force performances of Ruth Gordon and Sidney Blackmer that almost steal the show. As Rosemary's smarmy Satan-worshipping neighbors, Minnie and Roman Castevet, Gordon and Blackmer create a genuine sense of subtle evil that makes it easy to believe that one's neighbors could be plotting against you! Veteran actors Ralph Bellamy and Maurice Evans also do a fine job in supporting roles. Certain aspects of the film might seem dated today, most notably the 1960s clothing styles and the Leave-It-to-Beaver depiction of a "normal" middle-class American life. But actually, this only serves to heighten the surrealism of the overall plot and thereby makes the film seem all the more bizarre and frightening. Compared to some well-known films of the era, ROSEMARY'S BABY seems to have only gotten better with age. A worthy vintage for horror fans and movie buffs alike. This DVD release seems to have been made from a fairly good print; however, it is short on bonus features and extras. No trailers or TV spots are offered, but there is a rather odd behind-the-scenes featurette. Still, the movie itself is so good, the lack of extras will hardly be noticed.
Rating: Summary: Possibly The Greatest Horror Movie Ever Review: While many view the Exorcist to get chills, I turn to this film. Why? Because when watching this movie, it almost seems possible for it to happen in real life. Crazy? Yes, but that's what makes Roman Polanski's film such a masterpeice. Mia Farrow is loveable, and truely chilling in the last minutes of the film, I get chills in the last scenes every time. Halloween is a great time to enjoy this timeless thriller classic, and to have an option when every copy of Halloween and The Exorcist has been rented from every video store in town. Rosemary's Baby remains an ice cold thriller, after more than thirty years, and that is what is truely amazing.
Rating: Summary: EXTRAORDINARY PERFORMANCES FROM ALL-STAR CAST! Review: The previous reviews say it all - Rosemary's Baby is simply one of the finest horror films of all time. Mia Farrow turns in a finely nuanced performance as the young, naive wife to John Cassavettes nervous, narcissistic cad-of-a-husband. She is by turn lovable and child-like, trusting, suspicious and adamant and, finally, resigned. Ruth Gordon won an Oscar for her portrayal of the sinister, overbearing neighbor who has anything but Rosemary's best interests at heart. This is horror like they used to film it, intelligent and riveting, without the gratuitous gore that's become a staple of today's Hollywood movie mill. A superb, taut and frightening psychological thriller.
Rating: Summary: "What have you done to its eyes??" Review: The best way to describe "Rosemary's Baby" is to describe what it isn't: a cheap-thrill of a horror movie that's high on body count and low on character development. If "The Excorcist" were never made, "Rosemary's Baby" could very well be the best-made horror film of all time. In casting Mia Farrow and adpating the novel from Ira Levin, Roman Polanski has created a film that's old-school but not old-fashioned. Younger audiences who have been raised on "Scream"-like slasher films will probably write this off as slow-moving. That's because this film, unlike others inspired by it, takes its time to develop characters and its storyline. Also, Polanksi, like Hitchcock, knows that it's what you DON'T see is what scares the hell out of you. I am being vague because I don't want to give away plot details, but I recommend this to anyone who not only has a taste for horror, but is interested in a well-made, well-produced film.
Rating: Summary: oh dear lord Review: In 1969, Roman Polanski unleashed upon us one of the greatest horror films of all time. This movie is such an untouchable masterpiece that it's hard to even wrap your brain around it. The slow-paced building of suspense makes it obvious that Polanski was inspired by Hitchcock. A very creepy experience with eerie and realistic dream sequences. A definite must-own for all horror fans and a must-see for anyone interested in film in general.
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