Rosemary's Baby | Take 2 | 100 Movies Bucket List

 

There are a few movies on this year's horror-themed bucket list that I've seen before and written posts on in the past, but this is the only one so far that I've wanted to write a second post on.

Before I started watching the film I re-read what I wrote about it previously, and not only was it a really short post, but I didn't like the film that time as much as I had when I first saw it. And I assumed that this re-watch would be the same.

So I was really surprised by how much I loved the film this time around! So much that I think it definitely deserved a proper review.

My main reason for not loving it before was that not much happened, but for some reason, I completely disagree with that now, upon this third (or fourth) re-watch.

There is a sinister undertone the entire way through, every single thing that happens in tinged with a feeling of unease and apprehension. Before anything even happens, before Rosemary is even pregnant, the audience is on edge, even though we don't know why.

The horrors of the film are subtle, particularly at first, but this is what makes them so effective. We don't know what anyone's motives are, and we don't know why we don't want to trust these people.

But it works well because we feel exactly what Rosemary is feeling, sometimes before she does. When she begins to take control, we're rooting for her, and when she falls backwards and starts losing this control, it's hard to watch.

All of the actors are completely amazing in the film. Of course, Mia Farrow is amazing and carries the movie as Rosemary, but all of the supporting actors do such a great job of creating and maintaining the uneasy atmosphere.

It's fascinating and terrifying in equal measure to watch Rosemary work things out. It happens slowly, building tension, and the more she figures out, the more intrigued and scared the audience is for her.

The writing really stands out. While watching, I had to look up whether it had been nominated for the Best Screenplay Oscar, and it was, which made a lot of sense. 

As we get closer to the end of the film, the sense of hopelessness is overwhelming, and for me that's where the true horror comes in. The audience feels as helpless as Rosemary does and as things descend further and further, it's impossible to look away.

But the ending scene is what pulls everything together and makes the film iconic!

So this one was definitely worth a re-watch, and a second review!