Common Sense Note
Pervasively creepy, this classic horror film addresses occult themes throughout and is not appropriate for children. Parents should be aware that this film deals frankly with pregnancy and adult sexuality. Characters practice satanic rituals, make bargains with the devil, drink alcohol, and have sex.
Families who choose to watch this film can discuss the issues of greed and ambition raised by Guy's character. They could also talk about gender issues centering on marriage and pregnancy, including abusive relationships. What does the film suggest about women's position in marriage? How do these suggestions relate to the time period in which the film was produced? Who are the monsters in ROSEMARY'S BABY, and what, aside from their affiliation with the occult makes them monstrous?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Carly Kocurek
Pregnancy is difficult – especially if yours is the focal point of an occult ritual. ROSEMARY'S BABY follows the trials of Rosemary Woodhouse (Mia Farrow), a young wife whose desire to start a family goes horribly wrong. Her husband Guy (John Cassavetes) joins an occult group, using his wife's uterus as a bargaining chip in a deal to advance his acting career.
Guy and Rosemary move into a new apartment building inhabited primarily with elderly people. Shortly afterward, strange things begin happening. A young woman who had been living with the Woodhouse's neighbors, the Castevets, leaps to her death. Rosemary hears chanting late at night. As Guy makes a name for himself on stage and screen, Rosemary's pregnancy drains her physically, leaving her frail and in excruciating pain. Despite the reassurances of her doctor, Rosemary grows uneasy about her pregnancy and is suspicious of her husband and neighbors' activities.
Polanski's artful film renders an eerie and frightening world. Mia Farrow is perfect as the increasingly frantic Rosemary. Although scenes of gore and violence are somewhat limited, occult themes are pervasive and may be unsettling even to adults. Based on the novel by Ira Levin, ROSEMARY'S BABY is a film strongly tied to the era that produced it, addressing a number of social issues central to the women's movement of the '60s and '70s, particularly those concerning mental health and pregnancy.
Viewers who enjoy this film might want to check out The Stepford Wives (1975), which is based on another of Levin's novels, or the TV movie sequel, Look What's Happening to Rosemary's Baby (1976). Rosemary's Baby forms a loose trilogy about the perils of urban living with two of Polanski's other films: Repulsion (1965) and The Tenant (1976).
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentStrong suggestion of sex, full nudity. Themes of rape. |
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ViolenceA neighbor commits suicide. |
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LanguageGuy berates Rosemary and her friends at several points. |
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Social BehaviorGuy bargains with an occult group to advance his career, devil worship |
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CommercialismA Scrabble board makes several appearances, and Guy acts in a Yamaha motorcycle commercial. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoCharacters drink with dinner and at parties. |
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