Rosemary's Baby

      . Kicking off a wave of satanic/supernatural horror movies, "Rosemarys' Baby" is one of the greatest horror films of all time, and a personal favorite.  It tells the tale of Guy and Rosemary Woodhouse.  Guy is a fledgling actor, waiting for the big break, and Mia Farrow is his former-Catholic-but-now-is-an-agnostic-but-dutiful wife.  They get an apartment in the creepy Dakota in New York City (where John Lennon was later shot and killed), meet some very strange neighbors, and become pregnant.  That's when everything suddenly goes to hell and the acid trip begins.

      So many things to love about "Rosemary's Baby".  It's a stunning and groovy time capsule of New York City in the late 60's, for one.  It's got a perfectly chilling score that will definitely give you a case of the creeps, and Ruth Gordon OWNS the screen as nosy neighbor Minnie Castevet.  Mia Farrow delivers a knockout, Oscar-worthy performance here, and should have won the Oscar alongside Ruth.  Roman Polanski perfectly captures a dreadful sense of paranoia here, and offers up true suspense.

    It's not "The Exorcist", with gut-wrenching special effects and shocking language.  One of the many reasons why "Rosemary's Baby" is considered such a classic is that it has no intention whatsoever of hitting us over the head or grossing us out.  Instead director Roman Polanski wisely opts to give us a slow burn, as he slowly and spellbindingly sucks us in to a spooky web of paranoia, conspiracy and witchcraft.  Our attention is held completely without gore or effects, and by the time we reach the last 20 minutes of "Rosemarys' Baby", the viewer is either suspecting every single damn person on the screen or wondering if everybody, themselves included, isn't downright batshit crazy.
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      This is a movie that requires many viewings- you will notice something new and important to the story every time you watch this movie- many important plot elements are happening in broad daylight, maybe in the background here and there- just not in the center of attention. So you may see something that on the first viewing means absolutely nothing, but on later viewings may mean something much more sinister and terrifying. "Rosemary's Baby" is the gift that keeps on giving.  This is definitely in my Top Ten Horror Hall of Fame, and is a must have for any self-respecting horror fan.  It's a deliciously diabolical good time. "Rosemary's Baby" ranks #9 on AFI's 100 Years... 100 Thrills list.  Top ten, baby.   Top...ten.