Rosemary’s Baby-A Cult Classic
You must have heard of Rosemary’s Baby…even if you were born a long time after it was written and filmed. It’s one of those cult classics that remain a must-read book or a must-watch film.
This horror novel written in 1967 by Ira Levin was adapted as a film by Roman Polanski starring then-popular actress Mia Farrow. Ruth Gordon won an Oscar for best supporting actress for her portrayal of Minnie Castevet in this film.
The afterword in the novel by the writer says that this was the first-ever theme to talk about the birth of the anti-Christ. It set the stage for future horror films such as The Exorcist and The Omen.
Not being much of a fan of the horror genre, it was just curiosity that prompted me to pick up this book at the book store. Well, to be honest-curiosity and a huge discount;)
I had once asked my dad for the story of the film and I remembered the outline he gave me, so there was nothing new in the book for me. I failed to get goosebumps, nightmares, or any kind of “normal” reactions to such a book, merely because the writer has narrated the story simply and in a rather bland manner.
What sets this book apart is that it is one of the first of its kind. The author has also written “Stepford wives” and “Sliver”, both of which have been made into films and both of which I’ve seen. He specializes in creepy themes and is some sort of a pioneer with the kind of themes he writes about.
His disturbing and admittedly blasphemous concept in “Rosemary’s baby” and the sheer horror of the theme speaks for itself.
Rosemary and her husband, a struggling actor named Guy, have just moved into the Bramford, an old Gothic-style apartment building. A friend, Hutch, warns them about the building’s disturbing history, but they choose to ignore the stories and go ahead with their plans. They are soon befriended by Minnie and Roman Castavet, an eccentric elderly couple, who live next door. Guy becomes very close to the couple and starts spending a lot of time with them.
Guy’s flailing acting career suddenly sees an upswing after his rival goes mysteriously blind. Soon, Guy and Rosemary decide to conceive their first child. Rosemary is troubled by an eerie, evil dream. Following her conception, she starts seeing a doctor recommended by the old couple. Although a well-known name in his profession, he gives her weird advice and says she should not read any manual on pregnancy since each birth is different. She is also asked not to consult with her friends and compare notes on pregnancy. Her neighbour gives her foul-smelling herb drinks saying they will be good for the health of the baby.
Rosemary experiences terrible pain, which lasts for months, and her dear friend, Hutch, who visits her, is shocked at her appearance. Hutch says Rosemary looks as though a vampire were sucking out her life blood. Hutch wants to meet her the next day with some information, but he inexplicably slides into a coma, leaving Rosemary a book on witchcraft, which points to a horrifying reality.
Whether this was reality or a figment of her imagination as an offshoot of pre-natal depression is something debated by critics. But real or not, the experience is harrowing, even if it was only in her mind. I would advise mothers-to-be to steer clear of this book! Others who want to know what is real and what is not should read “Son of Rosemary” by the same author, which was written in the 90’s.
You must have heard of Rosemary’s Baby…even if you were born a long time after it was written and filmed. It’s one of those cult classics that remain a must-read book or a must-watch film.
This horror novel written in 1967 by Ira Levin was adapted as a film by Roman Polanski starring then-popular actress Mia Farrow. Ruth Gordon won an Oscar for best supporting actress for her portrayal of Minnie Castevet in this film.
The afterword in the novel by the writer says that this was the first-ever theme to talk about the birth of the anti-Christ. It set the stage for future horror films such as The Exorcist and The Omen.
Not being much of a fan of the horror genre, it was just curiosity that prompted me to pick up this book at the book store. Well, to be honest-curiosity and a huge discount;)
I had once asked my dad for the story of the film and I remembered the outline he gave me, so there was nothing new in the book for me. I failed to get goosebumps, nightmares, or any kind of “normal” reactions to such a book, merely because the writer has narrated the story simply and in a rather bland manner.
What sets this book apart is that it is one of the first of its kind. The author has also written “Stepford wives” and “Sliver”, both of which have been made into films and both of which I’ve seen. He specializes in creepy themes and is some sort of a pioneer with the kind of themes he writes about.
His disturbing and admittedly blasphemous concept in “Rosemary’s baby” and the sheer horror of the theme speaks for itself.
Rosemary and her husband, a struggling actor named Guy, have just moved into the Bramford, an old Gothic-style apartment building. A friend, Hutch, warns them about the building’s disturbing history, but they choose to ignore the stories and go ahead with their plans. They are soon befriended by Minnie and Roman Castavet, an eccentric elderly couple, who live next door. Guy becomes very close to the couple and starts spending a lot of time with them.
Guy’s flailing acting career suddenly sees an upswing after his rival goes mysteriously blind. Soon, Guy and Rosemary decide to conceive their first child. Rosemary is troubled by an eerie, evil dream. Following her conception, she starts seeing a doctor recommended by the old couple. Although a well-known name in his profession, he gives her weird advice and says she should not read any manual on pregnancy since each birth is different. She is also asked not to consult with her friends and compare notes on pregnancy. Her neighbour gives her foul-smelling herb drinks saying they will be good for the health of the baby.
Rosemary experiences terrible pain, which lasts for months, and her dear friend, Hutch, who visits her, is shocked at her appearance. Hutch says Rosemary looks as though a vampire were sucking out her life blood. Hutch wants to meet her the next day with some information, but he inexplicably slides into a coma, leaving Rosemary a book on witchcraft, which points to a horrifying reality.
Whether this was reality or a figment of her imagination as an offshoot of pre-natal depression is something debated by critics. But real or not, the experience is harrowing, even if it was only in her mind. I would advise mothers-to-be to steer clear of this book! Others who want to know what is real and what is not should read “Son of Rosemary” by the same author, which was written in the 90’s.
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