Context is important with this movie: this was one of the first bigger budget American occult thrillers…not so much a horror film as a psychological drama. The performances are excellent, and Ruth Gordon (bossy, nosy neighbor Minnie Castevet) won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. The movie hinges on the performance of a young Mia Farrow as Rosemary Woodhouse, who moves into an apartment with ambitious, conniving actor husband Guy (John Cassavetes). The apartment was inhabited in the past by a coven of witches, and Rosemary fears for the safety of her unborn baby as she unravels the truth about her new neighbors.
As her emotional and psychological support system is chipped away at, Rosemary’s isolation and fear continue to grow. Farrow’s performance transcends the immediate context of the story, and represents the desperation of anyone in an abusive relationship when no one will believe them about the danger.
