Rosemary's Baby (1968)
Old people are scary enough!
Presentation:
As far as classic horror goes, this may be one of my favorites. Polanski crafts one of greatest paranoia horrors with a story that can keep veteran horror fans enthralled in. It begins innocuously, even a little boring, until a flash flood of horror comes in the form of a fever dream from hell. What I really appreciate about the visuals are the colorful wardrobe. The reds and blues look phenomenal as does Mia Farrow whom goes from an ethereal fairy into unrecognizably ghoulish. The effects in this film are well done.
Conclusion:
If there was a complaint for this film, I think the pacing lingers on some of the paranoia sections a bit long. Polanski is able to deliver his signature isolation, which in hindsight makes perfect sense for horror. The fact that old people are already scary makes this dread so much worse. It’s a little light on actual scares, but the end sticks with you.
Recommendations
The scariest classic horror of all time?