So lets get the party started on the 13th floor. If 11 and 12 aren't calling the cops we're doing something wrong *DISCLAIMER* If you are wondering if reading some dude's rant about Rosemary's baby counts as a party..... the answer is yes. So are you going to join my party or go join the sasquatches? I hear they loooooove to partay ;)*END DISCLAIMER*
Assuming y'all just don't skip the disclaimers. Really doesn't matter to me if you do *DISCLAIMER* Yes it does *END DISCLAIMER*you would have read that the following will be me gushing about my absolute favorite horror movie Rosemary's Baby! It has everything: awesome plot, scary psychedelic score, scary old people (when are they not) and a cameo of old scratch himself *DISCLAIMER* I'll save you the Wikipedia trip "scratch" is one of the many aliases of Satan aka Lucifer aka Kenny G *END DISCLAIMER*. Just as a heads up this blog will probably only make sense to those who've seen it but if you haven't seen it *DISCLAIMER* Why do you hate life? *END DISCLAIMER* and don't mind spoilers feel free to read on. But you know SEE THIS FUCKING MOVIE!!!!!!!!
Guy and Rosemary have just moved into a swanky new apartment of the very luxurious Bramford. Shortly after moving in they meet the Castavettes who are superbly portrayed by Ruth Gordon and Sydney Blackmere! The old couple are very intrusive on Guy and Rosemary's life and try desperately to make friends with the young couple. Little do the e love birds know the Castavettes are actually members of a Satanic cult who nominate Rosemary to become the mother of the anti-Christ *DISCLAIMER* I just want to send a little shout out to Satan. Dude its pretty rough you're followers chose Mia Farrow to be your baby mama. Did they not tell you about Ursula Andress? Doubt she'd ever accuse you of molesting your adopted daughter (too soon?) *END DISCLAIMER* What struck me about Rosemary's Baby when I first saw it was the ever so prevalent sense of dread that carries on throughout the picture. Is Rosemary having the pre baby crazies? or is she right in assuming a satanic cult has an agenda for her unborn baby? The dizzying camera work and mind piercing score greatly contribute in the making of the dread. Something else I love about this movie is the subtle way the plot unfolds. Instead of just telling you the plot it shows you it. It engages you and makes you look for it. This movie takes more then one showing to really appreciate its subtle nature. For those who have seen the movie and those who are reading this after succumbing to my guilt trips via disclaimer and are reading this in the near future *DISCLAIMER* It better be fucking near! *END DISCLAIMER* after finally watching the film *DISCLAIMER* yes I am speaking to you in the future I can do that *END DISCLAIMER* I'm going to blow you're minds! I'm going to show you key elements you probably missed in your viewing of Rosemary's Baby. These elements will help make the film settle deep into the dark recesses of your minds and make it a much more creepy viewing experience in future viewings.
*SPOLIER ALERT* I'm going to explain the title of this blog in the following paragraph *END SPOILER ALERT* You probably are wondering who the Gardenia broad in the title of this blog is referring too. You are wondering this because you lied and didn't watch the movie! Yes I'm talking to you! I can see you now in my minds eye, all smug, reading this blog thinking "fuck that guy I'm not watching Rosemary's Baby!" GO WATCH THE MOVIE!!!!!!!!!
Now for all those who've watched it Mrs. Gardenia is the old lady who lived in the apartment before Guy and Rosemary. While being shown the apartment by the landlord Guy and Rosemary learn Miss Gardenia died after falling into a coma. When they're being shown the apartment Rosemary finds a letter on a desk. A letter written by Mrs. Gardenia. We're not shown all the letter just a small snippet reading "I can no longer associate myself." Who was Mrs. Gardenia breaking away from? Lets jump ahead. Later in the film its revealed that all the tenants of the Bramford are Satanists which leads me to believe Mrs. Gardenia was a member as well. Other clues to this lie in the fact that its mentioned that Gardenia grew herbs for Minnie Castavette and the Castavettes apartment and Mrs. Gardenia's apartment are connected by a doorway disguised as a closet. This all leads to assume that Mrs. Gardenia wanted nothing to do with the kooky Satanists and in return the cult killed poor Mrs. Gardenia! It wasn't until a recent viewing that I pieced together how they killed her. Lets jump to another part of the film. Remember Hutch?
Remember he died after slipping into a coma too? Just so happens ole Hutch died mysteriously after finding out a little too much about the cult. In a book left to Rosemary by Hutch Rosemary learns that covens will often perform rituals to kill their enemies telepathically. On past viewings I never clued in that Hutch wasn't the only one who died this way. Mrs. Gardenia did as well after wanting to leave the cult. Really surprises me after countless times watching this movie I never pieced that together. When I clued in a delightful shiver went down my spine.
As mentioned above poor Rosemary is unknowingly carrying the spawn of Satan. Its not known to her but it is known by the audience. The plot against Rosemary is told through several subtle and one not so subtle plot points*DISCLAIMER* Yes the scene where Rosemary and Scratch get it on is the not so subtle plot point *END DISCLAIMER*.
We first learn of the Castavettes from Terry Ginofrio a woman Rosemary's age living with the Castavettes. Terry recounts for Rosemary all the kind deeds the Castavettes have performed for her and even shows Rosemary a pendent given to her by Minnie Castavette. Inside the pendent is something called Tannis Root which gives off a foul odour but apparently gives good luck to all who wear it.
One night in bed Guy and Rosemary hear the Castavette's arguing. All that can be heard is Minnie Castavette yelling "We shouldn't tell her". The following night Guy and Rosemary return home from a date to see police officers and a crowd standing around their apartment building. Upon approaching the crowd they learn that terry had jumped to her death. This is where Guy and Rosemary first meet Minnie and Roman aka Steven Marcato ;). To me Minnie and Roman don't appear to be grief-stricken by Terry's death. They appear more frustrated. Terry was more to them then just a good deed. They needed her for something. Their frustration seems to fade upon meeting Rosemary ( a woman the same age as terry). One of my favorite scenes in the film follows. Rosemary has a dream she's back at the Catholic school she attended as a little girl. A nun is yelling at her but it doesn't appear to be the nun's voice. The voice we're hearing belongs to Minnie Castavette in the next apartment yelling at her husband. She's yelling "I know we shouldn't have told her. She wouldn't be open minded" The her here being Terry Ginofrio. So what's forming in your mind here is that Minnie and Roman want Terry for a purpose a dark purpose. A purpose so dark after hearing of it Terry choses to take her own life. Something else interesting said by Minnie is "We have start from square 1". After that night Guy and Rosemary go to the Castavettes for dinner. Pay attention to the walls of their apartment in this scene. I realize its revealed by Rosemary later that its visible the Castavettes took paintings off their walls but you can actually see the spots on the walls where they've done so! Another great hint. Later after a very awkward dinner Minnie and Rosemary and washing the dishes in the kitchen leaving Guy to talk with Roman in the living room. Look at the picture below. Minnie and Rosemary have joined their husbands in the living room. Its obvious the two men have been talking about what we're not 100% sure. Look at Guy's face in this scene. He looks shocked. Its a look of fright mixed with great intrigue. Kudos to John Casavette's in this role. I should mention that Guy is a struggling actor wishing to make it big in show business and is willing to do anything to do so. Has Roman told him of a way he can become famous and say goodbye to filming commercials for the rest of his life? I like to think its here Roman fills Guy in on what they plan to do to Rosemary. The next night Guy goes over to the Castavettes claiming he wants to hear more of Roman's stories. While Guy is doing this Rosemary is visited by Minnie and her friend Lara Louise. Its here where Minnie gives Rosemary the charm that once belonged to Terry. Why is she giving it to her? Later on Guy returns home. To me he appears drunk and full of nervous energy. What I imagine is Guy went over to the Castavettes to learn more about being husband of the year by selling his wife to the devil. I don't believe Guy is 100% convinced this is legit so he demands proof that Roman's cult can actually make things happen with the voodoo that they do.
What else is rather striking about this film is its one of the first indicators in the film to tell us we're watching as horror movie. Up until this point the film has a Doris day feel to it.
Guy and Rosemary seem like the perfect American couple trying to get their own piece of the American dream. What's startling as well is after the ritual scene the film continues on its path but after witnessing what happened to Rosemary there is a darkness present. Something evil lurks under the surface as Guy and Rosemary continue to live their lives.A sort of chalky under taste one might say *DISCLAIMER* Don't get the reference? SEE THE MOVIE!!!! *END DISCLAIMER* So its clear now Terry Ginofrio was originally suppose to be the devil's baby mama. Discovering her fate Terry takes her own life. This is a theme I love whether it be cinema or literature. The theme of dangerous knowledge. Knowledge that's so dangerous to your sense of reality you're not 100% sure you can handle it. Terry killing herself is a great example of this. Think about it she could have just run away. Surely it can't be that hard to dodge a geriatric satanic cult. But she doesn't. For what was revealed to her didn't only change her view on the Castavettes. It changed her entire world view. She's seen what evil lurks around in this life and choses to just end it. There's no escaping it. She can never un hear what she heard of un see what she saw.
That is my main argument as to Why Rosemary's Baby is so great. Its ability to tell its story without actually sitting the viewer down holding their hand and telling them what its about. The plot of this film unfolds in the viewers subconscious. You're watching the actions take place. Taking in all the little clues and piecing it together yourself. Don't you feel smart?
As the film progresses its loses its dreary soap opera feel and the darkness that once hid under the surface comes out in full force. The lighting and cinematography becomes much darker and the score becomes more chaotic and nerve tingling. Really hope my rant helped you appreciate this film a little more and for all of you who still haven't watched it * DISCLAIMER* Knuckleheads *END DISCLAIMER* WATCH IT!!!!!!!!!!!!! See you next time on the 13th floor friends!
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