In anticipation of NBC's two-part miniseries, Rosemary's Baby, based off Ira Levin's 1967 best-selling horror novel, I sat down and watched the 1968 film adaptation, and here are some of my thoughts on where I hope the miniseries will take the story. For those who haven't seen the film and wish to watch the series regardless, please advise that there are spoilers below.
Make Rosemary An Exemplary Heroine
Despite being the titular character of the movie, Rosemary (as played by Mia Farrow) was presented as very passive. One particularly disturbing scene involved Rosemary passing out after eating a suspicious chocolate mousse. When she awakens she is led to believe that her husband, Guy (John Cassavetes), had sex with her while she was unconscious, although, as we later find out, she was actually raped by Satan. Regardless, Guy's excuse is that he didn't want to pass up the opportunity for them to conceive, to which she responds that they could have done it the following day, but after that, there is no discussion of the assault. This behaviour is obviously unacceptable and the miniseries would stand to have a Rosemary that would recognise and take action against this. Similarly, as her pregnancy progresses throughout the film she suffers through increasing stomach pains, but she only thinks to gain a second opinion from another doctor at the behest of her friends, enduring it for months before taking action. Her portrayal is somewhat understandable considering the period of time in which the film was made, and women's rights, as well as the depiction of female characters, have come a long way since then, so here's an opportunity for the writers to present a Rosemary that stands up for herself and takes innovative, a character females can be proud of.
Give Rosemary A Job
As an extension of my previous thought, Rosemary should be a self-sufficient individual and therefore should have her own income. The film takes place mostly in her and Guy's New York apartment, and the claustrophobia that provides was an excellent part of the film, so I'm not suggesting to move Rosemary out of the apartment. That would be a difficult feat, regardless, considering her pregnancy later on would confine her to their apartment anyway, but give her something to do - a job that she can do at home. Early on in the film version Rosemary fits out one of the hallway closets (later revealed to contain a door to an adjoining apartment), so why not have her as an interior designer or decorator? The film also uses the antique nature of the apartment building to great effect, so having Rosemary acquainted in the field on antiquities would also fit; perhaps she works in a museum? Giving her a job or interest that she is heavily knowledgeable in would allow her character to become more well-rounded and accessible to audiences overall in comparison to the Rosemary presented in the film. I did question the idea of changing Guy's profession from an actor to something else, but his career fits perfectly well into the overall plot of the film, and I find it hard to think of another job that would fit the profile just as well. Unless anyone else has any ideas?
Enhance the Paranoia, But Keep It Grounded
One of the aspects that the film does really well is the development of Rosemary's fears that everyone around her - her neighbours Roman (Sidney Blackmer) and Minnie Castevet (Ruth Gordon), her doctor, Abraham Sapirstein (Ralph Bellamy), and even her husband Guy - are all apart of an elaborate plot involving her and her unborn child. This obviously does turn out to be the case, but very early on in the film it becomes a certainty for Rosemary, and her willingness to believe that all these people, particularly her husband, her conspiring against her is very far-fetched. The longer length that the miniseries will provide gives the writers the opportunity to present Rosemary slowly coming to this conclusion rather than irrationally jumping to it as she seems to do in the film. Although those she accuses in the film try to label her as crazy, there doesn't ever seem to be a point where Rosemary thinks that she is, and I think the film missed out on a powerful opportunity to play on the fears of an expecting mother who begins to question her sanity prior to the birth of her child. Rosemary's certainty that everyone that surrounds her is evil isn't as ridiculous as it would seem though, since the film has no difficulties portraying these characters in such a way that even audiences assume they're up to on good with minutes of meeting them. Perhaps if the miniseries is able to make its characters more ambiguous, and not seem outright evil, it will create a better sense of paranoia and claustrophobia for audiences as they watch Rosemary struggle with her thoughts.
Go Crazy
One of the most endearing things about more recent horror television series like True Blood or American Horror Story is their ability to go all out with their wackiness. They embrace the themes that can often make genre television seem so ludicrous and play them up to show that they're not afraid. For me, one of the films most compelling scenes, despite the fact it involved Rosemary's rape, was her delirious sexual encounter with Satan, which the audience, and even Rosemary for a time, are uncertain as to whether or not was a real event or in Rosemary's mind. There's chanting, blood, nudity, and sex, what more could you possibly want as a viewer who's a fan of horror? The film could benefit from more scenes like this, and it almost captures a similar one during its final one where Rosemary discovers what has been going on throughout the film, but it ultimately doesn't reach the same heights. I spoke about the need to ground Rosemary but for the paranoia to be heighten, and this is the perfect way to do it. There's is obviously a point in the story where Rosemary becomes certain that something is awry, and after this point, the series should ensure it goes all out so that the audiences can go along with her into this journey of madness. Extend her final confrontation with Roman, Minnie, and the other witches. Play up the spookiness of their apartment, as well as Dr. Sapirstein's office. And have Guy slowly turn into the same monster that actually slept with her on the night that they supposedly conceived...
One final thought, one I think many will disagree with, is the longevity of the story, Rosemary's Baby. When I first heard about the series I was wondering how the plot of the film would even be applied to television, and a very short series seemed the obvious answer, which is what NBC have opted to do. However, now, having actually seen the film, I really think there is potential for it to become a full-fledged series. Here's Rosemary, trapped between the love she shares for her child, Adrian, and the coven of witches that want to raise it to (assumedly) destroy the world. She can't bring herself to kill the baby, but perhaps she can raise it to be good? And there's always the potential to physically remove the coven from his life... The series could take place with Adrian as a child and even a teenager which would provide even more storylines for an ongoing series. The only series I can think off that would share a similar vein would be 666 Park Avenue (which no doubt was heavily inspired by Rosemary's Baby in the first place). At this stage it would seem certain that NBC in content with having Rosemary's Baby as a miniseries event, but one of television's most popular trends of late is for supposedly short series (like Under The Dome) to turn into full-series if they prove popular enough, so it's not a completely unfounded thought on my part.
What does everyone else want to see from the miniseries? Are you a fan of the movie or not? And do you think there's any chance the story could continue after the miniseries? Check out the trailer for Rosemary's Baby below, which will start airing Sunday May 11 at 8.00pm on NBC.
