Why I will never watch Rosemary’s Baby // Misogyny Reigns

Admittedly, I had never heard of Rosemary’s Baby until I was in my late teens. I’ve been a horror fan my whole life, watching it since I was too young to be allowed to. I’m sure you’ve heard this story before, but it really is true when it comes to my sister and me. Our father would pick us up and take us to his friend’s video store, and we’d pick out a random horror flick based on its cover art. So, having gone almost a whole decade without seeing or hearing of this movie was quite the feat. But of course, the moment I heard about it, the pitch began.

“You heard about the guy who made the movie, right?” The hushed tone was one reserved for when you’re about to tell a ghost story. “His wife was murdered by the Manson family, and he rapes kids.” It was worse than a ghost story or any horror movie I could imagine. However, being me, I had to do my own research. To be fair, the habit may have started after being burned, believing Madonna and Cindy Lauper were sisters. I’m a Gen Xer, people. This was pre-Internet. I had to do my due diligence.

Roman Polanski Likes Little Girls

Of course, you already know what my research turned up. His wife, Sharon Tate, was indeed murdered by a crazed cult, and Roman Polanski did rape a 13-year-old child. Yet, the world still loves him. And that right there is what doesn’t make sense to me. The moment I learned what he did, I knew there was no way I was going to enjoy any movie he was a part of. Still, he remains not only popular but beloved. 

Rosemary’s Baby is so often on people’s lists of best horror that I can’t help but wonder how. It’s not his only film, let alone his “best” one. He’s enjoyed a long and successful career, with zero consequences. I just cannot wrap my head around the absurdity of it all. The now grown woman who has decided to forgive him still calls it rape. Even his own words from his own mouth about what he did don’t paint him in a good light. 

Victor Salva Likes Little Boys

I’m going to admit something to you. I really enjoyed a certain movie and its first sequel. These movies are not anything special. As a matter of fact, they aren’t great, but I thought of them as fun horror. I like cheesy horror sometimes. I really enjoyed these films until I found out something about the filmmaker. The writer and director of Jeepers Creepers and Jeepers Creepers 2 is a convicted child molester and pedophile. 

Now, before you break out the pitchforks for me not realizing it sooner, you have to hear my side. I don’t always pay attention to who makes the media I consume. Should I? Probably. The truth is, I tend to consume it too quickly to care (or think) about every single creator. I realize it’s a bad take, but I’m just being honest. I will tell you this, though. Once I find out someone raped a child, there’s no way I’m going to do anything but eject that person from my watch lists.

Something Smells Rotten

That’s what is really troubling about Roman Polanski. I realize he’s made plenty of other films that people love, but for now, I’m just talking about his precious horror hit. Rotten Tomatoes has Rosemary’s Baby ranked #18 on their “Best Horror Movies of All Time” list. They use a mix of factors to rank their movies, including critic ratings and audience reviews (Tomatometer and Popcornmeter). This is basically saying that professional critics and the everyday audience member love this movie. 97% of critics and 87% of the audience have collectively decided that a little child rape is not going to get in the way of watching a good movie.

Are we more horrified by male pedophilia than female rape? Are we so accustomed to women and young girls being raped that we excuse the perpetrators now? It’s almost as though it’s expected. But do people realize that both can be equally abhorrent? There’s a reason I brought up the fact that I used to watch (and like) Jeepers Creepers. Yeah, I know it’s not great cinema and never was. But it’s pretty much understood that the movie is shit for its writer/director. There’s no question about it. Yet, Rosemary’s Baby lives on despite its writer/director. 

Misogyny At Its Finest

A quick timeline for us. In 1968, Rosemary’s Baby came out in theatres. In 1969, Sharon Tate was murdered. In 1977, Roman Polanski drugged and raped a 13–year-old girl. Are we flippantly choosing to stay in the pre-1977 timeline where Rosemary’s Baby lives? Keeping to a time when Roman Polanski had not yet raped a 13-year-old? Must I naively be forced to believe that is the reason the man and his movie are still so beloved? Or should I face the harsh misogynistic truth of it all? Men can do whatever they want to a girl and get away with it.