Most critics respond warmly to Rosemary’s Baby, with praise clustering around Polanski’s control of atmosphere and the performances of Mia Farrow and Ruth Gordon. The reviews repeatedly credit the film with making paranoia persuasive, allowing uncertainty to build slowly rather than forcing the horror. Farrow draws particular praise for her performance and casting, while Gordon’s comic eccentricity is another strength. The adaptation also earns approval for its intelligence and fidelity to its source.
The differences are chiefly differences of emphasis, with few explicit reservations in the available text. Slant Magazine stresses the violation of women’s autonomy and the way the film encourages viewers to dismiss Rosemary’s suspicions; other reviews concentrate on suspense, performance and the intrusion of horror into ordinary pregnancy. The scores suggest some variation in enthusiasm, but the RogerEbert.com entry contains no accessible verdict, so it cannot establish a substantive dissent.