Matt finds Rosemary's Baby in Apartment 7A (Reviews the trilogy)

Rosemary’s Baby (18)

dir. Roman Polanski

Reviewed by Matt Adcock (@Cleric20)

Rosemary’s Baby stands as a seminal work in the horror genre, not merely for its suspenseful narrative but for its profound exploration of societal and psychological anxieties.

Dodgy Roman Polanski’s direction meticulously crafts a pervasive atmosphere of unease, using subtle visual cues and disquieting soundscapes to immerse the audience in Rosemary’s growing sense of isolation and vulnerability. He might be a class A wrongun but he sure could make movies…

Mia Farrow delivers an extraordinary performance, her portrayal of Rosemary’s descent into paranoia and helplessness serving as a powerful critique of patriarchal control, bodily autonomy, and the manipulation of women’s reproductive rights. The film deftly blurs the line between supernatural horror and psychological thriller, leaving the audience questioning the nature of reality and complicity. Its enduring relevance can be attributed to this thematic complexity, elevating it beyond a conventional horror narrative to a sophisticated meditation on trust, betrayal, and the sinister forces that can lurk within ordinary lives. The chilling climax lingers long after viewing, a testament to its status as a true cinematic masterpiece of its time.

Out of a potential 5, you have to go with a Darkmatters:

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(5 - Devilishly good stuff!)

Apartment 7A (15)

dir. Natalie Erika James

Making prequel / side-quelles to classic films is a fraught endeavour…

Rosemary’s Baby is rightly considered one of the classic horror films, playing perfectly on the ‘70s Satanic Panic feeling.

Here we have the tale of a character from the first film and her backstory / which is expanded into, even if we know how it will end.

Could this possibly be a decent companion to the OG? I mean for every mildly effective First Omen, there are lots of subpar Exorcist prequels etc…

Apartment 7A has a secret weapon tho, Julia ‘Ozark’ Garner who is superb in this as the ambitious dancer who unwittingly becomes part of a satanist plot.

There are some really excellent shots and frames, the vibe is very much like the original and the plot cracks along.

This might not be remembered as a classic but it sure stands as a decent spooky flick in its own right, and doesn't sully the original!

...unlike the 1976 sequel...

Out of a potential 5, you have to go with a Darkmatters:

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(4 - Cool, confident addition to the Rosemary-verse)

Look What Happened to Rosemary’s Baby (TVM)

dir. Sam O'Steen

Well in the light of the absolute classic original, Director Sam O’Steen (who edited the first film) makes a cash grab and goes full bizarro with the sequel that shrugs off the psychological slow-burn and instead says, “Let’s get weird!” 

The satanic horror of the first film gets 70s TV movie camped up, oddball dream sequences, budget Satanic cult swingers —and a satanic bus straight to hell!?

This is Rosemary’s Baby on a heady dose of 70s psychedelia, and while it’s nowhere near as polished as its predecessor, it’s oddly entertaining.

Patti Duke steps into Rosemary’s shoes this time around as the mom of the Antichrist Adrian but is no Mia Farrow. There is some charm in the unapologetically campy atmosphere though - it’s like Rosemary’s Baby went to a 70s costume party and stayed just a bit too long. What makes it fun— is that it isn’t afraid to get strange and have a good time with its premise. So sit back, enjoy the Satanic weirdness, just don’t expect it to make much sense!

It even sets up a possible second sequel but I think I’d rather see an Omen cross-over where Damien cage fights Adrian for the title of Antichrist champion!!

Out of a potential 5, you have to go with a Darkmatters:

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(2.5 - Worth a look but don't get your hopes up!)

Read my day-to-day film-watching review over here: https://letterboxd.com/Cleric20/

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Double Starfolk review Falling and Rising

Starfolk Falling and Starfolk Rising

Reviewed by Matt Adcock (@Cleric20)

I reviewed and enjoyed Martha Dunlop's Starfolk Arcana (here) and now have finally got around to finishing the trilogy - so here are my thoughts on the breathtaking close with Starfolk Falling and Starfolk Rising, two novels that form an emotionally charged conclusion. 

Together, these final instalments not only deepen the mythology of the Starfolk but also deliver a powerful exploration of love, fate, and the timeless struggle between light and darkness.

Starfolk Falling sets the stage for the grand conclusion by plunging Beth and Jonan deeper into their mystical origins and psychic powers. Their connection—an unbreakable bond forged over lifetimes—is tested more than ever as they face increasingly dangerous supernatural forces. Beth, now more attuned to her psychic abilities, begins to embrace the power she holds, while Jonan confronts his past lives and the true cost of his choices. The novel masterfully builds suspense, creating a heart-stopping crescendo of tension and danger. Amelia, their relentless antagonist, continues to weave her dark influence, but in Starfolk Falling, Dunlop adds complexity to her character, making her a more nuanced and fascinating adversary. Amelia’s quest for power over Jonan is revealed to be rooted in deep emotional scars, adding a layer of tragedy to her character that makes her both fearsome and pitiable.

Dunlop’s writing shines as she balances these supernatural conflicts with the very human emotions driving them. Every magical encounter is imbued with emotional weight, drawing readers into a world where love and power are inextricably linked. The pacing of Starfolk Falling is taut and deliberate, steadily building toward the final act of the trilogy. It’s a novel that immerses readers in a world where the stakes continue to rise with every chapter, leading to a dramatic and emotionally charged cliffhanger that sets the scene perfectly for Starfolk Rising.

Starfolk Rising, the concluding chapter of the trilogy, takes all the threads of the previous books and weaves them into a grand tapestry of resolution, revelation, and transformation. This novel is not only about the love between Beth and Jonan but also the cosmic forces that have shaped their destinies. As their story reaches its climax, Dunlop takes readers on a journey that is both epic in scale and deeply personal.

Beth’s transformation into a fully realised psychic force is one of the novel’s key triumphs. Her character, who started the series as a woman discovering her abilities, now stands in her full power, confronting both her internal struggles and the external threats to her love and life. Jonan, too, faces his ultimate reckoning, as he battles not only the forces that seek to destroy his connection to Beth but also the echoes of his many past lives. Their relationship, built on centuries of longing and loss, is a beacon of hope amid the chaos, yet it is also fragile, and Dunlop doesn’t shy away from exploring the complexities of their bond.

Amelia, who has been a shadowy antagonist throughout the trilogy, comes into her own in Starfolk Rising. Dunlop brilliantly fleshes out her character, making her more than a simple villain. Her motivations are rooted in a deep emotional history, making her a tragic and relatable figure despite her dark actions. This complexity adds emotional weight to the final showdown between her and the lovers, as readers come to understand the depth of her obsession and pain.

Out of a potential 5, you have to go with a Darkmatters:

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(5 - It's love, it's magic...) 

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