Inside 'satanic curse' of 1968's Rosemary's Baby after unexplainable deaths and illnesses
Hollywood films often leave their legacy in various ways, but the lasting affects of Rosemary's Baby spread far beyond the set as they haunted the crew for years
They perils of the 1968 psychological horror Rosemary's Baby, which rests among some of the top films, seemingly extended beyond the screen.
Based on the 1967 novel by Ira Levin, the film follows a recently pregnant young woman who becomes paranoid about her neighbors. Since Rosemary and her husband ignored their friend's warning about witchcraft at the home, they find themselves surrounded with signs of the paranormal. Her dreams become riddled with satanic undertones, but no one seems to believe her when she speaks out for help.
The film was a staggering success, over $33 million worldwide in box office. Rosemary's Baby continues to receive raving reviews from fans. However, there might be something far more sinister behind the Hollywood hit.
A series of tragic events, including death and illness, struck through the cast and production team after its wrap. The first unfortunate soul to be affected by this alleged curse was Krzysztof Komeda, the composter of the movie. His fate eerily matched the death of a character in the movie when he fell off a cliff in Los Angeles before falling into a coma. He ultimately died four months later at age 37.
The producer of the film, William Castle, was hospitalized with kidney stones, but what was truly diabolic was the hallucinations he experienced while in the hospital. In fact, he was heard shouting, "Rosemary, for God's sake, drop the knife!" While he did not die from the illness, his career did fade.
Director Roman Polanski's tragedy came from his own premonition. While his wife, Sharon Tate, was very pregnant, the director became riddled with concern. “You will never see her again,” he wrote down in July, while the movie was still in theaters, according to his autobiography. She, and their unborn child, was then murdered on Aug. 8 by the Manson family.
Before her death, Sharon was frequently on the set for Rosemary's Baby, especially as she had been hoping to snag the starring role.
Ultimately it went to Mia Farrow, and according to some reports, Sharon became strangely obsessed with the occult. In fact, she reportedly once said, "The devil is beautiful. Most people think he’s ugly, but he’s not.”
Mia herself faced tragedy, though, not nearly as deadly as the others associated with the film. While filming the movie, she was served divorce papers from Frank Sinatra on the set which caused some production delays.
There remains little explanation for the results of the curse that seemed to linger around the film. Many find it difficult to overlook the strange parallels between Sharon and the lead character's fate. Plus, the similarities between the composter and another character only further leave fans to speculate about a potential paranormal cloud surrounding the movie. However, no one knows for sure if there were extra forces at play.