Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin

16 reviews

notthatcosta's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

I watched Rosemary's Baby for the first time in 2021 and I became besotted with it quite quickly. It's worth saying that my original reference for the film was Tyra Banks' obsession with Mia Farrow's haircut in the film, which she proceeded to force on a season 5 contestant (and then a season 6 contestant) of America's Next Top Model.

Even more so than The Stepford Wives, the book is pretty much a mirror of the film's plot, with the exception of a brief trip that Rosemary makes to Hutch's cabin (which doesn't feature in the film). I was impressed at how much more concise the book is than the film, but both feel equally weighty and intricate. 

While the book is highly disturbing and frustrating in equal measure, the most salient aspect is the resolve and determination of Rosemary, which Mia Farrow channels excellently in the film adaptation. The way she is surrounded/smothered by people who are almost all conspiring against her and using her body to carry Satan's child (spoiler alert), and yet manages to figure out the plot and intervene is a testament to Ira Levin's ability to craft dynamic heroines in the most wild of circumstances.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Gaslighting, Death, and Rape

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gore, Medical trauma, Child death, Confinement, Medical content, Misogyny, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Addiction and Homophobia

jaedia's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Rape, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Death, Religious bigotry, and Suicide

lydiavsbooks's review

dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.5

Wow this was brilliant. Such a dark compelling horror that reflects on how women are disbelieved and the very real horror of how (especially pregnant) women are treated. Definitely one that will stay with me for a while.

 I think I have a soft spot for the very niche tropes of a) creepy culty appartment blocks and b) exploring how shitty men treat women and mothers, and this combined the two perfectly. A true classic of the genre, it's cool to be able to see the influence this book has had on so many others since. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting and Rape

Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse

draconia's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gaslighting, Medical trauma, Terminal illness, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Alcohol, Rape, Sexual assault, Confinement, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Racism, Vomit, Homophobia, and Racial slurs

scarlettreadsbooks's review

dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Pregnancy

Moderate: Confinement, Death, Drug use, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Medical content, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Child death, Alcohol, and Blood

literarylion's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Pros:

• Levin's style never disappoints me
• Engaging and well-paced

Cons:

• Storyline is very similar to Stepford Wives but with
  Satan worshippers
  instead of robots
• Pulanski's film is pretty much a shot-for-shot equivalent, which is not Levin's fault (actually it's pretty impressive), but there weren't many surprises

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Medical trauma, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence