Reviews tagging 'Medical trauma'

Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin

15 reviews

automatic_rae's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.0

An interesting concept, but not my cup of tea.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual violence, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Death, Mental illness, and Suicide

amanda_flynn's review against another edition

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Suicide, Rape, Sexual assault, and Medical content

alex60517's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Suicide, Racial slurs, Medical trauma, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Racism

Minor: Child death, Homophobia, and Vomit

smolhandsdan's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Stalking, Misogyny, Body horror, Body shaming, Physical abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Confinement, Kidnapping, and Mental illness

Minor: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Rape, Sexism, and Religious bigotry

kbaker45's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Rape, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Suicide, Abortion, Addiction, Cannibalism, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Child death, Infertility, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

essiie's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious relaxing sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy

Moderate: Gaslighting, Misogyny, Medical trauma, and Medical content

Minor: Rape and Suicide

mandi_lea's review against another edition

dark medium-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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, and Rape

Moderate: Death, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, and Confinement

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.

---

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

rumade's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

Probably one of the first explorations of pregnancy as a horrifying experience and the alienation and pain that can come with it. Rosemary is a likeable character and easy to root for- a normal Midwestern girl almost estranged from her huge Catholic family back in Omaha as she lives with her WASP husband in New York and longs for a baby. I wish I could have read this without knowing the premise; so I could feel the tension build up more and more. Even if you roughly know the story, it's worth a read. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Suicide

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Racial slurs, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Vomit, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, and Medical trauma

Minor: Blood, Addiction, Abortion, Child death, and Alcohol

There is a scene where a husband is very dismissive of him raping his wife the night before when she was passed out drunk

livthatsme'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? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Pregnancy, and Rape

Moderate: Medical content and Medical trauma

Minor: Sexual assault, Stalking, and Emotional abuse