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Zoe Saldaña has a knack for selecting captivating film and television roles. Whether she’s teaming up with the eccentric Guardians of the Galaxy in Marvel’s expansive universe or diving into the intense narrative of “Special Ops: Lioness,” dull moments seem nonexistent in her career. Among her intriguing yet often overlooked ventures is the 2014 miniseries “Rosemary’s Baby,” inspired by Ira Levin’s 1967 horror novel.
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The cinematic world is well-acquainted with the 1968 adaptation of “Rosemary’s Baby,” directed by Roman Polanski and featuring Mia Farrow as the titular Rosemary Woodhouse. This film is celebrated as a near-perfect horror classic. In contrast, the 2014 rendition, a two-part miniseries directed by Agnieszka Holland, aired on NBC with Saldaña taking on the role of Rosemary. Patrick J. Adams, of “Suits” fame, played her husband, Guy. The story follows the couple’s relocation to Paris after a miscarriage, as they seek a fresh start. However, their lives take a dark turn upon meeting Roman (Jason Isaacs) and Margaux Castevet (Carole Bouquet), whose interest in them soon spirals into something sinister.
A significant departure from the original tale in the miniseries is the shift in setting from New York to Paris. While this change might initially seem controversial to purists of the book and 1968 film, it effectively amplifies the suspense. The unfamiliar environment makes Rosemary and Guy more vulnerable to the Castevets’ malevolent intentions.
Despite the 1968 film’s revered status as a quintessential horror piece, the same praise doesn’t extend to the 2014 miniseries starring Zoe Saldaña. Its lack of enduring conversation highlights its lukewarm reception upon release.
Critic Brian Tallerico from RogertEbert.com expressed disappointment with the miniseries, stating, “The very core of Levin’s book and Polanski’s film has been gutted, taking a story about common fears — the apartment next door, the husband you don’t really know, the baby set to change your life — and making it into a cut-rate Satanic cult piece.” Viewers seemed to agree, as reflected in its meager 33% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, with many affirming Tallerico’s view that the original film remains superior.
Zoe Saldaña’s Rosemary’s Baby didn’t delight critics and viewers
NBC
While 1968’s “Rosemary’s Baby” is considered a near-perfect horror movie, according to Metacritic, the same can’t be said about the 2014 miniseries adaptation starring Zoe Saldaña. The fact that hardly anyone talks about it to this day is testament to how poorly it was received on arrival.
Reviewer Brian Tallerico from RogertEbert.com criticized the miniseries’ approach, writing, “The very core of Levin’s book and Polanski’s film has been gutted, taking a story about common fears — the apartment next door, the husband you don’t really know, the baby set to change your life — and making it into a cut-rate Satanic cult piece.” The viewers weren’t convinced either, as “Rosemary’s Baby” holds only a 33% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, with many echoing Tallerico’s sentiment that the movie is infinitely better.
It also didn’t help that the miniseries turned out to be a ratings disappointment for NBC too, confirming the age-old wisdom that when it rains, it pours. Well, at least it doesn’t hold the dishonor of being the horror remake that Reddit calls the absolute worst, so there’s that kindness for everyone involved.
