Rosemary's Baby (1968)

Roman Polansky's first Hollywood production tells the story of a young woman (Mia Farrow) unknowingly and unwillingly giving birth to the spawn of Satan. Set in a gothic apartment complex in New York, the story follows Rosemary and her aspiring-actor husband (John Cassavettes), their separate relationships with the creepy old neighbors, a suspicious conception, the nightmarish pregnancy, and the birth of Satan's son in the chilling final scene.

This is one of those movies that has come to be defined by the "twist" in the final scene. Much like people think of Carrie as "that movie about the unpopular girl who goes to the prom and kills everyone with telekinesis," many think of Rosemary's Baby as "that movie about the girl who gives birth to the devil." But knowing the ending doesn't cheapen the effect of this truly haunting classic of the horror genre. Even if you aren't scared of the occult and Satan, the real scares in this film come from the imagery, which is bleak and macabre with all the pale colors and gothic settings. The paleness contrasts really effectively with the few devil-oriented scenes to make them especially dark and scary. The score is equally haunting. Based on a brooding theme that prominently features an eerie harpsichord and ghostly female vocals, the music evokes a creepy feeling that matches the setting perfectly. Listening to the music alone is enough to give me nightmares.

This film is one of my favorites of all time, and widely considered to be one of the top horror films ever. For someone who wants to explore the genre more, this is a great introduction to the golden age of horror, when scares were based on cinematography, sound, and other elements that are important to all films, rather than the gore and surprising visuals that make up the cheap scares in modern horror blockbusters.