10 Horror Movies That Were Clearly Inspired By Rosemary’s Baby

Rosemary’s Baby (1968), is a groundbreaking horror film that redefined the genre. Its power comes from its psychological complexity, mixing supernatural terror with real fears. The film tells the story of Rosemary, a young woman manipulated by her husband and neighbors, a torturous pregnancy and an iconic film ending. This premise explores anxieties about bodily autonomy, confidence and motherhood.

What it does Rosemary’s Baby Influential is his subtle approach to horror. Instead of relying on jump scares or gore, it creates suspense through paranoia and psychological dread. Viewers are left questioning what is real, sharing Rosemary’s growing terror. The film also pioneered the use of everyday urban settings, showing that horror could thrive in the ordinary and familiar, in contrast to the remote castles and mansions of earlier horror. With a newly released prequel Apartment 7A, Rosemary’s Baby Themes of control, manipulation, and betrayal resonate deeply, making it a classic that continues to inspire horror filmmakers to this day.

10

The Omen (1976)

Richard Donner’s classic has several similarities

Another cultural classicThe omen (1976) masterfully fuses psychological tension with supernatural horror, following in the footsteps of Rosemary’s Baby (1968). Both films share a common theme of parental fear and the unsettling realization that an innocent child may be linked to evil forces. The omen amplifies this dread by focusing on a powerful and influential family as they grapple with the terrifying possibility that their son, Damien, is the Antichrist.

The omen explores themes of religious prophecy, satanic influence, and loss of parental control. He takes advantage of the same psychological discomfort as Rosemary’s Baby builds, but adds a more overt supernatural threat through forebodings and frightening deaths that surround the child. Its atmosphere, tension, terrifying imagery and iconic soundtrack make it a horror standout, proving once again that subtle, character-driven horror can leave a lasting impact.

9

Hereditary (2018)

Ari Aster’s Psychological Horror Debut Recalls the Past

Hereditary (2018) masterfully explores themes of familial dread and inherited evil, grounding its terror in the dynamics of family relationships. In Hereditarythe horrors stem from a family’s dark and hidden legacy, mirroring Rosemary’s Babythe exploration of hidden satanic influences.

Ari Aster uses a slow-paced narrative, focusing on a mother uncovering disturbing truths about her son and his family. The film skillfully combines psychological horror with supernatural elements, creating a growing sense of dread as the protagonists become isolated and powerless in the face of forces beyond their control. The suffocating atmosphere stems from the terrible realization that the family’s fate was pre-ordained. The use of sadness, paranoia and hidden images makes Hereditary a modern echo of the classic. The iconic lead performances in Rosemary’s Baby and Hereditary should have been nominated for an Oscar, to further cement its classic status.

8

The Witch (2015)

Robert Eggers brings chills of dark folk horror

Robert Eggers’ The Witch (2015) is a slow-paced treatment, focusing on psychological terror, paranoia, and religious fear. As Rosemary’s Baby, The Witch explores how isolation and distrust within a family can lead to its downfall. The horror comes from an unseen evil force, and the tension slowly builds as the family’s faith and sanity deteriorate.

Both films utilize a claustrophobic atmosphere where the central female character faces increasing isolation. In The WitchThomasin (Anya Taylor Joy in A Paper Bet), like Rosemary, is powerless against supernatural forces, which manipulate her family into paranoia and self-destruction. The fear of evil infiltrating the family, combined with religion, mirrors Rosemary’s Babythe exploration of hidden evil forces. Through its minimalist approach, folk horror elements, and focus on psychological breakdown, The Witch creates the same disturbing dread that Rosemary’s Baby pioneered supernatural horror.

7

Mother! (2017)

A Twisted Parable, by Darren Aronofsky

Mother! (2017) depicts the escalation of terror and manipulation of a female protagonist in a domestic setting. As his biggest influence, Rosemary’s Baby, Mom! revolves around a woman’s increasing isolation as her home is invaded by sinister forces beyond her control. The protagonist (played by Jennifer Lawrence) gradually loses her sense of security as strangers invade her home, just as Rosemary loses control over her pregnancy and her emaciated body. Rosemary’s Baby.

Darren Aronofsky creates tension through paranoia, confusion and claustrophobic spaces. Both films examine themes of motherhood and sacrifice, with Mother!The allegorical narrative heightens the horror of a woman’s body/life being dominated by external forces. While Mother! is certainly more divisive than Rosemary’s BabyThe surreal and terrifying escalation in the third act mirrors the classic’s slow build-up from pregnancy to a big reveal, where the protagonist realizes too late that she has been manipulated by those closest to her.

6

The House of the Devil (2009)

Before the X trilogy, Ti West directed this 80s pastiche

Devil’s House (2009) draws heavily on classic psychological horror, focusing on the slow, chilling dread that surrounds a young woman who unknowingly becomes embroiled in a sinister plot. The film masterfully creates tension by isolating its protagonist in a large, mysterious house, where paranoia and a sense of foreboding gradually increase. The protagonist’s vulnerability and naivety as she is manipulated by seemingly friendly but suspicious strangers reflects the style of previous horror.where unease and terror grow in moments of silence rather than through outright violence.

The film’s exploration of cults, dark rituals, and hidden evil in seemingly ordinary settings also echoes classic themes of secret, malevolent forces attacking an innocent woman. One of director Ti West’s best films The Devil’s House carefully creates an atmosphere of dread using long takes, minimal dialogue, and an eerie, slow build, perfectly capturing the psychological horror that makes this film feel timeless and terrifying.

5

Prevent (2016)

A British horror comedy by Alice Lowe

Prevent (2016) deftly explores the psychological terror of motherhood, focusing on a pregnant woman whose unborn child seemingly directs her to commit violent acts. As Rosemary’s BabyThe film explores themes of bodily autonomy, paranoia and isolation, centering on a female protagonist who becomes increasingly detached from reality. Her experience of being controlled by a force she cannot escape – her own pregnancy – reflects the disturbing sensation of a woman’s body being manipulated by external powers.

The film effectively uses dark humor and horror to examine society’s expectations surrounding pregnancy and motherhood, mixing horror elements with a more personal look at the psychological cost of living life while feeling consumed by inner turmoil. The protagonist’s gradual unraveling and loss of control over her own mind and actions, influenced by something growing within her, create a disturbing atmosphere.

4

The Brood (1979)

An old classic by David Cronenberg

The Brood (1979) explores familiar themes of motherhood, psychological trauma, and body horror that focus on a woman’s body being controlled by forces beyond her. The film centers on a woman undergoing experimental therapy, whose repressed emotions physically manifest as monstrous children. This visceral connection between motherhood and the grotesque reflects a powerful commentary on the loss of control over the body and mind, as well as the fear of fatherhood.

Director David Cronenberg creates an atmosphere of increasing dread as the protagonist’s psychological unraveling leads to dire consequences. The exploration of a secret and malevolent force that manipulates the protagonist’s body for sinister purposes is clearly inspired by Rosemary’s Baby in particular. Cronenberg’s mix of psychological horror and classic body horror in The Brood creates a disturbing and unique narrative about the terror of maternal control and emotional suppression that manifests itself in physical and violent ways.

3

The Sentinel (1977)

Michael Winner’s psychological horror creates the same dread

The Sentinel (1977) is a great horror film that explores the fear of urban isolation and the hidden evil that lurks behind seemingly ordinary settings. The film centers on a woman who moves into a New York City apartment building, only to discover that its otherworldly inhabitants have sinister plans for her. Like other psychological horror films The Sentinel explores the protagonist’s gradual mental and emotional unraveling, driven by paranoia and supernatural manipulation.

The film uses a slow-paced approach to build tension, mixing elements of gothic horror with modern fears of urban life. The protagonist’s feeling of isolation, surrounded by strange and untrustworthy neighbors, creates a claustrophobic atmosphere as the line between reality and nightmare blurs. Themes of religious horror, secret cults and the protagonist’s loss of control over her destiny are central to the story, taking inspiration from previous works that focus on vulnerable women being attacked by dark forces in familiar settings.

2

The Babadook (2014)

Australian chiller by Jennifer Kent

The Babadook (2014) takes a dark and brutal take on the themes of motherhood, grief and mental deterioration. The film revolves around a single mother who becomes increasingly isolated and overwhelmed as she struggles with the presence of a sinister entity. As Rosemary’s Baby, The Babadook stands out for portraying the gradual descent of a protagonist into madness, driven by fear and anxiety in relation to her son.

The film’s tension increases through the exploration of the protagonist’s fragile mental state, creating an atmosphere of dread where the line between reality and hallucination becomes increasingly blurred. The hidden presence of the Babadook reflects the inescapable nature of trauma and emotional repression. By focusing on a mother’s psychological breakdown, with the ensuing horror of her own psyche, The Babadook evokes the same creepy discomfort found in classic horror films. It also includes a phenomenal Essie Davis and one of Noah Wiseman’s best children’s horror performances.

1

The Blackcoat’s Daughter (2015)

Slow-burning supernatural horror by Osgood Perkins

The Blackcoat’s Daughter (2015) evokes a sense of isolation and chilling dread, taking inspiration from previous psychological horror classics. The film follows two girls left alone at a boarding school during winter break, where dark, supernatural forces begin to take hold. It creates tension through atmosphere, focusing on the psychological development of the characters rather than relying on overt scares.

The slow narrative, which merges themes of loneliness and possession, reflects Rosemary’s fear of being manipulated by invisible evil forces in her life. Rosemary’s Baby. The film’s exploration of a young girl’s vulnerability and terrifying loss of control over her mind and body are tied to the idea that internalized fear manifests itself in external horrors. The disturbing and ambiguous nature of the evil presence, combined with the film’s cold and desolate setting, creates an atmosphere where paranoia and isolation lead to tragic consequences.