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Zoe Saldaña has a knack for selecting intriguing roles across both film and television. Whether she’s adventuring with the eclectic crew of Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” or delving into the complexities of counter-terrorism in “Special Ops: Lioness,” dull moments are rare in her career. Among her captivating yet overlooked works 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 film adaptation of “Rosemary’s Baby,” helmed by Roman Polanski and featuring Mia Farrow as Rosemary Woodhouse. This version is often hailed as a near-perfect horror masterpiece. In 2014, director Agnieszka Holland brought a fresh take to the story through a two-part miniseries on NBC. This updated iteration stars Saldaña as Rosemary, and Patrick J. Adams, known for his role in “Suits,” as her husband, Guy. The plot follows the couple’s relocation to Paris after a miscarriage, where they hope for a fresh start. Their lives take a sinister turn when they encounter Roman (Jason Isaacs) and Margaux Castevet (Carole Bouquet), whose interest in them becomes alarmingly intense.
A significant change in the miniseries is the shift in setting from New York to Paris. Although this might seem contentious to purists of the original book and 1968 film, it effectively ramps up the suspense. The unfamiliar city backdrop makes it more plausible that Rosemary and Guy could fall victim to the Castevets’ malevolent schemes.
Despite the iconic status of the 1968 “Rosemary’s Baby” film, the 2014 miniseries featuring Zoe Saldaña didn’t achieve the same acclaim. Its lack of ongoing discussion is a clear indicator of its lukewarm reception upon release.
Brian Tallerico, a critic at RogerEbert.com, noted the shortcomings of the miniseries, stating, “The core of Levin’s book and Polanski’s film has been stripped away, transforming a narrative about everyday fears—your neighbors, your spouse, impending parenthood—into a subpar story about a Satanic cult.” The audience seemed to agree, as reflected by the miniseries’ 33% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with many echoing Tallerico’s view that the original film remains superior.
Zoe Saldaña’s Rosemary’s Baby didn’t delight critics and viewers
NBC
Furthermore, the miniseries didn’t perform well in terms of ratings for NBC, reinforcing the idea that misfortune tends to come in waves. On the bright side, it avoids the dubious title of being the worst horror remake according to Reddit, providing a small consolation for those involved in its production.
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.
