A Post After Dying

They're dropping like flies. Ira Levin passed away yesterday. While no Norman Mailer, Levin was a great craftsman and wrote a handful of books and plays that have permeated popular culture. Rosemary's Baby, The Stepford Wives, The Boys from Brazil, A Kiss Before Dying and Deathtrap. Not too shabby. (We'll forgive him Sliver and Son of Rosemary.)

I was really into his stuff as a young man. Like they say, he wasn't a great stylist - but he had a knack for showing that evil could be unbelievable and mundane at the same time.

Rosemary's Baby - one of the few instances where both the book and movie adaptation are excellent. Couple that with Mia Farrow's close-cropped haircut and androgynous style, plus the fact she was Frank Sinatra's wife - it was an pop culture perfect storm.

Levin wasn't prolific, but he had a great batting average. I'll miss him.