Review of The Ninth Configuration (1980) by David B — 28 Aug 2009
In a gothic castle somewhere in the US traumatised Vietnam veterans, along with an astronaut who has refused to go on a mission to the moon, are having their sanity assessed. A new psychiatrist arrives at the asylum, Colonel Kane (Stacy Keach) and deals with the patients by bowing to their whims.
The sanity of the psychiatrist is gradually called into question as he takes on the dreams of his brother, the legendary marine 'Killer' Kane. William Peter Blatty saw this as an unofficial follow-up to The Exorcist, and many of that film's themes are continued here.
Kane and the inmates debate the nature of evil, madness (Jason Miller's patient is attempting to stage a production of Hamlet using dogs), identity, evil, the existence of God and the possibility of life after death.
Blatty isn't as skilled a director as Friedkin (or at least early Friedkin), the cinematography is fairly standard. But the story, and the performances from Keach and Scott Wilson, are gripping. This is an underrated gem.
This review of The Ninth Configuration (1980) was written by David B on 28 Aug 2009.
The Ninth Configuration has generally received mixed reviews.
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