Review of The Ninth Configuration (1980) by Gavin A — 23 Oct 2007

The ninth configuration.

1980.

Written and directed by William Petter Blatty.

Genre; theological thriller.

Does god Exist? Seems very fashionable to say no, and that religion is merely a way of controlling the week masses. Well this is the main theme that runs through this Blatty's (Author of the Exorsist) directorial debut.

Set in a Gothic castle(that was transplanted from Germany to America) A distant and passive man, Hudson Kane, arrives to assume his new position as psychiatrist in a home for possible lunatic marines. Using an experimental form of therapy that involves complete access between him and his patients and elaborate role plays, he becomes particularly close to one patient, an astronaut Capt. Billy Cutshaw, whose atheist angst led him to seek refuse in insanity rather than face his fear of traveling to the moon. He challenges Kane to show him one example of altruistic (genuinely unselfish) behavior by a human that to him would prove that god exists. Kane proposes 'if you think gods dead because of all the evil in the world how do you account for the good?'.

This film is one of the best films I have ever seen, the sets are fantastic, the atmosphere and performances are outstanding and every moment is visually stunning. It shifts effortlessly between farce and thriller, it packs as many laughs as it does punches, one of the inmates played by Jason Miller(of the exorcist) is trying to transcribe Shakespeare plays for dogs. Its also blend the bounds of sane and sanity and has some brilliantly sereal moments. The search of a truly altruistic act to prove the existence of God in face of the Evils of the world is played out to great effect and Stacy Keach, Kane,.

And Scott Wilson, Capt. Billy Cutshaw, work outstandingly well together.

10/10.