The Ninth Configuration

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Han L Oct 23, 2018 Excellent and unusual psychological/philosophical drama w/ comedic undertones. Really quite a different film. Some of the comedy may be seen as "able-ist" by today's standards, but the film is still well worth a watch. Fantastic performances by a great cast. See more

Draco R Oct 5, 2018 Here we have the directorial debut of writer William Peter Blatty, who had his biggest success as the author (and subsequently the screenwriter) of The Exorcist (filmed in 1973). Supposedly, this film extends that horror film's themes (roughly a battle between good and evil) and forms a loose trilogy as the middle film between The Exorcist I and The Exorcist III (The Exorcist II was written by someone else and disowned by all involved). But trying to figure out how this film relates to the Exorcist thematically seems a nearly impossible challenge (there is some discussion about whether God exists, I guess that's it). The plot involves a castle purportedly in the Pacific Northwest of the US (but really in Hungary - and impressive) that is being used as an institution to house those members of the armed forces who have been declared mentally unfit for service. The medical doctor in charge is played by Ed Flanders (St. Elsewhere) but he defers to psychiatrist Stacey Keach (Fat City, Mike Hammer) when he arrives to determine whether the inmates are truly insane or just escaping duty. It is, perhaps, a meta-physical question but not really addressed here. The general feel of the film is a sort of cross between M.A.S.H. and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - but more pretentious, less naturalistic, and more forced. Scott Wilson plays an inmate/former astronaut who was unable to go to the moon, flaking out on the launching pad (and imdB claims that he is the astronaut for whom Regan in The Exorcist claimed "you're gonna die up there" - the only link to the other movie, I could see). Anyway, Keach is entirely vague and subdued in his part until a cryptic late "reveal" results in a violent bar-fight - perhaps he has been possessed by a demon or demons (or it is the evil influence of war and trauma). Hard to say. But by that point I had lost my patience with the film which ultimately seems amateurish and ham-fisted. If there is something of value here, it is hard to discern. See more

Theodore G Oct 1, 2018 One of my most favorite films. Probably No.1...

Anakin G Jul 9, 2018 confusing and irritating

Luke M Mar 18, 2018 A powerful and cerebral film made by a clearly insane man with an insane wit and a great eye for actors.

George L Sep 16, 2017 Interesting film written and directed by William Peter Blatty, the author of "The Exorcist." Stacey Keach plays the new commanding officer in charge of a castle that serves as a military insane asylum. The film is a bit uneven in tone, at times surreal, at other moments comedic, and deadly serious at others. I suppose that is the nature of insanity, which is a focus of the film, but it did make the film less a cohesive whole. Part "Catch 22," part "Slaughterhouse Five," part "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," and with heavy religious overtones, it's a well crafted film that's filled with striking imagery and strong performances, particularly Keach and Scott Wilson (now better known now as Hershel on "The Walking Dead"). Wilson and Keach share one of the film's strongest sequences in a bar where Keach prostrates himself in order to save Wilson from a beating by a biker gang (one of whom is the menacing Richard Lynch). The strong cast also includes Jason Miller, Neville Brand, Moses Gunn, Robert Loggia, Joe Spinell, and Tom Atkins. Overall, this film is a mixed bag, but there are enough strong points to the film to make it well worth watching and likely revisiting. See more

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The Ninth Configuration

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