The Ninth Configuration

I'm always looking for a hidden gem, something I haven't seen before that hasn't been hyped to death on the internet. This film by William Peter Blatty (writer of The Exorcist) might be such a gem. I certainly never heard of it before. I was intrigued by the title and the cover (an astronaut on the moon with Jesus on a crucifix...what on earth could this be about?). This is the plot synopis from IMDb: 'A new commanding officer arrives at a remote castle serving as an insane asylum for crazy and AWOL U.S. Army soldiers where he attempts to rehabilitate them by allowing them to live out their crazy fantasies while combating his own long-suppressed insanity.' Sounds good to me. First of, the dialogue of these insane people is written brilliantly. The actors really go all the way in portraying these nut jobs. It's really funny to watch. But the film is a mix of a lot of different styles. It might start out as a comedy, it also contains horror like elements, drama, surrealistic and tragic parts. It's best not to know to much about this movie beforehand. So just check it out. You might not love it, maybe even hate it but it certainly will be like no other film you've seen before and in these times of cookie cutter productions that is a welcome relief.

I rented this film one night when I was tired of seeing the same things in the "New Releases" section, so I (shudder!) headed for the catalog titles, and picked this one out because--God, am I shallow--the cover looked interesting. Turning over to the back, I skimmed the summary, saw that it starred Mike Hammer and the guy who mooned us in the last season of "St. Elsewhere", so I thought that it may be just bad enough to be amusing. So I plunked down my three bucks and went home wondering if I wouldn't have just been better off watching reruns of "Married with Children" all night.

But I watched this movie. Then I rewound it and watched it again. Over the next three days, I watched and rewatched every frame of this masterpiece more times than I should publicly admit. I was moved beyond words, beyond being an audience. I became a disciple--even a proselyte--for this film. Stacy Keach completely astounded me, someone who knew him only as Mike Hammer. People, this man can ACT. I saw every demon his Colonel Kane carried with him. The rest of the cast, with a special metion for Scott Wilson's amazing performance as a tortured astronaut and for Ed Flanders, who kept his character's true motivation well hidden until it could stand to be covered no more, was perfect.

But this movie is, above all, about the writing and the direction. William Peter Blatty cared about his project, and the lucky few (sadly, VERY few) of us who shared in it were fortunate enough to see cinematic perfection virtually attained. Watch this film, let it develop, don't question where its motives are until it decides to let you in on them. Give it your full attention, and you will be rewarded with a treat we so tragically, rarely get to have. No special effects, no huge budget. Just artistry. Pure, refined artistry.

An isolated castle in the Pacific northwest serves as the last secret experimental insane asylum for the US military. Billy Cutshaw (Scott Wilson) broke down after getting dragged out of a moon-bound rocket after an aborted launch. Psychiatrist Colonel Kane (Stacy Keach) is the new commanding officer. Colonel Richard Fell (Ed Flanders) is the world-weary medic. Kane indulges the patients in their delusions.

This is not quite at the level of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Stacy Keach is deliberately stiff which dampens the humor. He's almost robotic. There are some wacky characters in weird craziness but it's mostly dark seriousness. It's a real oddity and an original creation. While the rest of Hollywood zigs, this one zags.

Upon my initial viewing of this film I found it extremely difficult to really sit down and review it. To the point where it may have been impossible. I was not ready for this film. I received a film I was not expecting. I was quite excited to see it as it is highly rated here on this website to go along with a great cast and William Peter Blatty writing and directing it. I hated the first and second acts, but the 3rd act I loved. I was torn. So I gave it about 6 months and rewatched it. In the end I found it to be a great film and there is much to digest from it. Also extremely difficult to just pigeonhole into one genre. It has strong comedy going on, but can be very dramatic and has elements of horror as well.

Blatty throws away much of the mainstream ideas of filmmaking in his quite impressive directorial debut as he brings his 1966 novel TWINKLE, TWINKLE KILLER KANE to the screen. I have not read the book, but what we get in the end it may have in fact been difficult to have the big studios understand what he was bringing to the screen. I think Martin Scorsese's SHUTTER ISLAND has a bit to thank this film for.

An insane asylum is being run by the US government for those who were in the military. The setting is excellent as a old abandoned castle is where it is set. A new psychiatrist is coming on board Col. Vincent Kane (wonderful performance by Stacy Keach). We are introduced to all of the inmates of the asylum and each give great performances (including Jason Miller, George DiCenzo and Moses Gunn to name just a few). Kane becomes quite involved with former astronaut Capt. Billy Cutshaw (Scott Miller) and in turn leads to thoughts on sacrifice, faith and God.

To me Keach puts in quite an amazing performance and the scene near the end where Capt. Cutshaw goes to the bar and gets involved in a bar fight with a rough and tough bike gang (that includes Richard Lynch) to me is an extremely powerful scene. Blatty even has an extremely funny role as Lt. Fromme. Also starring Ed Flanders, Neville Brand and Tom Atkins.

The Ninth Configuration (1980) was William Peter Blatty's directorial debut. He adapts his own novel for the big screen in this bizarre film about an astronaut (Scott Wilson) who's reached his breaking point and a military doctor (Stacy Keach) who's trying to reach out to him. The cast has a who's who of Hollywood cast-offs (William Peter Blatty has a cameo himself as one of the patients).

This is a strange film that'll cause you to think (if you don't enjoy these type of films then I suggest you look elsewhere). An interesting movie about things that aren't as they seem, soul searching and seeking redemption through honor and self sacrifice. I liked the way these people have to look into themselves and see who or what they really are. I wished that William Peter Blatty made more movies and Hollywood should have gave Stacy Keach more film roles like these. He was quite impressive.

I have to to highly recommend this movie. But if you're expecting some mainstream popcorn nonsense then look elsewhere.