By Melissa Antoinette Garza
I want a book co-written by the Devil so I can attain immortality! That has A Missy written all over it, as does the movie THE NINTH GATE (1999). Shockingly, I never saw this flick. It snuck past my radar the first time around and thereafter I kept confusing it with SECRET WINDOW (2004).
Thankfully, someone most special recommended it. When I saw it was directed by Roman Polanski, I was in like Flynn. Hate the man, but love the art!
THE NINTH GATE opens with antique bookstore co-owner Dean Corso (Johnny Depp) scamming an old dude out of some green. Corso has a bad, yet well-deserved, reputation for buying books from unwitting owners. He convinces them to take pennies on the dollar and then turns a profit. When confronted about his deceptive ways, he nonchalantly acknowledges his behavior, without a shred of remorse. He’s both smug and arrogant.
Later, Boris Balkan (Frank Langella) phones Dean for some help. Boris is an author, public speaker and a bibliographer. He specializes on works involving witches, the occult and particularly Satan, himself.
Balkan obtained a copy of The Nine Gates of the Kingdoms and wants to verify its authenticity, as forgeries are a common game in the book world. If real, the book was co-authored by Satan and provides instructions to conjure the Devil and provide unlimited power and immortality to the reader. There are only three copies written and Balkan believes two to be fakes. He hires Dean to fly to Europe where the other two copies are and to find out which of the three is real.
Initially, it is Corso’s greed that makes him pursue the case. He wants money and Balkan is handing it over. Soon, he finds himself regretting his decision yet pulled in by the mystery.
Dean’s first visit is to Liana (Lena Olin) who was married to the man who sold the book to Balkan. Her husband killed himself and she was unaware that he sold it. She confides that before hanging himself, he began acting erratic though she dismisses that he was attempting to summon the devil.
Liana has secrets and a more difficult time parting with the book than she lets on. Mystery and unusual circumstances continue to follow Corso as his partner at the book shop, Bernie (James Russo) is murdered after hiding Balkan’s book. This leads Dean to nearly stop researching, but Boris insists he continue.
Corso then travels to Spain where he realizes Lucifer did mark The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows with his initials, adding credence to his presence during the time it was written.
Upon travelling to Portugal and Paris, he sees that Lucifer’s trademark was in each copy, but done in a different way. He concludes that none of the books are forgeries and instead all three books and all nine illustrations are needed to summon the devil and obtain immortality.
In Portugal, a Sexy Fem Goddess (Emmanuelle Seigner) begins following Corso. She is helpful to him and sparks fly between the two. She’s got vamp, fem strength and a flare about her. She’s tough, drives a motorcycle and is very mysterious – so mysterious that she doesn’t offer a name. Instead, Dean just calls her “green eyes.”
First, he assumes she works for Balkan, but is more than a little intrigued and taken with her. He doesn’t put up much resistance and is game to play when the opportunity presents itself. Imma can’t blame him. The girl is H-A-W-T…HOT!
While in Paris, he learns from the Baroness Kessler (Barbara Jefford) and owner of the third book, that the cult, who believes in The Ninth Gate, believe they owe their wealth and success to Satan and they also partake in orgies – WOOT! WOOT! Imma love satanic orgies!
In the end, we see the true motives of Liana, Balkan and green eyes. When Corso obtains the nine images necessary to perform the ritual, he too has a decision to make. No spoilers from me though – so watch the movie.
THE NINTH GATE was a fantastic throwback to 1970s horror. It has some of the same pace and stylistic choices of the THE OMEN (1976) mixed with the mystery and storytelling of RACE WITH THE DEVIL (1975). Both thought-provoking and suspenseful, the film delivers on all fronts.
Depp does a stellar job in the lead and Seigner brings a much needed passion, prowess and fem energy to the production. Langella rock & rolled like he usually does and gave an amazing performance. That dude can do anything. Give him a phone book and Imma sit in front of my TV and watch that cat read it.
I can’t suggest this one enough. It’s a mix of a compelling plot, well-developed characters, intrigue and a few well-timed twists that makes THE NINTH GATE not only a memorable flick, but one that has great re-watch value. Buy this baby!! A Missy says so.
Scared Stiff Rating: 8.5/10
