The Ninth Configuration (DVD, 2002)

The Ninth Configuration was written, produced and directed by William Peter Blatty, and has a great cast of Stacy Keach, Scott Wilson, Jason Miller, Ed Flanders, Neville Brand, George DiCenzo, Moses Gunn and Robert Loggia. Even the secondary supporting performers are stellar in their roles, especially Joe Spinell, Alejandro Rey, Tom Atkins, Steve Sandor and Richard Lynch. The setting is an old castle which houses a crew of men who display symptoms of mental disturbances brought on by combat or scheduled combat. Keach, who portrays Colonel Hudson Kane, could be a decorated Marine, "Killer Kane", or a psychiatrist coming to take over the asylum. Wilson portrays Captain Billy Cutshaw, an astronaut who aborts a mission into outer space and is the resident leader of the looneys. The banter between Kane and Cutshaw is mostly about the existence of God. Some very clever humor is injected into the storyline to keep it from becoming too serious. And there is a lot of humor to go around in this film. Lieutenant Reno (Miller), is trying to put on a Shakespearean play for dogs. Colonel Fell, the medic (Flanders), spends most of his time trying to track down the culprit who stole his pants. Major Groper (Brand), the often frustrated regular Army man, finds himself the butt of the inmates taunts and teases. Captain Fairbanks (DiCenzo) is either taking a hammer to the walls of the castle or masquerading as a nun. Major Nammack (Gunn) thinks he's Superman and Lieutenant Bennish (Loggia) believes he's trapped on Venus and that Kane banished him there. Even Blatty has a role as an inmate. The DVD has a slew of special features, including outtakes, a featurette about the film and cast and director biographies. And, if that's not enough, commentary by Blatty and author/documentary filmmaker Mark Kermode. The fans of this film will want to have the DVD as a keepsake. For myself, this film is a modern classic!!!

this is one of the strangest movies you will ever see. what william peter blatty considers the true sequel to the original exorcist, the ninth configuration makes you think, makes you ask yourself questions and you can quote from it forever. one problem: the audio sucks. one would think that warner bros would have cleaned up the soundtrack or at least close captioned the movie. if you dont already know what they are saying you will find it very difficult to understand their conversations, which is a major problem because this is one of those movies that everything that is said is crucial to the story. very esoteric and philosophical. not for everyone.

One of my favorite movies. The special edition DVD is incredible and much higher quality than the VHS. A great movie with a surprising twist.