The Ninth Gate (DVD, 2007)

Rare books wheeler & dealer, Dean Corso (Johnny Depp) gets a job from a man, Boris Balkan (Frank Langella), who seems obsessed with one book. Corso's job, as a scholar on books about Satanism, is to find the other 2 copies of "The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows."

Balkan already owns 1 of the 17th century rare books & covets the 2 he doesn't own. Both Balkan & Corso believe something that is quite occult: the sketches in the text were likely drawn by Lucifer/Satan! As Corso hunts for the 2 copies, he experiences some strange & dangerous events in Europe: people die who come in contact with the book(s). They die like the sketches portray. But why not Corso?

He's got a guardian angel of sorts, a very strange girl (Emmanuelle Seigner) who relentlessly pursues him. Will he live to find the rare & dangerous books? What will happen to him if he does? Are the sketches really works by Satan?

This film was co-scripted, produced & directed by none other than Roman Polanski--a holocaust survivor. It's full of intrigue like only an intense character actor can evoke. Depp & Polanski mature both in this film released at the turn of the millennium (of course!). It was excellent timing then when so many people were considering the end of civilization. The story has that sort of grand something-bad's-going-to-happen feel about it. This one's much more realistic & believable than Polanski's, "Rosemary's Baby."

Never heard of this movie but since Johnny Depp was in it I thought I'd give a try. I actually enjoyed it - weird ending but most of his movies are - Still,
I liked it and would recommend it