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The Ninth Gate Details

1999 Certificate 15
  • Rated:
  • 60
  • from 8365 members

Based on a novel by Arturo Perez-Reverte (THE CLUB DUMAS) and coscripted by director Roman Polanski, THE NINTH GATE was Polanski's first feature after a long break following the release of 1995's DEATH AND THE MAIDEN--in between, there was an aborted project that faltered when designated star John Travolta opted out. Dean Corso .. Read more

Starring Johnny Depp, Lena Olin, Frank Langella, Emmanuelle Seigner
Director Roman Polanski
Genres Horror, Thriller

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The Ninth Gate cover art

The Ninth Gate

Based on a novel by Arturo Perez-Reverte (THE CLUB DUMAS) and coscripted by director Roman Polanski, THE NINTH GATE was Polanski's first feature after a long break following the release of 1995's DEATH AND THE MAIDEN--in between, there was an aborted project that faltered when designated star John Travolta opted out. Dean Corso (Johnny Depp) is a cynical rare books dealer hired by Boris Balkan (Frank Langella), a scholar specializing in books on Satanism, to recover the only two remaining copies (in addition to the one owned by Balkan) of THE NINE GATES OF THE KINGDOM OF SHADOWS, a 17th-century text with cryptic illustrations supposedly contributed by Lucifer himself. Corso's investigation takes him to Europe, where he is pursued by a strange girl (Emmanuelle Seigner) who seemes to assume the role of his guardian angel: Bizarre deaths inspired by the book's morbid illustrations befall all those who come into contact with the book--except himself. This occult mystery should satisfy fans of subtly creepy, stylish tales of the supernatural along the lines of Polanski's own ROSEMARY'S BABY.

Starring Johnny Depp, Lena Olin, Frank Langella, Emmanuelle Seigner, Barbara Jefford, James Russo, Jose Lopez Rodero
Director Roman Polanski
Studio UCA
Run time DVD: 2 hrs 8 mins
Certificate Certificate 15
Genres Horror, Thriller
Language DVD: English
Hearing-impaired English
Released DVD: 06 Oct 2001
Production year: 1999
Format DVD

  • Critics' reviews (6) of The Ninth Gate

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  • 3 stars out of 5

    This largely successful return to the horror genre by Roman Polanski features sardonic wit, subtle suspense tricks and razor-sharp irony. Johnny Depp plays the rare books expert hired by billionaire Frank Langella to authenticate his copy of an ancient tome that was supposedly written in conjunction with the Devil. Based on Arturo Pérez-Reverte's bestseller El Club Dumas, this satisfying gothic chiller has moody atmosphere, a stunning score (from Wojciech Kilar) and sinister unease to spare as it leads the viewer up numerous garden paths to a disappointing hallucinatory climax.

    • Radio Times
    • Posted 29 Jan 2006

  • "...With its fiery, over-the-top spectacle and bolts of black humor, THE NINTH GATE is actually more in the spirit of VAMPIRE KILLERS than ROSEMARY'S BABY....Lena Olin is the ultimate cat woman..."

    • Chicago Sun
    • Posted 11 Mar 2005

  • Most helpful member's review of The Ninth Gate

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  • 19 out of 28 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 1 star

    What!!!

    You watch this film and it actually starts of well you get excited thinking you've found like the only devil/ angel film tnat works and then the end happens and your like 'oh well that was exciting.' Not!

    If your watching this then just start from the beginning watch half way and then stop to avoid disappointment.

      • rtdpj from Essex
      • Posted 22 Dec 2004 14:53

  • Most recent members' review of The Ninth Gate

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  • 2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 3 stars

    This was shaping up to be a great film but the last 30 mins it went off the boil.

    There was plenty of atmosphere and it had a good pace. Some really good scenes let down by cheesy acting. It could have been a lot better than this but at least Mr Depp didn't disappoint!!

      • A customer from MIDDLEWICH
      • Posted 07 Jul 2004 13:30

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Rating breakdown

8,365 Member ratings
  • 100
546
  • 90
503
  • 80
1,234
  • 70
1,423
  • 60
1,968
  • 50
1,049
  • 40
797
  • 30
402
  • 20
304
  • 10
139

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    • The Ninth Gate

    • The Ninth Gate
      Based on a novel by Arturo Perez-Reverte (THE CLUB DUMAS) and coscripted by director Roman Polanski, THE NINTH GATE was Polanski's first feature after a long break following the release of 1995's DEATH AND THE MAIDEN--in between, there was an aborted project that faltered when designated star John ...