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Movies / On DVD / The Ninth Gate
The Ninth Gate

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The Ninth Gate (1999)

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Reviews Counted:84

Fresh:35

Rotten:49

Average Rating:4.9/10

Consensus: Even though the film is stylish and atmospheric, critics say The Ninth Gate meanders aimlessly and is often ludicrous. And despite the advertising, there's hardly any chills.

Runtime: 2 hrs 13 mins

Genre: Horror/Suspense

Synopsis: Based on a novel by Arturo Pérez-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... Based on a novel by Arturo Pérez-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. [More]

Starring: Johnny Depp, Frank Langella, Lena Olin, Emmanuelle Seigner

Starring: Johnny Depp, Frank Langella, Lena Olin, Emmanuelle Seigner, Barbara Jefford, Jose Lopez Rodero, James Russo

Director: Roman Polanski

Director: Roman Polanski
Screenwriter: John Brownjohn, Roman Polanski, Enrique Urbizu
Producer: Roman Polanski
Composer: Wojciech Kilar

[See More Credits]

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Release:

Jul 18, 2000

No Details Exist
 
 

Reviews for The Ninth Gate

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1 - 20 (sorted by fresh rating)
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Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/06/05
Film Threat

Through it all, Depp keeps the film grounded.

Full Review Source: E! Online | comment Comment
01/01/00
E! Online

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/08/02
Film Threat

Polanski's sly sense of film-noir conventions pokes fun at the genre while at the same time honoring it.

Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | comment Comment
01/01/00
Bob Graham
Bob Graham
San Francisco Chronicle
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | comment Comment
08/07/08
Bob Grimm
Bob Grimm
Sacramento News & Review

Amusing, ultra - deadpan entertainment.

Full Review Source: Salon.com | comment Comment
01/01/00
Charles Taylor
Charles Taylor
Salon.com

It certainly isn't Chinatown, but it does carry a punch.

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
01/01/00
Christopher Null
Christopher Null
Filmcritic.com

Artfully constructed and deliberately paced, making up for the many ludicrous twists and turns it takes.

Full Review Source: Matinee Magazine | comment Comment
03/07/02
Chuck Rudolph
Chuck Rudolph
Matinee Magazine

The movie is a kicky college course in demonology, whereas The Blair Witch Project seemed to be a truant from horror kindergarten, one with poor prospects of graduating to The Sixth Sense.

Full Review Source: San Diego Union-Tribune | comment Comment
01/01/00
David Elliott
David Elliott
San Diego Union-Tribune

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Cinemaphile.org | comment Comment
01/01/00
David Keyes
David Keyes
Cinemaphile.org

Director-in-exile Roman Polanski (Rosemary's Baby) and the occult go together like butter and toast.

Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | comment Comment
01/01/00
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Fairly enjoyable as an old-fashioned horror yarn.

comment Comment
01/01/00
Don Kaye
Don Kaye
TNT's Rough Cut

For the most part the picture meshes spookiness and stylish humor to excellent effect.

Full Review Source: One Guy's Opinion | comment Comment
01/01/00
Frank Swietek
Frank Swietek
One Guy's Opinion

A lengthy exposition, a meandering plot, and overattenuated dialogue. Warts and all, Polanski is back.

Full Review Source: Mixed Reviews | comment Comment
01/01/00
Gabriel Shanks
Gabriel Shanks
Mixed Reviews

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Dark Horizons | comment Comment
10/30/01
Garth Franklin
Garth Franklin
Dark Horizons

Sexy, sardonic and slightly over the top, it definitely contains Polanski's best work in years.

comment Comment
01/01/00
Glenn Lovell
Glenn Lovell
San Jose Mercury News
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The Ninth Gate is for the most part an appropriately restrained, deftly acted and smartly stylized with a dynamite score by Wojciech Kilar.

Full Review Source: Compuserve | comment Comment
01/01/00
Harvey S. Karten
Harvey S. Karten
Compuserve

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: UK Critic | comment Comment
01/01/00
Ian Waldron-Mantgani
Ian Waldron-Mantgani
UK Critic

a solid, engrossing supernatural mystery-thriller that comes completely undone in the last five minutes

Full Review Source: Q Network Film Desk | comment Comment
02/27/01
James Kendrick
James Kendrick
Q Network Film Desk

It overstays its welcome by 20 minutes or so, just long enough for us to begin to feel a little silly for having so much fun.

Full Review Source: Newsday | comment Comment
01/01/00
Jan Stuart
Jan Stuart
Newsday
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
 
 
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