The Ninth Configuration

Some writers can easily jump from the writer's desk to the director's chair. Michael Crichton is a good example of this with films like Westworld and Runaway under his belt. Other's, like Stephen King with Maximum Overdrive, have had more of a challenge. With two films, Exorcist III and today's feature, 1980's The Ninth Configuration, under his belt, writer William Peter Blatty proved he had the chops behind the camera.

Based off of Blatty's novel Twinkle, Twinkle, Killer, Kane!, The Ninth Configuration tells the story of a castle that houses a group of shell shocked Vietnam vets. The military keeps them there for observation and have sent in one of their own shrinks, Stacey Keach, to conduct therapy sessions with them. In time however, it seems like the doctor might be even more unhinged than his patients.

Blatty does a terrific job of balancing humor with suspense, with plenty of the religious symbolism he is known for thrown in. Keach is great in what is more of an understated performance. He could have easily went over the top with this character, but is smart to play him more subdued, making it an even creepier performance. Scott Wilson is the true standout as a patient who was not only a former soldier, but also an astronaut, who had a breakdown due to his war trauma, right before a big launch. The Exorcist's Jason Miller adds so much needed comic relief as another patient who is obsessed with staging an all canine performance of Hamlet. The rest consists of some terrific character actors, including Ed Flanders, Robert Loggia, Moses Gunn, Tom Atkins, and Joe Spinnell.

This is one trippy, funny, and dark ride that is worth your time.

It's available on dvd and blu ray.