The Ninth Configuration (1980)

The Worst Film Ever

Simply A Masterpiece

Nice effects though.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

The Ninth Configuration — also known as Twinkle, Twinkle, "Killer" Kane — is one of the most mind-warping movies I've seen in a long time. Written and directed by the brilliant William Peter Blatty (and based on his 1978 novel), who you likely know from The Exorcist fame, it vacillates brilliantly between laugh-out-loud comedy and deep existential and religious examination.It takes place in the Pacific Northwest (though was actually shot in Hungary) in a castle-turned-asylum used by the US government for military personnel. Colonel Kane (Stacy Keach) is the new psychiatrist assigned to treat the patients and, ultimately, figure out how many of them are truly mentally ill and how many are faking. Colonel Fell (Ed Flanders) is the doctor who helps him get acclimated, Billy Cutshaw (the incredible Scott Wilson) is the former astronaut who botched a moon launch due to his own nervous breakdown, and Lt. Frankie Reno (Jason Miller) is trying to stage a Shakespearean play cast by dogs. Blatty himself even makes an appearance as Lt. Fromme, who steals the medic's clothes.It's almost too smart even for its own good. After the truly confusing opening scene set to Denny Brooks' "San Antone", we settle in for some genuine madness. You see shots of the castle set in the fog, in the waning daylight or pure darkness, and while it's obvious we aren't in the Pacific Northwest (or in the US at all), it lends an appropriately spooky, crazy setting for what's going on inside.Right away you feel disoriented, to a degree, not knowing for sure who is sane and who is insane. It feels as though everyone there is just free to say and do whatever their mind comes up with, and is that really, truly insane or is it just some kind of freedom most of us never enjoy? You have a feeling — or at least I did — about Colonel Kane as soon as he comes on board, wondering if he's truly mentally fit for the duty he's been handed. He's quiet and patient with the men, but in an eerily detached and almost zombie-like way — as Cutshaw says to him at one point, "you're too human to be human". He decides to indulge the men — to let them take over the castle, in a way — and what was already madness descends into pure comedic chaos.I found myself just scanning the screen, waiting for the next bit of hilarity, soaking in the dialogue… it's quick, witty, and smart in the most cutting way. I feel like you could watch this movie 10 times and notice something new at every viewing. It's amazing, really, that SO MUCH could be packed into a mere two hours. It's worth giving this movie a shot JUST for the scene where Colonel Kane and Cutshaw debate the existence of God. The entire movie is highly centered around religion and the questioning of it, but this scene in particular is just in a league of its own.When the twists arrive, they hit hard, and the story completely shifts gears. We soon find ourselves in a nearby bar with Cutshaw trying to drown his sorrows and the most ridiculous but awesome scene unfolds as Cutshaw is repeatedly prodded and taunted, and it only gets more tense when Kane arrives and they switch their attention to him, specifically Steve Sandor as the most absurd villain ever (just truly spiteful and mean, but then does a pretty impressive split at one point and just… I may have been clapping). You're watching the scene thinking (or saying out loud, as I was), "He's going to freak out on you guys. You DON'T EVEN KNOW the madness you're about to unleash"… and then it's unleashed and it is wild. One of the most intense bar fights I've ever seen. But I think an awesome one because it isn't there solely for guts and glory, or for gore, or for us to see someone get their lights punched out. It's another layer in an already complex relationship between Kane and Cutshaw.And the ending… well, I won't spoil it for you, but I think it summed things up quite nicely.But really, for every bit of laughter this movie provides, it delivers tenfold in deeply relatable and thought-provoking dialogue. It's sharply intelligent, well thought out, and crafted lovingly. The characters are intense and likable despite their obvious struggles. A vastly underrated and under-recognized film, truly!

"The Ninth Configuration" is a movie I've heard about over the years. Mostly, I've heard of it in the context of William Peter Blatty's other, far more well-known work. In interviews and on internet trivia pages, Blatty has said that "The Ninth Configuration" is the "real" sequel to the "The Exorcist," supplanting the widely reviled "Exorcist II: The Heretic" as the middle chapter of the trilogy. The only narrative connection between the two films is vague. The astronaut at the center of this film is Billy Cutshaw. He is the same astronaut present at Chris McNeil's party in "The Exorcist." Otherwise, the movies are unrelated. "The Ninth Configuration" isn't even a horror film. Instead, it's half absurdest comedy, half existential thriller.A castle in the Pacific Northwest has been transformed into a mental hospital for Vietnam veterans that may or may not be faking psychological illnesses. Among them is Billy Cutshaw, an astronaut who had a mental breakdown right before boarding his space shuttle. A new doctor, Vincent Kane, is brought in to study Cutshaw's condition. There's very little plot in the first half of the movie, as Kane and Cutshaw argue about the existence of God and the nature of humanity while the other inmates act erratically. In the second half, Kane's own disturbing history is revealed, the truth is revealed, and the situation soon explodes into violence.Blatty adapted this film from his own novel, originally published under the title "Twinkle Twinkle, "Killer" Kane!" Blatty has described the source material as "a comic novel." Thus, "The Ninth Configuration" was at least partially intended as a comedy. Many absurd things happen over the film's run time. Much of the dialogue is intentionally comedic. One of the inmates, played by Jason Miller, is putting on a production of "Hamlet" cast entirely with dogs. This leads to many scenes of the inmates interacting with the weirdly humanized dogs. Later, the patients dress up as Nazis and prisoners of war, reenacting "The Great Escape." One of the inmates is obsessed with Superman and is usually dressed up as the character. The most baffling comic moment comes when a guy randomly flies by on a jet pack. Despite these elements, "The Ninth Configuration" is never actually funny. There's a strong vein of foreboding darkness flowing underneath the entire production, one that makes it hard to laugh at anything that happens. The film is ultimately too off-putting to be humorous.Instead, the film is much more effective as a thriller, if no less strange. Kane has a reoccurring dream, one he shares with Cutshaw, of an astronaut finding a crucified Christ on the moon. That sequence is effectively eerie. When the truth of Kane's condition is revealed, the ramshackle absurdity of the first half snap into place, the film smoothing itself out. This leads into another disturbing flashback to Kane's day in Vietnam. A long portion of the film is devoted to something that happens in the last third. Cutshaw leaves the hospital and travels to a bar. There, a cartoonish motorcycle gang begins to antagonize Cutshaw. Kane is sent to break up the fight. Instead, the bikers torture Kane as well. Eventually, he snaps, brutally executing each of the bikers. This sequence is extremely well shot, the audience feeling each bone-breaking blow. The scene pays off on the slowly building tension felt throughout the whole film.Aside from Cutshaw, what also connects "The Ninth Configuration" to "The Exorcist" is that both films deal with faith, the loss of it, and the existence of good and evil. (Both also prominently feature a St. Christopher medal.) Cutshaw is an atheist. Kane, meanwhile, finds it far more likely that God exists and created the universe. Furthermore, Kane considers the ability of humans to selflessly sacrifice themselves proof of the good nature of man. Cutshaw demands examples of such behavior. While attending church, Cutshaw begins screaming at the attending priest. The two spend many scenes discussing these issue, neither side presented as wrong or right. Over the course of the story, Cutshaw is given his evidence of selfless sacrifice and his crisis of faith is resolved. The film effectively addresses these ideas in a natural, relaxed way, building towards a major statement.Helping the film along is its able bodied cast. Stacy Keach as Kane begins the film rather dryly. However, as the story goes on, we realize his restrained personality is hiding a rage and an inner darkness. Scott Wilson matches him as Cutshaw, at first appearing totally deranged but slowly developing a deeper characterization. Jason Miller's part is very memorable even if he doesn't' contribute much to the story. Ed Flanders' gets maybe the juiciest moments of acting, especially when the truth about his relationship with Kane is revealed. The same could be said of Neville Brand, Robert Loggia, Tom Atkins, and Joe Spinall, all familiar character actors that are always welcomed.I didn't entirely like "The Ninth Configuration" though it develops in a satisfying direction. It's a tonally uneven film and frequently very odd and off-putting. However, you can't say Blatty wasn't getting at something. It doesn't really compare to his two "Exorcist" movies. The three make for a very strange triple feature, which I wouldn't recommend. It's one of those movies I admire more then I like, if only because it's so genuinely odd.

I'm always looking for a hidden gem, something I haven't seen before that hasn't been hyped to death on the internet. This film by William Peter Blatty (writer of The Exorcist) might be such a gem. I certainly never heard of it before. I was intrigued by the title and the cover (an astronaut on the moon with Jesus on a crucifix...what on earth could this be about?). This is the plot synopis from IMDb: 'A new commanding officer arrives at a remote castle serving as an insane asylum for crazy and AWOL U.S. Army soldiers where he attempts to rehabilitate them by allowing them to live out their crazy fantasies while combating his own long-suppressed insanity.' Sounds good to me. First of, the dialogue of these insane people is written brilliantly. The actors really go all the way in portraying these nut jobs. It's really funny to watch. But the film is a mix of a lot of different styles. It might start out as a comedy, it also contains horror like elements, drama, surrealistic and tragic parts. It's best not to know to much about this movie beforehand. So just check it out. You might not love it, maybe even hate it but it certainly will be like no other film you've seen before and in these times of cookie cutter productions that is a welcome relief.

Considered by writer, producer, and director William Peter Blatty to be the true sequel to his story "The Exorcist", "The Ninth Configuration" has ended up with a cult-movie type reputation, but actually deserves even better. It's equal parts comic and tragic. It's never less than interesting, which is always a good thing. It's emotionally satisfying and ultimately uplifting, while providing a good deal of food for thought. One could look at it as a cult movie for the "thinking person". It's extremely atmospheric - it gets a lot out of its main setting - and an incredible ensemble brings a rich assortment of oddball characters to life.Stacy Keach plays Colonel Kane (the original title of the story, for those who don't know, was "Twinkle, Twinkle, Killer Kane"), the new head shrink in a castle in the Pacific Northwest that has been converted into an insane asylum by the government. The inmates are military men whose insanity may or may not be genuine. One of the latest arrivals is a former astronaut named Billy Cutshaw (Scott Wilson), who aborted his mission to the moon, afraid of what might be out there. He desperately appeals to Colonel Kane to come up with some sort of proof that God exists, but Kane has his own problems, which is apparent right from the outset.Blatty's dialogue is highly quotable and his theme of "the mystery of good" makes this stimulating from beginning to end. The pace is quite sedate, but some viewers might not mind at all. Although it's largely about story and characters, it *can* boast a very intense and rousing barroom confrontation, where Kane and Cutshaw come face to face with bikers played by the likes of Richard Lynch and Steve Sandor. Filmed on location in Hungary and Germany, it looks especially good in Panavision. Barry De Vorzons' music is good but its use is sparing. The men in this story are a colourful bunch, to boot: one fancies himself a superhero, and another is determined to mount productions of Shakespeare with canine casts. (Of course, he's loathe to cast a Great Dane as Hamlet; that would be too obvious.)The cast is just wonderful. Keach offers a remarkably controlled performance; only once does he lose his cool. Wilson, whom the modern audience will know from 'The Walking Dead', is a delight as the despairing astronaut. Buffs will admire the roster of top character actors in supporting parts: other than Lynch and Sandor, there's Jason Miller, Ed Flanders, Neville Brand, George DiCenzo, Moses Gunn, Robert Loggia, Joe Spinell, Alejandro Rey, Tom Atkins, and William Lucking. Blatty himself appears uncredited as Lt. Fromme.This is one film to see and admire, film lovers. It might not be to all tastes, but it does come highly recommended.Nine out of 10.