Roman Polanski’s body of work depicts evil in different forms. Made betweenDeath and the MaidenandThe Pianist, two films that depict individuals impacted by the evil of a totalitarian regime, isThe Ninth Gate. The film saw Polanski returning to the supernatural horror prominent inRosemary’s Babyand the noir elements ofChinatown.
The Ninth Gateis one of Polanski’s more polarizing efforts, receiving mixed reviews upon release. Based onThe Club Dumasby novelist Arturo Pérez-Reverte,The Ninth Gateexists in a world of shadowy figures, Satanism, and a book allegedly penned by the devil himself. Luckily for you,The Ninth Gaterecently found a new home onTubi.
The Devil Is in the Details
Dean Corso (Johnny Depp) is a rogue book dealer who tracks down antiquarian texts for the highest bidder and is unafraid to bend the rules. Skeptical about the supernatural, he soon finds himself in a world of intrigue after taking a job at the behest of Boris Balkan (Frank Langella). Balkan, who has recently acquired a 17th-century text,The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows, wishes to employ Corso to track down other copies to confirm its authenticity.
The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadowsis said to have been written by Aristide de Torchia, who was burned at the stake for heresy. Allegedly penned with the collaboration of Lucifer, the book is said to have the power to summon the devil. With Corso being something of a private eye (a la Jack Nicholson inChinatown), the movie’s classic film-noir elements are intertwined with supernatural horror. Corso finds himself navigating a world where the devil isn’t a figment of belief, but a real entity with followers and devotees who lurk in the shadows (a laRosemary’s Baby).
WhileThe Ninth Gateis reminiscent of two of Polanski’s most notable works, it also contains the claustrophobia and paranoia ofRepulsion. Corso continually looks over his shoulder and must safeguard his every move as he navigates a world where no one can be trusted. Every location Corso visits is permeated with a feeling of being watched.
An Occult Obsession
In addition to merging components fromRosemary’s Baby,Chinatown, andRepulsion,The Ninth Gateincorporates many thematicelements related to the Tarot deck, which are crucial to the film’s visual storytelling. Tarot, a deck used by many occultists as a means of divination, comprises several cards with illustrations. One of the engravings inThe Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadowsdepicts the hanged man. The hanged man is a card that illustrates caution and the need to cease forward momentum. The death of Corso’s colleague Bernie Ornstein (James Russo) and its aftermath show his body in the same position as it’s depicted on the card.
Moreover, Corso’s journey inThe Ninth Gate, made out of greed as Balkan promises a hefty payment, can certainly be seen as indicative of the fool. In Tarot, the fool is sometimes interpreted as someone making a “leap of faith” in a bold and exciting new adventure. The card also illustrates caution, as the fool often goes into these circumstances unaware and oblivious of danger. Corso, blinded by his love of money, undertakes his own “fool’s quest.”
Allusions to Tarot are far from the only references to esoteric practices inThe Ninth Gate.A “black mass” takes place inThe Ninth Gate, initiated by one of the film’s antagonists, Liana Telfer (Lena Olin). The original black mass (Messe Noire) was a hedonistic ritual performed by many members of the French nobility during the same period. These ceremonies, which have persisted in many modern incarnations of Satanism, have less to do with actual devil worship and more to do with a reason to partake in orgiastic behavior.The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows,with its rite of invocation, and the pursuit of the tome by Balkan, represents the theistic aspect of Satanism, one that embraces literal worship.
AlthoughThe Ninth Gatedidn’t receive accoladesand a positive critical reception at the time of its release, it certainly deserves them now. Polanski successfully interweaves many elements of noir, supernatural horror, and paranoia prominent in his earlier films, making them all flow in a cohesive and engaging narrative. The integration of esoteric practices, be they references to the Tarot deck or devil worship, makesThe Ninth Gatecompelling and of great interest to those with a fondness for detail.
Where Can I Watch ‘The Ninth Gate’?
The Ninth Gateintegrates supernatural horror and film noir and iscurrently streaming free on Tubi.
The Ninth Gate
