Notebook Reviews: THE NINTH GATE

Roman Polanski – 1999

Roman Polanski‘s The Ninth Gate is an entertaining (if superficial) horror–thriller. The film sports a great turn from Johnny Depp as a rare book seller who goes in search of a devilish tome. It’s a good role for Depp, one which plays to his strengths as an off-beat performer.

Parallels to Polanski’s other occult thriller, Rosemary’s Baby shouldn’t be made as The Ninth Gate very much walks its own path – although it does have hints of the director’s Chinatown and Frantic. There’s also a touch of Hitchcock thrown-in for good measure.

There’s a lot to enjoy in The Ninth Gate especially Depp’s performance and Wojciech Kilar’s score.