The Ninth Gate (1999)

Benjamin Stewart53 said:Isn't she a demoness? Or is she just some incidental, fallen angel sidekick?

She is the Guide.

The text makes it quite clear that Lucifer is the one who selects his followers, rather than the other way around.

Just imagine poor Lucifer having to accept some absolute idiots simply because they, what, spun around three times at a crossroads during a full moon while bleating empty nonsense? It’s almost as chaotic as the American Midwest. 😁

No, Lucifer is the decision-maker here; he chose the Corvette and dispatched a guide specifically to lead him toward his destination. 🧐

Honestly, I watched this movie back when I was a kid, probably a dozen times, and I loved every second of it... so seeing all those negative reviews later on didn't really shock me much. Sure, Polanski has definitely made better stuff, but I wouldn't call this one bad at all! You've got Depp and Langela, that incredible atmosphere, and of course, that super interesting occult theme. Maybe if I’d seen it later in life, I would've thought the plot was a bit silly, but I can't even remember the last time I actually sat down to watch it. Might have to give it another spin soon...

It’s a solid movie. I find myself revisiting it at least once a year, even if the whole thing feels a bit far-fetched. The theme and the way it wraps up are actually pretty engaging. At first glance, I thought that girl was some kind of witch, but now I’m thinking she might be more like a Babylonian whore or something along those lines.

Rewatched this after seeing those last few posts floating around. I actually saw it way back when it first hit theaters, and it left such a good impression on me—I always had this nagging feeling I’d eventually circle back to it.

It's wild that Eyes Wide Shut and The Ninth Gate both dropped in the same year, 1999,
And those nines? If you flip them around, you get three 666s 🙄

Setting aside all that heavy symbolism, the movie itself is killer. It’s exactly my kind of flick, and Polanski is just untouchable at this. That sense of mystery and those tiny, subtle details he weaves in... man, they're absolute treats.

Depp was still totally sane back then, and he absolutely nails the role. Honestly, the whole cast is spot on. The women have that classy, effortless allure—super sexy, but in a way that stays visually tasteful. And the North America vibe definitely worked too.

SPOILER ALERT!!!
I don't know, I kind of figured that the two of them and their shared "journey" (which peaks with that sex climax) was basically the final puzzle piece needed to swing open The Ninth Gate. Someone online put it perfectly: she's essentially Lucifer's guide or channel.
The whole thing in the North America was just a pit stop used to trigger the main event. Maybe even some kind of rebirth.

Because let's face it, sex and lust are some of Lucifer's primary tools—it's a trap that almost nobody escapes.

4.7🙂0.3

Really interesting flick from one of the top three directors still working today.
If you're into occult stuff, you'll probably dig it.
I don't really get the bad reviews—honestly, everything in the movie works exactly how it should.

Polanski definitely has firsthand experience with those kinds of societies; he’s probably one of their most prominent members, ☕

Ryan Wilson2 said:Lucifer is the one making the choices here. He picked the Corvette and sent over a guide to lead him straight to his side

I mean, there’s even a hint halfway through the movie that the Corvette guy was chosen—one of the illustrations shows a man kneeling, and he looks just like him.

EDIT: I poked around the thread a bit, and I guess my first sentence was actually a pretty solid educated guess.

hand-slaves said:I don't remember anything from the movie except that it was filmed on a Rothschild estate.

☕

Matthew Johnson30 said:Polanski definitely knows the vibe of those kinds of circles firsthand... he’s probably one of the big shots in the whole ☕
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For real!

You could totally see it coming all the way back in "Rosemary Baby"...