Corso (Johnny Depp) an evaluer of rare books, is hired by New York millionaire Balkan, Frank Langella to confirm the authenticity of a very rare 17th century publication, 'The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows', which he acquired from a collector who subsequently hanged himself. There are two other copies of the book, whose author was burnt at the stake for allegedly collaborating with Lucifer himself – one in Portugal, the other in Paris. Followed by a mysterious young woman, Emmanuelle Seigner, Corso sets off to compare the three books – but a trail of death and destruction follows him.
A Roman Polanski film dealing with the supernatural promises much – remember Rosemary's Baby – but The Ninth Gate, despite many qualities, is a decided letdown. The screenplay, based on a Spanish novel, is similar to that of Orson Welles' Confidential Report (or Mr Arkadin), with satanic elements added. The trouble is that, though beautifully filmed, by the great Darius Khondji, and with a haunting music score by Wojciej Kilar, the film is pretty predictable; quite early on the pattern is set, and there are few surprises in the wings. Allusions to Eyes Wide Shut are undoubtedly unintentional, but still distracting. The best sequence is the one in which Spanish production manager Jose Lopex plays twins, eccentric book publishers who know more than they let on.
