The Ninth Configuration

William Peter Blatty's darkly comic 1979 psychodrama—adapted by the first-time director from his own novel Twinkle, Twinkle “Killer” Kane—is set in an anarchic mental hospital, established in a castle in the Pacific Northwest (the film was actually shot in Germany and Hungary) late in the Vietnam era to serve an alarming number of mentally unhinged military officers. Enigmatic Army psychiatrist Col. Vincent Kane (an excellent Stacy Keach) arrives to find an institution where the boundaries between doctors, guards, lunatics, and faking malingerers are imperceptible. Kane attempts to bring a fresh approach to therapy, particularly with rebel NASA astronaut Billy Cutshaw (Scott Wilson), who aborted a moon launch at the last minute out of existential dread. In this cult movie that feels like a DNA mix of Catch-22 and Shock Corridor, Blatty stages funny, compelling, and alarming debates about science vs. religion, faith vs. cynicism, and good vs. evil—not to mention the difficulties inherent in trying to stage Shakespeare with dogs. Making its Blu-ray debut here, extras include an audio commentary by Blatty, an introduction by film critic Mark Kermode, and deleted scenes and outtakes. Highly recommended. (C. Cassady)