The Ninth Configuration [Twinkle, Twinkle ‘Killer’ Kane] *** (1980, Stacy Keach, Scott Wilson, Jason Miller, Ed Flanders, Neville Brand, Moses Gunn, Robert Loggia, Tom Atkins) – Classic Movie Review 13,452

Exorcist writer William Peter Blatty’s 1980 American psychological horror film The Ninth Configuration [Twinkle, Twinkle ‘Killer’ Kane] stars Stacy Keach, Scott Wilson and Jason Miller.

Writer/ producer/ director William Peter Blatty’s 1980 American psychological horror film The Ninth Configuration [Twinkle, Twinkle ‘Killer’ Kane] stars Stacy Keach, Scott Wilson, Jason Miller, Ed Flanders, Neville Brand, Moses Gunn, Robert Loggia, and Tom Atkins.

The Ninth Configuration tells a bizarrely oddball allegorical horror story, set in an isolated New England military mental asylum, with evil acts converging on ex-marine psychiatrist Colonel Vincent Kane (Stacy Keach), who has just been seconded there to judge whether the inmates of the psychiatric institution for Vietnam War veterans are feigning insanity.

He debates with psychotic former astronaut Captain Billy Cutshaw (Scott Wilson) about good and evil and the existence of God, and devises a reckless plan to determine the root of the soldiers’ mental breakdowns.

Blatty was responsible for writing the source novel and screenplay for The Exorcist, but proves less talented as the debut director of this fascinating if undisciplined piece of upmarket schlock.

Even though it starts with a darkly comedic tone, it emerges as an overly solemn meditation on evil, suffering, sacrifice and faith, becoming terribly portentous, and equally pretentious and pompous. But Blatty’s screenplay contains some extremely interesting ideas that are a flavourful but messy brew, yet could possibly have amounted to something truly frightening and inspiring under a sterner director’s stronger hand.

Nevertheless, it has its admirers, and Blatty won the award for Best Screenplay at the 38th Golden Globe Awards and at the Saturn Awards. Also at the Golden Globe Awards, Scott Wilson was nominated as Best Supporting Actor and the film was nominated as Best Film – Drama.

The good cast are up for it. Stacy Keach is excellent as Colonel Vincent Kane, Scott Wilson is outstanding as Captain Billy Cutshaw, and Jason Miller notable as Lieutenant Frankie Reno.

Jason Miller also starred in The Exorcist.

The cast

The cast are Stacy Keach as Colonel Vincent Kane, Scott Wilson as Captain Billy Cutshaw, Jason Miller as Lieutenant Frankie Reno, Ed Flanders as Colonel Fell, Neville Brand as Major Groper, George DiCenzo as Captain Fairbanks, Moses Gunn as Major Nammack, Robert Loggia as Lieutenant Bennish, Joe Spinell as Lieutenant Spinell, Alejandro Rey as Lieutenant Gomez, Tom Atkins as Sergeant Krebs, Steve Sandor as 1st Cyclist, Richard Lynch as 2nd Cyclist, and William Peter Blatty as Lieutenant Fromme.

The film is based on Blatty’s 1978 novel The Ninth Configuration, which reworks his 1966 novel Twinkle, Twinkle, “Killer” Kane!

Blatty followed it with The Exorcist III (1990), adapted from his 1983 novel Legion.

William Peter Blatty (January 7, 1928 – January 12, 2017) won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for The Exorcist.

© Derek Winnert 2025 – Classic Movie Review 13,452

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