Video interview: William Peter Blatty (The Ninth Configuration)

Before there was the phenomenon that is Dan Brown, there was William Peter Blatty, the writer who created a niche for himself with theological thrillers including The Exorcist (1973), The Exorcist III (1990), and The Ninth Configuration (1980).

I haven’t seen The Ninth Configuration since its release, but remember it as a compelling story. Here’s the plot summary per IMDB:

A new commanding officer arrives at a remote castle serving as an insane asylum for crazy and AWOL U.S. Army soldiers where he attempts to rehabilitate them by allowing them to live out their crazy fantasies while combating his own long-suppressed insanity.

It stars Stacey Keach and Scott Wilson, and the story delves into the question of the existence of God. This featurette below includes excerpts from the movie as well as rare interview footage with William Peter Blatty.

For a movie that didn’t do much business at the box office, it has a pretty impressive 7.1 IMDB rating. There’s even a website dedicated to the movie.

I’m curious: Has anyone else seen The Ninth Configuration (aka Twinkle, Twinkle, Killer Kane). If so, what do you think of it.

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