A rare book dealer finds himself at the heart of a string of paranormal events when he is hired to find the last two copies of a text, The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows, capable of summoning the Devil.
Direction
Polanski's obsessive framing of doors, keys, and thresholds.
Production
The three genuine books designed to bewitch and confuse.
Cinematography
Europe as shadow-drenched maze of libraries and decay.
Director
Roman Polanski
Johnny Depp
Dean Corso
Frank Langella
Boris Balkan
Lena Olin
Liana Telfer
Emmanuelle Seigner
The Girl
Barbara Jefford
Baroness Kessler
Jack Taylor
Victor Fargas
Tony Amoni
Liana's Bodyguard
James Russo
Bernie
Willy Holt
Andrew Telfer
Allen Garfield
Witkin
Jacques Dacqmine
Old Man
Joe Sheridan
Old Man's Son
Rebecca Pauly
Daughter-In-Law
Catherine Benguigui
Concierge
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The 'authentic' Nine Gates engravings were created specifically for the film by artist Dean Tavoularis, Polanski's longtime production designer.
Based on Arturo Pérez-Reverte's novel, but Polanski rewrote the ending to be more ambiguous—he reportedly prefers 'puzzle' to 'answer.'
US
