The 9th Life of Louis Drax

By: Jennifer Vintzileos

With movie date nights far and few between, but my husband (Matt) and I still manage to find the time to have them whenever possible. And with an open Friday night during the holiday weekend, I managed to snag my husband for a mini road-trip to check out The 9th Life of Louis Drax. Sadly, the closest theater playing the movie was about forty-five minutes away from our home, but we made it work. With no clue of the premise, Matt trusted my judgment in movie choice despite our differing tastes in what constitutes a “good movie.” Luckily, I chose wisely.

A supernatural thriller based on the novel by Liz Jensen, The 9th Life of Louis Drax focuses on nine year old Louis Drax (Aiden Longworth) who is a sassy, imaginative young boy who has met misfortune and come out unscathed for every year of his life. Until now, that is, as Louis falls off a steep cliff into the water below on his ninth birthday. With Louis in a coma from said incident and his seemingly violent father Peter Drax (Aaron Paul) a prime suspect, it’s only a matter of time before Detective Dalton (Molly Parker), Dr. Allan Pascal (Jamie Dornan) and Dr. Perez (Oliver Platt) uncover the  real mystery to Louis’s “miracle” to survival.

The “miracle” is well worth the wait! Director Alexandre Aja (High Tension; The Hills Have Eyes) and actor-turned-screenwriter Max Minghella (The Social Network; The Internship) evoke a sinister fantasy within the 1 hour and 48 minutes. The story itself is reminiscent of an onion, peeling back layer after layer to reveal a haunting truth. Of course, in order to get to that truth, be prepared for a roller coaster.

Through his narrative, Louis paints a rather morbid and humorous portrait of his existence of life. Before his ultimate misfortune, he is forced to undergo therapy with Dr. Perez. From an overprotective and seemingly vulnerable mother Natalie Drax (Sarah Gadon) to rising tensions in the household, Louis plays off these mishaps as his own – that he is culpable but manages to escape any real harm…for now.

What truly makes this story so unique is the blurring of lines between fantasy and reality through the eyes of a child. The story is in Louis’s voice, despite his unconsciousness. But in that unconscious, dark thoughts linger. More appropriately, a monster. And that monster plays a huge role, more than you realize.

Yet even more disturbing and calculating is the sexual prowess of Natalie Drax. Yes, prowess. Her pursuit of Dr. Pascal takes a front seat, weaving through the already intricate storyline with ease. Natalie can be accurately described as a “wolf in sheep’s clothing” and Sarah Gadon absolutely nails that duality in her character, which I love! More importantly, Dornan and Gadon’s chemistry in the movie works. The sexual chemistry is present, but leaves enough room for Longworth’s sarcastic platitudes to take the main stage.

The 9th Life of Louis Drax is out in theaters now. Don’t miss it!

Jenny’s Grade: A – If you’re into complex, unraveling storylines, you will not be disappointed. And Louis’s dialogue will leave you chuckling at times, while Peter Drax’s love for his son will leave you in tears.