Get ready to have your mind bended in ‘THE 9TH LIFE OF LOUIS DRAX’

Courtney Howard // Film Critic

I’m all about taut, psychological thrillers – especially really mind-bendy ones. It appears director Alexandre Aja’s THE 9TH LIFE OF LOUIS DRAX is going to be my jam come September. Based on the book by Liz Jensen, the film tells the tale of a family who’ve been recently devastated by a tragic accident involving their now comatose son. In order to figure out what happened that fateful day, dangerous experimenting with new tech brings to life some clues – but it also looks like it brings an untoward element.

Here’s the official synopsis:

After surviving eight near-death accidents throughout his unlucky life, Louis Drax [Aiden Longworth] plunges off a steep cliff on his ninth birthday. While police investigate the cause of Louis’ near-fatal fall and the whereabouts of his violent father Peter [Aaron Paul], acclaimed neurologist Dr. Allan Pascal [Jamie Dornan] uses unorthodox techniques to try to tap into the boy’s unconscious mind and reveal the truth about the events that led to his condition. But as he’s drawn deeper and deeper into the mystery of Louis’ seeming ability to cheat death, the doctor finds himself falling for Louis’ mother, Natalie [Sarah Gadon]. As new clues emerge in the case, a shocking revelation changes the fates of Louis Drax and everyone around him.

Looking ethereal and ephemeral, the film is sure to leave you intrigued and possibly unsettled. It’s also interesting to note that, according to IMDB, at the time of his death Anthony Minghella had been prepping to adapt this film. Apparently, since it’s credited to his son Max, it stayed within the family.

THE 9TH LIFE OF LOUIS DRAX opens on September 2.