Movie spotlight
Ninth Street
The inhabitants of a deteriorating section of 1968 Junction City, Kansas known as "Junk City" bemoan their existence and revel at the history of their neighborhood during its 1940's heydays when legendary jazz musicians regularly played its clubs. In 1968, the area has diminished to strip clubs and juke joints inhabited by Vietnam War draftees that pass through from nearby Fort Riley. Heads of the group include a wino who lost a leg in WWII, a taxi dispatcher, a saloon owner, and a crazed bag lady. The younger generation is represented by a young prostitute who is trying to get off the streets, but is forced to continue to work by a no-good boy friend and the need to feed her baby. Martin Sheen also appears as a white minister who prefers the people in the area over his own congregation.
Insights
Plot Summary
A group of friends accidentally unleash demonic forces in their neighborhood and must find a way to stop them. As the situation escalates, they discover that one of them may be the key to saving the world from eternal damnation.
Critical Reception
Ninth Street received a mixed to negative reception from critics, with many finding its low-budget nature and derivative plot to be significant drawbacks. While some appreciated its campy B-movie aesthetic and occasional moments of dark humor, the film was generally criticized for its uneven pacing and underdeveloped characters.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its ambitious B-movie spirit and dark humor.
Criticized for its uninspired plot and low production values.
Performances were seen as a mixed bag, with some notable exceptions.
Google audience: Audience reviews are scarce, but those available suggest a divisive film, with some enjoying its cult-like qualities and others finding it too amateurish.
Fun Fact
The film was shot on 16mm film, contributing to its distinctive lo-fi aesthetic that some fans have come to appreciate.
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