The Ninth

Set in Petersburg at the tail end of nineteenth century, The Ninth captures a city gripped by a surge of occult fascination. British medium Olivia Reed arrives to perform public séances, drawing crowds and feeding rumors. Within days, a string of ritual murders unsettles capital, leaving women abducted and their bodies found in corners of the city. Detective Rostov and his assistant Ganin take the lead, chasing fragile leads that spiral into confusion. As the case deepens, Rostov considers summoning either genuine help or convenient illusion from Olivia, hoping the spirits can illuminate the trail without tipping into the supernatural. The mood is tense, with gas lamps casting shadows over narrow streets as old beliefs collide with modern clues.

Directed by Nikolay Khomeriki, The Ninth teams Evgeny Tsyganov as Rostov and Daisy Head as Olivia Reed, with creators Serhiy Dyachenko, Marina Dyachenko and Alexandr Rodionov shaping its premise, with a deliberate atmospheric aesthetic that emphasizes period detail. The project released in 2019 with a seven million dollar budget.

Critics have noted the film's moody, period-appropriate atmosphere and its blend of crime investigation with occult intrigue. The story probes belief versus skepticism and the lure of the unseen, while dramatizing a city torn between modern police work and age old superstitions. The performances hold the tension, especially Tsyganov's restrained Rostov and Head's enigmatic Olivia, and the film leans into visual textures of gaslit streets, rain soaked courtyards, and cryptic rituals.

Despite its moody atmosphere and ambition, The Ninth did not garner major award nominations. Critics noted its atmospheric production and its uneasy fusion of a period crime narrative with occult elements, but the film did not become a finalist in major ceremonies.

Box office numbers show a modest take of about 958,558 dollars, far from its seven million dollar budget. The figure underscores its niche appeal rather than widespread commercial success.