Discription
The 9th Life of Louis Drax (2016)
Concise Summary:
On his ninth birthday, an unusually accident-prone boy, Louis Drax, falls from a cliff and enters a coma.1 Dr. Allan Pascal, a brilliant neurologist, attempts to communicate with Louis while in his comatose state, delving into the boy's complex past and the mysterious circumstances of his accident.2 As strange phenomena occur around Louis, Pascal uncovers dark family secrets, suspecting foul play and becoming entangled in a psychological game where the truth is elusive and dangerous.
Detailed Plot (Movie Story):
The film introduces Louis Drax (Aiden Longworth), a precocious, intelligent, and unusually cynical nine-year-old boy.3 Louis is depicted as having a penchant for dark humor and a history of experiencing a series of strange and life-threatening accidents throughout his short life, from electrocution to poisonings and falls, earning him the eerie moniker of having "nine lives."4 His life is narrated from his unique, often philosophical, and darkly humorous perspective.5 He lives with his seemingly loving but highly dysfunctional parents: his beautiful, enigmatic mother, Natalie (Sarah Gadon), and his charming but volatile father, Peter (Aaron Paul).
On his ninth birthday, during a family picnic near a cliff edge, Louis suffers a catastrophic fall, plunging into the sea below. He is rescued but ends up in a deep coma.6 His father, Peter, mysteriously disappears from the scene, instantly becoming the prime suspect in what the police believe was an attempted murder.
Louis is admitted to a specialized coma clinic run by the brilliant and charismatic neurologist, Dr. Allan Pascal (Jamie Dornan).7 Dr. Pascal is dedicated to understanding and communicating with patients in comatose states. He becomes deeply intrigued by Louis's unusual case, not just due to the circumstances of his fall, but also because Louis exhibits peculiar physiological responses and subtle brain activity that suggest a unique connection to his inner world.
As Dr. Pascal attempts to make contact with Louis's comatose mind, he delves into the boy's troubled family history. He begins a series of unconventional therapy sessions, playing Louis's favorite music and reading him stories, hoping to elicit a response. During these sessions, strange and inexplicable phenomena start to occur around Louis's hospital room – lights flicker, objects move, and whispers are heard, leading some staff members to believe in a supernatural presence.
Dr. Pascal also becomes increasingly drawn to Louis's beautiful and vulnerable mother, Natalie.8 She appears to be suffering from immense grief and fear, and a romantic tension begins to build between her and the doctor. This developing relationship further complicates Pascal's objective investigation, clouding his judgment.
Through flashbacks, often seen from Louis's perspective, the film gradually reveals the true nature of the Drax family dynamics. Peter, Louis's father, is shown to be a loving but emotionally unstable man, prone to outbursts and depression. Natalie is portrayed as a controlling and manipulative figure, with a deep-seated fear of abandonment and a history of psychological issues. Their marriage is fraught with tension, arguments, and a disturbing undercurrent of instability. Louis's series of "accidents" are subtly hinted to be more than mere mishaps, suggesting a sinister pattern.
As Dr. Pascal gets closer to Natalie, he begins to uncover disturbing inconsistencies in her stories and a sense of unease about her seemingly perfect facade. He learns more about the family's past, including details about Peter's volatile temperament and Natalie's controlling nature. The police investigation, led by Detective Inspector Dalton (Julian Wadham), continues to focus on Peter as the primary suspect, intensifying the pressure on Natalie.9
Meanwhile, Dr. Pascal begins to experience strange visions and encounters with Louis's "spirit" or subconscious mind. Louis, in his comatose state, manages to communicate with Pascal through various means, including cryptic messages written on paper and direct interaction within a dream-like, ethereal realm. These communications often appear as Louis's "imaginary friend" or his true self, trying to convey a crucial message.
The "ghost" of Louis, or a manifestation of his subconscious, guides Pascal through the traumatic events leading up to the fall. It reveals that the "accidents" throughout Louis's life were, in fact, attempts by Natalie to harm or even kill him, a result of her extreme Munchausen by Proxy syndrome (a disorder where a caregiver fabricates or induces illness in a person under their care, usually a child). Natalie was not a loving mother; she was systematically poisoning and injuring Louis, then seeking sympathy and attention as the devoted caregiver.10
The climax of the film reveals the horrific truth about the cliff fall. It was not Peter who pushed Louis. Instead, it was Natalie who intentionally pushed Louis off the cliff on his ninth birthday, driven by her escalating psychological issues and a twisted desire for control and attention. Peter had witnessed the event and, in a state of shock and despair, had fled, leaving him as the prime suspect.
The "spirit" of Louis reveals that his real body is not in the hospital bed. Natalie, in her disturbed state, had switched Louis's real body, which was suffering from his earlier poisonings and the fall, with another child's body in the ambulance before reaching the hospital. Louis's real body has been hidden away, kept alive in a secluded location.
Dr. Pascal, horrified by these revelations and the manipulation he has endured, finally sees Natalie for who she truly is. He confronts her, revealing that he knows about her Munchausen by Proxy and her attempt to murder Louis. The police, acting on Pascal's information and his increasingly lucid insights from Louis, also close in on Natalie.
In a final desperate act, Natalie attempts to escape or harm herself, but she is apprehended by the authorities. Dr. Pascal, guided by Louis's "spirit" or subconscious, manages to locate Louis's real body, which has been hidden. The film ends with Louis awakening from his coma, reunited with his father, Peter, who is cleared of all suspicion.11 Dr. Pascal, having unraveled the dark psychological mystery, has saved Louis and brought justice to a deeply disturbed family. The film concludes with the implication that Louis, though forever marked by his past, can now begin a genuine ninth life, free from the shadow of his mother's illness.
Cast:
- Jamie Dornan as Dr. Allan Pascal12
- Sarah Gadon as Natalie Drax13
- Aaron Paul as Peter Drax14
- Aiden Longworth as Louis Drax15
- Barbara Hershey as Violet Drax (Peter's mother)16
- Oliver Platt as Dr. Perez (Louis's psychologist)17
- Terry Chen as Inspector Dalton
- Julian Wadham as Detective Inspector Dalton
- Anjali Jay as Macy
- Alexandre Black as Little Allan
Crew:
- Director: Alexandre Aja18
- Writers: Max Minghella (screenplay); based on the novel by Liz Jensen19
- Producers: Max Minghella, Timothy Burrill, David Lancaster, Celine Rattray
- Music by: Patrick Watson
- Cinematography: Maxime Alexandre
- Editor: Hervé Schneid
- Production Companies: Miramax, Brightlight Pictures, Ambush Entertainment
- Distributed by: Lionsgate Premiere (North America)
