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Not many people have heard of Brad Anderson's masterpiece, Session 9.  I recently wrote up a review of it for my site and I figured it'd post it for everyone's viewing pleasure (or displeasure).







Session 9

Summary
A group of almost unemployed haz-mat workers take a job cleaning out an abandoned mental institution. Strange happenings occur, people disappear, and insanity ensues.

Review
What has happened to horror films today? They aren't scary anymore, they are filled with CGI monsters and have little to no plot. Wouldn't it be nice to actually find a horror film that scared you? One that kept you enthralled, in tune with the characters, and eventually scared the hell out of you?

Look no further.

Session 9 is one of those fantastic flicks that sit in Blockbuster just waiting to be discovered. That's exactly what I did nearly two years ago, and it is still to this day the film that I judge most new horror films by.

The story revolves around Gordon, played by the amazing Peter Mullan (Trainspotting, Criminal). He owns a small Haz-Mat company that is hired to clean out the incredibly creepy Danvers Mental Hospital before it is renovated. Along for the job are is his buddy Phil (David Caruso), Henry (Josh Lucas), and Mike (the film's writer-Stephen Gevedon).

One day while in the basement Mike finds 9 tapes, each one of a different psychiatric session with a young woman who was once locked in the institution. Once he begins to listen to the tapes, strange things start happening throughout the facility.

I don't want to give too much away about the plot, because that just spoils all the fun. I must say though, to not expect a fast pace. The film is purposfully slow until the final act when things really start to happen. We get some amazing character development throughout, and really care for the characters.

Which brings me to my next point. This film would be NOTHING without the talent it had. Peter Mullan does a fantastic job as Gordo, but the real standout in the flick is David Caruso. This was Caruso's big comeback and he hits it right out of the park. I have no doubt that this film is the reason he landed such a great role on CSI: Miami. And then there is Josh Lucas in one of the first films I ever saw him in. I have a feeling he will become a household name in the next few years. I can't even begin to imagine what this film would have been without these strong film presences. They really hold the story togther, and with a film that is so heavy on characterization, you need a good damn cast.

This film will keep you thinking the entire way through. It's not a scooby-doo type of horror film where the killer unmasks themselves only to tell the reason for the maniacal ways. This is a film that leaves things unanswered. You have to come up with the answer yourself; and in this day and age of film, that's something to respect.





Side Notes:

Brad Anderson got the idea of using Danver's State Mental Hospital when he and Josh Lucas broke in one night.

David Caruso, while on set, said that he saw "something" pass by one of the windows and really shook him up.

The film was shot completely on digital video, to give it more of a "documentary"/real life look.

I saw this on IFC one time about year and a half  ago.  The whole setting was really creepy, so I could believe the actors getting creeped out being there.

I believe they were removing asbestos. I couldn't believe that few guys had any chance of completing the job in the time they promised.

When I posted a link a while back to a site called Modern Ruins (http://www.oboylephoto.com/ruins/index.htm) it reminded me of the building in this movie. They have pictures of a couple of old hospitals and an asylum.

I like that Modern Ruins site that you posted Trek. I some day want to get to see Eastern State Pen as that place is supposed to be quite active. Tomorrow night we're going to investigate a hotel about 2 hours from here that was made around the 1820's. The newest owners called because they think they have some strange things going on and they want us to verify it. It should be fun but I'd really like to get into one of the old, run down places like on Modern Ruins.

Despite the fact that I despise David Caruso and all his coolness, Skaboi, you have convinced me that this might be a movie worth watching. I will have to seek it out.

Odinn,

David Caruso isn't his normal self in the film.  It's actually a really good performance; well worth checking out.

You mentioned you are going to check out a haunting site.  Are you a freelance paranormal investigator?



Post Edited (03-11-05 09:38)

Skaboi,
I haven't liked Caruso since the early days of NYPD Blue when he became some sort of over night star. Then you started seeing him everywhere with that same stupid expression on his face. I still remember him from First Blood with his big line: "We ain't hunting him, he's hunting us." But, if you say this movie is good and he's good in it, I'll take your word for it. The worst that can happen is that I don't like it and that certainly won't be a first. I'm going to see if the local Ballbuster has it tonight.

I'm part of a group of paranormal investigators. I joined them months ago after having gone out on an investigation with them. Some of them are a little too eager to find things (I'm more of the skeptic) but they are a good group. I took a training with them and they brought me into the group. The main group is located a few hours from where I live but they gave me the endorsement to start a local division of their group. I got my wife and someone else I know involved (also trained by them) and we are the Northeastern division of the group. Tomorrow we are going with the main group to the hotel that I mentioned. It's a 4 floor hotel and there will be many of us there to cover all the floors so it should work out to be fun. To clear something up though, you mentioned "freelance".  We don't accept payment and it's all done for the purpose of research (and a little excitement too I guess). No paranormal group that is actually on the up and up will charge for investigations.

CPPRA-Northeastern Division (http://cppra-ned.tripod.com)



Post Edited (03-11-05 11:06)

That's fantastic Odinn.  My wife and I have always wanted to do something of that nature, just never really knew how to get it going.  There would be some great areas to check out around us.  Hell, Blackbeard's house is in our town which is reported to be quite haunted.

Where are you at Skaboi? There may be a group in your area that you could hook up with. Let me know and I'll see if I can find something for you. E-mail or post here and I'll see what I can find.

Agreed on SESSION 9 Skaboi.  One of my favorite horrors of the decade.  This is one that really gets under you skin and crawls around there for a while.

Session 9 is an excelent flick. I heard something about the director wanting to immortalize the building before it got tore down, hence why he made the movie. Not sure if that's true or not though. Session 9 really sparked an interest in the history of assylums for my wife. So much so that she took me to one of the old abandoned ones in MA last year. For the life of me I cant remember the name. We walked around the exterior of the building and she took some pictures. Security chased us out, but it wasnt a big deal and she got some really great shots. Overall and interesting experiance. I guess they're trying to tear the place down and put up a strip mall or something. I always thought there should be some sort of memorial built over them. Assylums are a really messed up part of US history alot of people want to sweep under the rug.

OK Skaboi, I rented Session 9 and I'll be watching it shortly. It better be good or else...

Odinn,

LOL  Definently post back with your thoughts on the film.  I've had a few people complain that it is too slow, but it just adds to the film.  Hope you enjoy!

Just ran into a site about places that no longer exist outside of movies.

http://onlyonfilm.com

Mainly seems to be about the WTC right now.

Ooh! I heard about this in Empire. It got four out of five.

As soon as I find it then, I'm watching it.

I have to admit that when MTV aired that show, which i can't remember the name of, it reminded me of "SessioN 9" and i wondered if they kinda ripped off the idea from them of basically taking a possibly haunted place with alot of murder history and putting people in it to see what happens to their psyche. I liked it at first, then it got cheesy, but some of th stuff they made those kids do like have their head locked in some metal contraption in a dark basement of some old mental institution with water on the floor and rats was kinda neat. Sorta goes to the primal fear by pushing you into extreme conditiosn where you are forced to confront the darkness, and ultimately your own imagination.

It is interesting that you could take a creepy looking building and put people in it and maybe no real emotion is stirred. but tell them a tale of insanity, murder, torture and rape and the surroundings suddenly become much more horrifying..as if part of that energy still remains and will somehow spring into reality!

"Session 9" is a great film. Definitely worth checking out. It does something that never ceases to amaze me, to achieve an almost pure sensation of fear with documentary style filmmaking.

I still haven't been able to watch it yet. I rented it Friday night from Ballbuster and right before I was going to watch it, my wife's aunt called and needed my help with her car (she was stranded at Walmart...*shudder*).
Saturday I was busy.
Saturday night my furnace gave out so I spent yesterday fixing it.
I'm sure something else will come up tonight, tomorrow, etc...
I'm real interested in watching it and now it's just going to become a mission to do so just to prove that I can.

Skaboi, didn't want you to think I watched it and was going to leave you hanging on what I thought. I'll let you know whenever I do get to see it.
Also, on the other thing, I've got the word out and I'm waiting to see what comes of it and I'll elt you know if I hear anything.

Ok, I finally watched it last night...What the Hell? No shoot-outs, no car chases, no nudity, no CG? What kind of movie is this?
Real good film. I discovered a few minor inconsistencies but they certainly didn't detract from the movie. First hour was slow but I hardly noticed as I was too involved in the story. There was so much character development that by the end, when it all came together, I could imagine myself feeling what was going on...almost like I was there. I watched the movie by myself in the dark and felt somewhat creepy when it was all over. Most movies I watch don't give me much of a reaction. I liked it and I even found myself liking Caruso. He was completely different in this movie than his normal self. I usually find it difficult to sit through something with him in it but in this case, I even forgot it was him. Well done except for the lack of shoot-outs, car chases, nudity, and CG.

Odinn,

Really glad you enjoyed the flick.  As you said, it's definently not a normal horror film.  It is certainly a throwback to the "trippier" horror films of the 70s-early 80s (Sentinel, Shining).  As I said before, the film really wouldn't be as good if it didn't have such a strong cast.

And the ending.......I get chills just thinking about it.

Here is another on who has seen it and liked it. Though, it is actually a film you have to see at least twice, because so much is going on, you don't catch everything the first time you see it. At least, I didn't.

And David Caruso is so good in it (IMHO.) It makes one wonder why he didn't have a bigger film career.

I would also like to add that this is one of the films listed in "Fangoria's 101 Best Horror Movies You've Never Seen" by Adam Lukeman. Which I have found is one of the better guides to unseen horror movies. It even includes a number of movies that have been favorablely reviewed at this site, such as "Cemetery Man," "Lair of the White Worm," etc.

I just saw this movie due to this topic(rented it from Netflix). Can't say much that already been said but it is pretty good. Thanks Skaboi for telling us about this. If it was not for this topic it might have been awhile before I bumped into it.


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