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Session 9
Mixed or average reviews
Based on 16 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 41 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie >
Movie Info
Genre(s): Suspense/Thriller
Written by:
Brad Anderson
Stephen Gevedon
Directed by: Brad Anderson
Release Date:
Theatrical: August 10, 2001
DVD: February 26, 2002
Running Time: 100 minutes, Color
Origin: USA
Summary
RATING: R for language and brief strong violence
Starring David Caruso, Stephen Gevedon, Paul Guilfoyle, Peter Mullan, Josh Lucas, Brendan Sexton III, and Charley Broderick
A contemporary tale of terror set in an abandoned insane asylum. (USA Films)
Also On Metacritic
FILM: Happy Accidents Next Stop Wonderland The Machinist
Also On The Web: Internet Movie Database Official Studio Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Los Angeles Times Kevin Thomas
Anderson, his superb ensemble cast and inspired cinematographer Uta Briesewitz, appeal at once to the intellect and the emotions as they build suspense and tension mercilessly.
Read Full Review >Wall Street Journal Joe Morgenstern
Pulls you in with smooth assurance, then holds you hostage to extremely creepy developments in the most awesome haunted house since "The Shining."
New Times (L.A.) Luke Y. Thompson
Horror fans and those who just plain enjoy a well-told story should thank the cinematic gods. Session 9 is not only the scariest movie of the year, but also perhaps the most easy to believe since the first "Blair Witch."
Read Full Review >Mr. Showbiz Michael Atkinson
May not quite be more than the sum of its creepy parts, but as a reality-is-fear launch into workaday darkness, it clearly points toward the horror genre's best destiny.
New York Daily News Jami Bernard
A natural successor to "The Blair Witch Project" in terms of its small suggestions of horror past and future.
Read Full Review >LA Weekly Paul Malcolm
A deft exercise in atmospheric horror and insanity. Which is why it's unfortunate that, ultimately, Anderson steps back from the brink.
Read Full Review >New York Post Lou Lumenick
The film isn't remotely scary. That's a shame, because it has top-notch performances by Peter Mullan and David Caruso.
Read Full Review >San Francisco Chronicle Edward Guthmann
The story doesn't quite pay off, characters are underwritten and the surprise ending is contrived and unconvincing.
Read Full Review >TV Guide Maitland McDonagh
The climactic revelation is a real disappointment, humdrum rather than chilling.
Read Full Review >The New York Times Dave Kehr
The film, too artfully conceived to deliver many overt shocks, often feels long and aimless.
Read Full Review >Village Voice Amy Taubin
The script for Session 9 is so underwritten that even such lively character actors as David Caruso, Peter Mullan, and Brendan Sexton III are left stranded.
Read Full Review >Boston Globe Jay Carr
You couldn't ask for a better setting for a horror movie. What you could ask for is a better script.
Slate David Edelstein
The final illuminations (people have demons, a mind is a terrible thing to lose) are a poor return on nearly two hours of ear-buckling, eye-stabbing incoherence.
Read Full Review >Variety Robert Koehler
Little more than an overworked exercise in jostling red herrings, and not particularly fresh herrings at that.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this movie is 8.6 (out of 10) based on 41 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Neil S. gave it a10:
One of the best scary/spooky flicks ever.
Doug S. gave it a10:
Easily one of the scariest movies in years. Solid performances by all in the cast. Brilliantly shot and edited, this movie will creep you out and stay with you. Not for the slasher-movie fan, but if you like The Shining and Blair Witch, this movie is a must-see.
Andren M. gave it a9:
SPOOOOOKY!!!!!! FYI, Danvers State Hospital (location of movie) is now being converted into Condos! A beautiful Victorian building. I'm glad they gave it a great send off with "Session 9". A last tribute to it's original useage. Wish I could afford a condo there!
Michael M gave it a10:
One of the finest horror movies ever. Inspirational enough to have the makers of "Silent Hill 3" create an homage to the upside down wheelchair seen in the opening shot. Perhaps too cerebral for fans of the same-old horror genre. Sound design is incredible, and the HD cameras used really help to bring out details in the decrepit hospital.
Mark W. gave it an8:
...For me, this movie was a little bit spookier & close-to-home then it would be for most people...where the main characters in this movie are workers removing Asbestos from an Abandoned insane Asylum somewhere in the state of MA (I think it's Chelmsford, MA...) & me & a few of my friends have been breaking into a boarded-up abandoned Worcester State Mental Hospital, which is up on a hill in the woods about a mile off of Route 9 in Worcester, MA near UMass Memorial Hospital....I Drive my Chevelle up the hill with the lights off @ night, all 5 of us get out of my Chevelle all dressed in Black, all of us carrying some kind of weapon for self defense against anything we might encounter inside (one of us holds a Crow-Bar, one of us with a Medieval Style Sword, Large Knives, & I go in with a fully loaded .38 Special in a holster on my right hip....
Cris gave it a10:
I just loved this movie... danvers hospital... what more could you ask for? i highly recommend it. an abandoned mental facility is the best place to make a good horror/thriller.
[Anonymous] gave it a0:
Nothing ever came together...impossible to understand, no development.
