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Session 9
USA Films


8.8

based on 16 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 39 votes
Read user comments
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FILM:

MPAA 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)

GENRE(S):	Suspense/Thriller
WRITTEN BY:	Brad Anderson Stephen Gevedon
DIRECTED BY:	Brad Anderson
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: February 26, 2002 Video: February 26, 2002 Theatrical: August 10, 2001
RUNNING TIME:	100 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	USA

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.

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."

Rolling Stone Peter Travers

A spine-tingler directed with fierce finesse.

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.

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.

Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman

A marvel of vérité nightmare atmosphere.

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.

San Francisco Chronicle Edward Guthmann

The story doesn't quite pay off, characters are underwritten and the surprise ending is contrived and unconvincing.

TV Guide Maitland McDonagh

The climactic revelation is a real disappointment, humdrum rather than chilling.

The New York Times Dave Kehr

The film, too artfully conceived to deliver many overt shocks, often feels long and aimless.

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.

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.

Variety Robert Koehler

Little more than an overworked exercise in jostling red herrings, and not particularly fresh herrings at that.

The average user rating for this movie is 8.8 (out of 10) based on 39 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.

Session 9 USA Films

Session 9
USA Films