Session 9

Name: Session 9
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Horror
Released: August 10, 2001
Duration: 97 min
Rating: 58
Cast: David Caruso

2001

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 16 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 57 Ratings

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6.9

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6.9	Your Score
6.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 57 Ratings

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Session 9

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Movie Details & Credits

USA Films | Release Date: August 10, 2001 | R

Starring: David Caruso

Summary: A contemporary tale of terror set in an abandoned insane asylum. (USA Films)

Director: Brad Anderson

Genre(s): Mystery, Thriller, Horror

Rating: R

Runtime: 97 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

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

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.

Maitland McDonagh

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

Dave Kehr

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

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

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

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User Reviews

NeilS.

Apr 9, 2008

One of the best scary/spooky flicks ever.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

JustinW.

Sep 19, 2005

No haunted house has ever looked so scary in the daylight. Session 9 is without a doubt one of the most hypnotic and frightening movies I have ever seen. The gore, like a lot of the characters motivation, isn't just laid out like some teenagers intestines as in most "horror" movies. No haunted house has ever looked so scary in the daylight. Session 9 is without a doubt one of the most hypnotic and frightening movies I have ever seen. The gore, like a lot of the characters motivation, isn't just laid out like some teenagers intestines as in most "horror" movies. This is a movie that requires thought and attention to detail. A real treat.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

MichaelM

May 26, 2007

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 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.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

MarkW.

Mar 7, 2007

...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 ...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....… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

horcrux2007

Jul 10, 2015

I found a list of "best ghost movies," and now I'm set for like the rest of the month. This ended up on that list, and while it's not exclusively a supernatural flick, I wasn't disappointed. Session 9 follows an asbestos cleaning crew as they work inside an abandoned mental hospital. One ofI found a list of "best ghost movies," and now I'm set for like the rest of the month. This ended up on that list, and while it's not exclusively a supernatural flick, I wasn't disappointed. Session 9 follows an asbestos cleaning crew as they work inside an abandoned mental hospital. One of the characters, Mike, finds a collection of old tapes that chronicle sessions of Mary Hobbes, who has disassociative identity disorder. Each of her "personalities" mention a man named "Simon," who may be linked to a suppressed memory that Mary has. Session 9 is a slow-burner; it builds up a dense atmosphere and sense of dread until the final act becomes exceptionally creepy and intense. It's much more unsettling than outright scary, and that's the perfect mood for this type of movie. The tapes that Mike listens to are increasingly unnerving and create a lot of suspense as to who exactly "Simon" is. When "Simon" finally speaks in the 9th session, it's incredibly scary and memorable. Along with an extremely talented cast, beautiful cinematography and an ambiguous ending that could create hours of discussion, Session 9 is a very creepy and atmospheric psychological horror film.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Hikaru

Sep 14, 2010

While not the best movie around, Session 9 will definitely keep you at the edge of your seat, wanting more and keeping you guessing at the same time. This was a very well executed movie, with a great cast and an even greater twist. Definitely a must see.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

dogerwaul

Sep 10, 2014

This film is absolutely abysmal. There are no redeeming qualities to it whatsoever. I do not understand how this captivates the minds of people who enjoy psychological thrillers. It is poorly written and leaves everything unanswered, and has plot holes the size of Alaska. Seriously, thisThis film is absolutely abysmal. There are no redeeming qualities to it whatsoever. I do not understand how this captivates the minds of people who enjoy psychological thrillers. It is poorly written and leaves everything unanswered, and has plot holes the size of Alaska. Seriously, this film makes no attempt at explaining itself or providing the viewer with enough information to draw their own conclusion. Watch this just to see how right I am. Go ahead.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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