A new entry in the recent trend toward more cerebral/psychologically haunting movies that aim for something more than cheap, popcorn-spilling jolts, Session 9 is blessed with a great concept but burdened by bland execution. The hauntees (Peter Mullan, David Caruso, Stephen Gevedon, Josh Lucas and Brendan Sexton III) are members of an asbestos hazardous materials team hired to clean up Massachusetts' Danvers State Hospital, a vast loony bin abandoned in 1985. Director Brad Anderson (Next Stop, Wonderland) actually shot the film on location, and the joint's eerie, empty corridors are the film's most dynamic characters--especially since Anderson props up his effectively goosepimply atmosphere on the most incidental of chills, allowing the viewer's cerebrum to build its own tension, until the picture's anti-climactic finale. A strong optional purchase. (R. Blackwelder)
Session 9
USA, 100 min., R, VHS: $39.99, DVD: $26.98, Feb. 26 Volume 17, Issue 1
Session 9
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
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