Session 9 (2001) has become increasingly more popular these last few years. I remember when I first saw it most people hadn't heard of it and locating a DVD was a difficult task. But now it seems to be getting more of a cult status, and rightfully so. This isn't going to be one of the best movies ever, but it is certainly one you should see at least once.
The plot is simple; a struggling firm win a bid to remove the asbestos from a condemned building, which just happens to be a huge ex lunatic asylum that has been closed for 15 years. They have promised to get the entire job done in one week, maybe not long enough to get it done but certainly time enough for things to go wrong.
Gordy (Peter Mullan) is the boss and he's just had a new baby, which is making him very tired and drained lately. His second in command is Phil (David 'yeeeaaaaaaahhhhhh' Caruso) who has just lost his girl to fellow colleague Hank (Josh Lucas). Needless to say the pair don't get on at all. Also in the crew are Mike (co-writer Stephen Gevedon) who is Mr Exposition, he seems to know everything about the asylums past and Gordy's nephew Jeff (Brendan Sexton) with a prize winning mullet.
This is what David Caruso looks like sans-shades
Mike eventually finds some recordings of a patients sessions, nine in fact (dum dum dummmmmm) and cant help but listen to them, which is funny as most of the time the crew seem to be doing everything but work. I don't think they'll meet their one week deadline. On the recordings are a doctor asking patient Mary Hobbes about an incident in her life. Through these sessions, and an index card to spell it out for the really slow people, it is clear that she has another three personalities; Princess, Billy and the mysterious Simon. Throughout the week Mike makes his way through all the sessions but what will the ninth reveal?
Meanwhile, Hank is in the dark and creepy tunnels, marking up all the hazardous crap for removal, when he comes across a secret stash in the wall containing old coins, spectacles and assorted crap that might be worth quite a bit. He decides to come back later that night to collect it all, because the place isn't creepy enough in the daytime! So he comes back, grabs the stash, makes his way through some even darker and creepier tunnels, feels as though he is being pursued (a shot that made me crap myself the first time) and then runs into someone or something; end of scene. No surprise then that Hank doesn't show up the next day, after a phone call to his ex, Phil says that Hank told her he was going away and just left her.
As the week progresses we hear more of the sessions of Mary Hobbes, the two creepy alter-egos which are Princess and Billy, they refuse to talk about Simon. Gordy reveals to Phil that he had hit his wife and we see him on the phone to her several times asking to come home, he says he is staying at a motel in the meantime.
On the Thursday, Mullet Man sees Hank on a stairwell, staring out of a window with headphones on and some glasses. When questioned about where he's been he can only repeat ' what are you doing here'?' in a dazed manner. Jeff runs to get the others but when he brings them back Hank has gone (surprise surprise) so they all split up to try and find him. Suspicion is cast on Phil, did he really speak to his ex about Hank's whereabouts on the phone? Phil hates Hank doesn't he? Hmmm.
Very soon afterwards things go bad very quickly and this is where the plot summary ends. I don't want to give more of it away as the movie has a slow pace that builds up to this moment and so the viewer should really experience it all for themselves. It is at this point that several questions have sprung up; what has happened to Hank? Has Phil done anything wrong, he's been acting strange? Has Gordy done something more than just hit his wife, he too has been acting strange? Who is the alter-ego Simon and what will be revealed in session nine of the recordings?
There are a few reasons why this movie ends up being a lot better than it would look on paper. First of all is the entire atmosphere that it creates. The whole thing is creepy beyond words, no to say the least the location of the asylum. It was filmed entirely at Danvers Mental Hospital, a truely awesome building architectually from the outside, designed like a giant bat, and a complete wreck inside. The claim is that all shots inside were filmed without having to dress up the set, it is as freaky in real life as it is in the movie. Director Brad Anderson made full use of his location as the movie is filled with dark rooms and corridors showing how bad this place really is and how stupid Hank must be to go there in the middle of the freaking night!
Session 9 was obviously heavily inspired by movies such as The Shining, exploring themes about madness and schizophrenia, how insanity can infect someone. In fact for all intents and purposes, Danver State Hospital is the Overlook Hotel. The score is very limited but effective when it does pop up, including the opening credit, it quickly sets the right mood. Lighting is mostly natural and obviously very effective. All the elements go together well to set up the mood of the place and indeed of the movie.
Not all questions are answered directly by the close of the movie, some is left to interpretation, a lot more can be deduced by watching more than once as there are subtle clues. I like the fact that by the end, you are not entirely sure exactly what has gone on and that you have to think about it. For me it certainly makes it more creepy as I don't like to think about it after it's finished, I want to watch something more cuddly and wont prevent me from sleeping.
Definitely check this movie out, it is a slow build up and doesn't really contain any cheap scares like a lot of modern horror movies do. It is certainly in my top 5 movies that I have to gear myself up in order to watch, two others are Mulholland Drive and Don't Look Now.
Best Line:
What are you... doing... here?
Star Turn:
Peter Mullan; on the edge, you never know what to expect from him
Best Moment:
Hank in the asylum at night
The plot is simple; a struggling firm win a bid to remove the asbestos from a condemned building, which just happens to be a huge ex lunatic asylum that has been closed for 15 years. They have promised to get the entire job done in one week, maybe not long enough to get it done but certainly time enough for things to go wrong.
Gordy (Peter Mullan) is the boss and he's just had a new baby, which is making him very tired and drained lately. His second in command is Phil (David 'yeeeaaaaaaahhhhhh' Caruso) who has just lost his girl to fellow colleague Hank (Josh Lucas). Needless to say the pair don't get on at all. Also in the crew are Mike (co-writer Stephen Gevedon) who is Mr Exposition, he seems to know everything about the asylums past and Gordy's nephew Jeff (Brendan Sexton) with a prize winning mullet.
This is what David Caruso looks like sans-shades
Mike eventually finds some recordings of a patients sessions, nine in fact (dum dum dummmmmm) and cant help but listen to them, which is funny as most of the time the crew seem to be doing everything but work. I don't think they'll meet their one week deadline. On the recordings are a doctor asking patient Mary Hobbes about an incident in her life. Through these sessions, and an index card to spell it out for the really slow people, it is clear that she has another three personalities; Princess, Billy and the mysterious Simon. Throughout the week Mike makes his way through all the sessions but what will the ninth reveal?
Not the Golden Oldies he was expecting to listen to
Meanwhile, Hank is in the dark and creepy tunnels, marking up all the hazardous crap for removal, when he comes across a secret stash in the wall containing old coins, spectacles and assorted crap that might be worth quite a bit. He decides to come back later that night to collect it all, because the place isn't creepy enough in the daytime! So he comes back, grabs the stash, makes his way through some even darker and creepier tunnels, feels as though he is being pursued (a shot that made me crap myself the first time) and then runs into someone or something; end of scene. No surprise then that Hank doesn't show up the next day, after a phone call to his ex, Phil says that Hank told her he was going away and just left her.
As the week progresses we hear more of the sessions of Mary Hobbes, the two creepy alter-egos which are Princess and Billy, they refuse to talk about Simon. Gordy reveals to Phil that he had hit his wife and we see him on the phone to her several times asking to come home, he says he is staying at a motel in the meantime.
On the Thursday, Mullet Man sees Hank on a stairwell, staring out of a window with headphones on and some glasses. When questioned about where he's been he can only repeat ' what are you doing here'?' in a dazed manner. Jeff runs to get the others but when he brings them back Hank has gone (surprise surprise) so they all split up to try and find him. Suspicion is cast on Phil, did he really speak to his ex about Hank's whereabouts on the phone? Phil hates Hank doesn't he? Hmmm.
A bad time to have a mullet and a fear of the dark
Very soon afterwards things go bad very quickly and this is where the plot summary ends. I don't want to give more of it away as the movie has a slow pace that builds up to this moment and so the viewer should really experience it all for themselves. It is at this point that several questions have sprung up; what has happened to Hank? Has Phil done anything wrong, he's been acting strange? Has Gordy done something more than just hit his wife, he too has been acting strange? Who is the alter-ego Simon and what will be revealed in session nine of the recordings?
There are a few reasons why this movie ends up being a lot better than it would look on paper. First of all is the entire atmosphere that it creates. The whole thing is creepy beyond words, no to say the least the location of the asylum. It was filmed entirely at Danvers Mental Hospital, a truely awesome building architectually from the outside, designed like a giant bat, and a complete wreck inside. The claim is that all shots inside were filmed without having to dress up the set, it is as freaky in real life as it is in the movie. Director Brad Anderson made full use of his location as the movie is filled with dark rooms and corridors showing how bad this place really is and how stupid Hank must be to go there in the middle of the freaking night!
Welcome to the looney bin
Session 9 was obviously heavily inspired by movies such as The Shining, exploring themes about madness and schizophrenia, how insanity can infect someone. In fact for all intents and purposes, Danver State Hospital is the Overlook Hotel. The score is very limited but effective when it does pop up, including the opening credit, it quickly sets the right mood. Lighting is mostly natural and obviously very effective. All the elements go together well to set up the mood of the place and indeed of the movie.
Not all questions are answered directly by the close of the movie, some is left to interpretation, a lot more can be deduced by watching more than once as there are subtle clues. I like the fact that by the end, you are not entirely sure exactly what has gone on and that you have to think about it. For me it certainly makes it more creepy as I don't like to think about it after it's finished, I want to watch something more cuddly and wont prevent me from sleeping.
Definitely check this movie out, it is a slow build up and doesn't really contain any cheap scares like a lot of modern horror movies do. It is certainly in my top 5 movies that I have to gear myself up in order to watch, two others are Mulholland Drive and Don't Look Now.
Best Line:
What are you... doing... here?
Star Turn:
Peter Mullan; on the edge, you never know what to expect from him
Best Moment:
Hank in the asylum at night
Just read this review and going to add it too my DVD rental Q.
ReplyDeleteNice effort, like what you have done without the need to spoil it.
i have watched this film several times and i still crap myself at certain times (like that shot in the tunnels that Hank is running through at night, i know its coming but i still crap myself)
ReplyDeletethe storyline is a bit hard to grasp but after watching it a few times i got it!! its of one those films that you have to watch every minute of otherwise you lose where you are!!
overall a great Halloween film with quite a few twists in it!!