Review of Session 9 (2001) by Glenn C — 04 Mar 2013
Session 9 pops up regularly in conversations I have about movies. I talk about it a lot but realised that I haven't actually written about it in this group. Its a truly excellent film. An asbestos clean-up crew begin an intensive week or work inside an old mental asylum.
Working towards a deadline, they pull apart the building's insulation one room at a time. As they work they discuss the dreadful past of the institute and of the many atrocities that were committed.
Discoveries are also made... one guy finds old recordings of psychology assessments and another guy hits the jackpot when he removes a brick to find a wealth of gold, coins and jewellery (he is oblivious that the other side of the wall is the mortuary's incinerator).
Session 9 is a film that demands your attention as it gently layers its atmosphere upon you. The setting is eerie enough but director Brad Anderson skilfully makes use of natural settings (films in a real asylum) and uses light and dark brilliantly.
Films like this are few and far between... they are the ones that are menacing without being explicit. I think of films like Winter's Bone, In The Winter Dark and even The Blair Witch Project... all movies about atmosphere.
I return to Session 9 a lot and love hearing other people's interpretations... so please feel free to share your thoughts. Session 9 is essential viewing and I can't recommend it enough.
This review of Session 9 (2001) was written by Glenn C on 04 Mar 2013.
Session 9 has generally received positive reviews.
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