Review of Session 9 (2001) by Edie M — 15 Jul 2010

I was disappointed by the ending of this movie until I realized I'd missed the real connection between Mary Hobbes and the asbestos team entirely. I was so focused on the seemingly obvious influence of "The Shining" that I assumed this was a possession story. It's not. Thinking of it that way made the ending feel stupid and a let down. Pay attention the beginning of the film when the security guard states that the patients often return to the asylum, as it helps to explain a lot.

I was originally going to give this movie a much lower score, but once I understood how the ending connected the story lines together, I realized it was actually pretty interesting. I don't understand why some people find it so scary, though. It definitely built up the tension and kept me intrigued, but not in a frightening way. It's a slow-moving story - so if you're just looking for a quick, gory fright this movie is not the way to go. If you like horror movies that utilize the power of suggestion and menacing imagery to inspire your own thoughts, rather than spewing endless blood and guts and outright telling you what to believe, this one is worth watching.