Session 9 (2001)

Tensions rise within an asbestos cleaning crew as they work in an abandoned mental hospital with a horrific past that seems to be coming back.

Director:

Brad Anderson

Writers:

Brad Anderson, Stephen Gevedon

Stars:

David Caruso, Stephen Gevedon, Paul Guilfoyle

2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
David Caruso	...	Phil
Stephen Gevedon	...	Mike
Paul Guilfoyle	...	Bill Griggs
Josh Lucas	...	Hank
Peter Mullan	...	Gordon Fleming
Brendan Sexton III	...	Jeff
Charley Broderick	...	Security Guard (as Charles Broderick)
Lonnie Farmer	...	Doctor (voice)
Larry Fessenden	...	Craig McManus
Jurian Hughes	...	Mary Hobbes (voice)
Sheila Stasack	...	Wendy (voice)

Storyline

An asbestos abatement crew wins the bid for an abandoned insane asylum. What should be a straightforward, if rather rushed, job, is complicated by the personal histories of the crew. In particular, Hank is dating Phil's old girlfriend, and Gordon's new baby seems to be unnerving him more than should be expected. Things get more complicated as would-be lawyer Mike plays the tapes from a former patient with multiple personalities, including the mysterious Simon who does not appear until Session 9, and as Hank disappears after finding some old coins.

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Plot Keywords:

abandoned asylum | lobotomy | coin | mental institution | baby | 

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Taglines:

Fear Is A Place.

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery

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Certificate:

14A

Did You Know?

Trivia

Only 3 rooms had additions outside of the natural setting for atmosphere, the kitchen had meat hooks hung, the tunnel had plastic surgical gloves hung up, and the hydrotherapy room had a metal tub added. Almost everything else related to the asylum setting was found on site as the crew scoured the building for set dressing to keep things authentic. The filmmakers even reported finding old patient tissue and blood samples on the premises, which they did not film out of fear.

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Goofs

At the very end of this movie there's a typo in the copyright notice. The word motion, as in motion picture, is spelled "motin".

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Quotes

[first lines]
Phil: Gordy? You look tired, man. You look beat. Your turn to feed Emma?

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Alternate Versions

The US DVD contains an additional subplot that was removed from the final cut of the film. A homeless woman resides in Danvers State Hospital, and watches the crew go about their business. Initially presented as a menacing "being", shown as collecting objects (rubbish, leaves, insects) in threes in a room, she then becomes more and more human through the film. The crew observe things to give her presence away. She witnesses their murders, and becomes scared. She then kills Gordon at the end in retribution. Unfortunately, it is badly cut, and shows at several points during the film.

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Connections

Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Demon Movies (2015)

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Soundtracks

Choke Chain
Written & Performed by Lou Barlow
Courtesy of Smells Like Records and BMG Music Publishing (BMI)

User Reviews

You won't know what hit you

No point in mincing words: Brad Anderson's Session 9 is the best horror movie I've seen in a long time. It's intelligent, well-written, it's completely unpredictable, it looks great (I didn't really notice until the second viewing how well the editing and the photography work together), and the soundtrack is downright creepy. Until recently only two films had managed to make me lie awake at night: Dario Argento's "Opera" and Tobe Hooper's "Texas Chain Saw Massacre". Well, now the list includes three films. Honestly, there is no excuse not to see this one, folks. Horror doesn't get any better than this.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 September 2001 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Session no 9

Filming Locations:

Supino's Restaurant, 250 Newbury St, Danvers, Massachusetts, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$76,493, 12 August 2001

Gross USA:

$378,176

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,612,259

Company Credits

Production Co:

USA Films, Scout Productions, October Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1