Mini-review: Session 9 (Anderson, 2001)
November 17th 2010 23:42
Session 9 (Anderson, 2001)
Written November 17, 2010
Session 9 is a brilliant on-location film. The entire film, essentially, takes place a Danvers Psychiatric Hospital, which was closed in 1985. The entire film is set in the eerie, abandoned facility and is more about the building itself than any of the characters. The direction is gorgeously low budget and perfectly paced. The camera is never overbearing to the audience, forcing you to feel a certain way with its placement; it’s simply there. At times when watching Session 9 you feel as though you could be standing right with the characters in a room as the way its shot is what your eyes see on a daily basis: it’s tangible, relatable.
The film follows a group of workers as they attempt to remove asbestos from the abandoned building in a span of one week rather than two (Gordon, owner of Hazmat company and person who set the job up, is aiming for the bonus they’d receive if the job is done in half the time). The first 40 or so minutes of the film is dialogue heavy with no real action: a brilliant choice. Session 9 unfolds slowly, letting you learn about the characters and their interactions and relationships with one another until suddenly, you’re in the middle of the psychological thriller you fully expected to be in. There’s no question whether or not the film would get from point A to B; the question was when and how. When a thriller can pull of the difficult feat of being fascinating just from dialogue and sparse action in the first two acts, you know you’re watching something special.
Session 9 essentially is everything I love in psychological thrillers/horrors. It has all the elements, especially incredible direction from Brad Anderson and stunning usage of his set piece. The entire look and feell of the film is very retro and feels as though it should have been made in the early 1990's, rather than 2001. When the last scene of Session 9 concludes, you’ll be wrapped within the multiple layers of the film, unable to fully process the numerous complexities that were occurring. You’ll find you may want to watch it again as soon as possible. Whatever your personal reaction, you’ll be unable to deny the cleverness of this wonderful, minimalist film.
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Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Have you seen Brad Anderson's follow up, The Machinist?
Comment by cinemaistruth
Cinema is Truth
Cinema is Truth
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile