Session 9 DVD Review:


The Movie

Called in to remove asbestos from the imposing, soon to be renovated Danvers State Mental Hospital, the employees of the Hazmat Elimination Company are unprepared for what they're about to step into. The workers, Gordon (Peter Mullan), the troubled owner who has a wife and baby that he desperately needs to support; Phil (David Caruso), a crew chief who mourns his lost girlfriend by smoking marijuana; Hank (Josh Lucas), the cocky gambler who stole Phil's woman; Mike (Stephen Gevedon), a privileged law student who is fascinated with the hospital's history; and Jeff (Brendan Sexton III), Gordon's naïve nephew, begin to unravel and give in to their own inner fears as the hospital wreaks havoc on their fragile mental states. SESSION 9 is a thrilling psychological horror film that uses a haunting backdrop to weave a tale of deep terror.

Built in 1860’s near Boston, MA (my home town – Yankees SUCK!), the sprawling Danvers Mental Hospital captured the imagination of director Brad Anderson while he lived in the area. The film Session 9 is the type of horror film that relies more on the power of suggestion and suspense than out right gore to achieve terror from the audience.

I would loosely compare Session 9 to The Shinning, because of the way the film is presented in a manner which distances itself from the blood letting and gore of most modern films in the horror genre.

I remembered this quote from The Shinning, "for some people, solitude and isolation can, of itself become a problem." And this is how director Brad Anderson introduces us to Danvers State Hospital – the use of a supposedly haunted building as the primary setting, main characters forced to question their own sanity, and the slow buildup of suspense that leaves audiences squirming in their seats.

These movies really do it for me, you know the ones I’m talking about, the movie you can’t help thinking back to and putting together all the clues, just as you can’t help hoping that what you’ve seen won’t stay with you too long, that’s the kind of film we have here.

Like Overlook Hotel in The Shinning, from the moment you see this place you are trapped in the sense of dread and doom, but you are also helplessly hooked in figuring out, along with our boys, just what explanation for ghastly murders and mutilations might be revealed in the end.

Session 9 is cleverly built through images which replay themselves in our minds long after the screen goes blank. There's a spiraling pace, which definitely picks up speed as the movie heads toward the final act.

I don’t want to say much else about the film because you have to experience it to believe it, but the key to this wonderful chiller is the mood. The setting is conflicted and detailed. Some areas are brightly terrifying, while others are blood thirsty and ancient.

This is the kind of film that makes people afraid of old cellars and hallways like ocean waters was to Jaws.
In my opinion, Session 9 is easily one of the scariest psychological movies since Stanley Kubrick’s The Shinning. It’s psychologically scary because it is intense throughout and avoids being bound by character development.

The Video

Session 9 appears in an aspect ratio of approximately 2.35:1 on this single-sided, dual-layered DVD; the image has been enhanced for 16X9 televisions. The film was shot using digital video rather than conventional film, in the relatively new Digital Video format. The images are detailed for the most part, but some softness creeps up at times, which is due to the digital video source.

This is a very dark movie, where shadow and contrast levels are consistently reliant throughout, and provide great looking sequences during both dark scenes and the brightly lit sequences.

There are some noticeable edge enhancements within some of brighter areas of shots, but once again, this is most likely just the nature of the digital filming process.

Colors are exceedingly vibrant and alive. Black levels and shadow detail are surprisingly sharp and deep. USA Films has done a solid job of translating from the big screen to the home theater.

The Audio

The movie is presented in Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, which is disappointing since the film's frightening sound effects might have been a little shudder some if a 5.1 track was offered. The 2.0 Dolby Stereo mix was just not enough.

Don’t get me wrong, sounds like dripping water and strange, indecipherable voices are very important to a horror film like this, and this track delivers these and other scary sounds with effective directionality, and presents dialogue clearly and realistically.

All things considered, this is a very good 2.0 stereo mix, but that’s just it, it’s 2.0 - horror and suspense films rely heavily on the use of sound to build tension and the lack of a fully discrete 5.1 soundtrack (just take a listen to the New Line Platinum series of Se7en, and you’ll know what I mean), so just crank this up a little louder than usual, and you should be at least moderately satisfied.

The Extras

USA Films has done a nice job of bringing some worthwhile supplements to the table for this DVD.

The DVD contains, Feature length audio commentary with co-creators Brad Anderson and Stephen Gevedon. Ten minutes worth of deleted scenes and extended footage. Alternate ending; a story-to-screen section follows; which provides five sequences from the film available on a split screen/alternating view basis.

Next we have the featurette: The Haunted Palace, it’s about 12 minutes in length, some good information on the actual history of Danvers State Hospital can be found here, along with some comments from members of the cast, well worth a look before watching the movie, and last but not least a theatrical trailer of Session 9.

Overall

Session 9 left me with an unsettled feeling that I haven’t experienced in a very long time since The Shinning. The movie is horrifying because it never pushes too far. USA Films has given the film a favorable DVD edition, with good features excellent video quality and extras, but is absent somewhat by the less than adequate 2.0 Dolby soundtrack.

This film would have transcended if a 5.1 Dolby mix was used here. Should you buy it or rent it? I highly recommend buying Session 9 for fans of intelligent horror and suspense cinema only. Those who liked The Shining will aptly enjoy this film. For everyone else, I’d rent this one first to give it a look - highly recommended.

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