7.2 | / 10 |
Users | 4.2 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Desperate to win the contract to clean up the abandoned Danvers State Mental Hospital, the boss of an asbestos removal company promises a fast completion. The crew have their own personal history and tensions run high, but the derelict building has its own past and they are about to uncover the dark secrets hidden within its walls.
Starring: David Caruso, Stephen Gevedon, Paul Guilfoyle (II), Josh Lucas, Peter MullanHorror | 100% |
Supernatural | 17% |
Psychological thriller | 10% |
Mystery | 8% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
It’s a good thing that co-writer and director Brad Anderson admits that The Shining bears certain similarities if not outright inspirational sparks for Session 9, for the parallels between the films are obvious and almost palpable at times. Decaying monstrosity of a building in an isolated location? Check. Chances that said building is haunted by former denizens? Check. Seemingly mild mannered nebbish type probably going over to the dark side due to those very denizens? Ooooh, yeah, baby. In this case, Session 9 actually utilizes a real life historical structure, the imposing Danvers State Insane Asylum (which had a number of slightly variant names through the years) in Danvers, Massachusetts, unlike the fictional Overlook Hotel in the Stephen King saga (though fans of the film will know that my home state of Oregon’s iconic Timberline Lodge was used for exterior locations for that version). Danvers has a rather redolent if disturbing history tracing back to the 19th century, and it’s rumored to have been the birthplace of the pre-frontal lobotomy, but as someone who had to investigate the history of lobotomies as part of my research into actress Frances Farmer (who was falsely rumored to have undergone a transorbital lobotomy), I can say that that allegation is at least debatable. One way or the other, the Danvers (which was torn down a few years after Session 9 was filmed there in its decaying ruins) provides a spectacularly Gothic setting for this often unsettling film, one which is rather short on any gore factor but which rather smartly exploits a properly psychological angle that is filled to the brim with foreboding and angst. Aside from one really curious and completely avoidable semi-reveal early in the film, one which will give away the ghost (so to speak) to anyone who’s really paying attention, Session 9 builds to a nicely baroque climax where indeed at least a bit of a gore factor finally intrudes.
Session 9 is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Scream Factory, an imprint of Shout! Factory, with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.35:1. The IMDb lists the Sony CineAlta HWD-F900 as the camera on the shoot, which would make it a relatively early entry in this then fairly new capture technology. Culled from the Universal Pictures catalog, this is a generally great looking transfer that often boasts superior clarity and detail levels. That said, there's an undeniably flat, "video-ish" quality to the cinematography here, something that nevertheless ultimately doesn't really get in the way of often excellent sharpness and fine detail levels, at least when close-ups are employed and good lighting levels are being utilized. Some panning and tracking shots have a bit of image instability, but nothing I would term overly problematic. One particular recurring sequence is bathed in a blue tone (as can be seen in several of the screenshots accompanying this review), and detail levels are understandably a bit less present in these moments, despite the use of some close-ups. Occasionally very light dustings of noise intrude on a few moments (see screenshots 5, 9 and 19) which tend to be dimly lit or outright dark. There are some slight deficits in overall shadow definition in some of the (intentionally) dark and creepy scenes. The palette looks very natural and even robust in scenes that aren't overtly color graded.
Session 9 features a nice sounding DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mix. The film's sound design often emphasizes subtler elements, like the somehow foreboding drip, drip, drip of a faucet in a hydrotherapy tub, rather than more typical horror sonic tropes like booming LFE accompanying jump cuts. The film's moody score and dialogue are both rendered cleanly and are smartly prioritized.
Session 9 has an incredibly fantastic setting and a palpably ominous mood, but the actual narrative has a few logical holes that curmudgeonly types may want to quibble with. That said, the film benefits from really smart direction and writing, as well as a handful of nicely done performances. Technical merits are strong, and as usual Scream Factory has assembled a top flight collection of supplementary material. Recommended.
Collector's Edition
1983
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2009
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1973
Extended Director's Cut
2018
2018
Collector's Edition
1992
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