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Post by Michael West on Jul 23, 2005 12:49:39 GMT -5
Directed by: Brad Anderson Written by: Brad Anderson & Stephen Gevedon Producer: John Sloss Starring: David Caruso, Stephen Gevedon, Paul Guilfoyle, Josh Lucas, and Peter Mullan When The Blair Witch Project became a box office sensation, I predicted it would usher in a new era of horror films. I thought everyone with access to digital video equipment would hear the call to arms and start turning out their own shockers. Because the movies would be made for little or no money, there would be no reliance on CGI ghosts and demons. No, these films would be very cerebral and would focus on characters. Movies shot on film stock tend to be one step removed from reality. These new films, shot on video, would not have this problem. They would make everything seem real, and therefore more terrifying. As with Blair Witch, they would build unbelievable dread and suspense until they delivered a climax so shocking that you would have to sleep with the lights on. Sadly, this revolution never happened. But we did get Session 9, a film that does for haunted houses what Blair Witch did for camping. As the movie opens, we are given a guided tour of the long vacant Danvers State Mental Hospital. It seems there's asbestos in its walls and ceiling. By saying they can get it removed in just 7 days, Phil (David Caruso) and Gordon (Peter Mullan) win the contract. They quickly put together a crew of friends and family so that they can get the job done in that amount of time. If they succeed, a fat bonus awaits. But what else waits for them in this cavernous complex? The pace of this film is deliberately slow. We are introduced to each of our characters and their issues: Gordon feels trapped in his marriage since the birth of his daughter, Hank (Josh Lucas) stole Phil's girlfriend, and Mike (writer Stephen Gevedon) should be practicing law instead of doing this manual labor. We watch as the group begins to show signs of cracking beneath the strain of the unreasonable schedule and their own personal demons. Gordon is kicked out of his home and must sleep in the work van. Hank just doesn't show up one day. And Mike has become obsessed with the long-abandoned records room. There, he finds a box containing the reel-to-reel recordings of therepy sessions with a dead mental patient--a girl who suffered from multiple personality disorder. Or was she possessed? There's a lot to love about Session 9. As the film winds its way through the dark corridors of this decayed asylum, we are given tiny hints and clues as to what is happening within these walls. A sense of paranoid dread is carefully nurtured here and we begin to question what these characters say to one another. Are these people telling us the truth? Can they be trusted? This is not a picture you want to see alone at night. As I said before, video has a way of making things seem real. This, added to the great performances on display here (how can you not love David Caruso's soft-spoken, "I'm better than you are" demeanor?) makes the film far too believable and the ending far more shocking. When the film was over, I felt as if someone has just given me an electroshock treatment. This is one that you can not help but think about long after the credits roll. In fact, just thinking about it now makes the hair on my neck stand on end and turns the skin on my arms to gooseflesh. That's just what a horror movie should do. 4 out of 5 stars
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Post by obliv326 on Jul 25, 2005 3:59:14 GMT -5
hey mike
i am becoming a fan of brad anderson. i think he does more with mood and tone than just about anyone since kubrick or maybe early carpenter.
session 9 is creepy. without ever really showing anything, or lets be honest, having anything to show (the payoff is a little predictable and disappointing), he still mamages to evoke a feeling of fear and dread.
its a little like some of the better j-horror in that way (think the eye or ju-on). these films really get under your skin and give a good dose of the chills, even if the plot doesnt completely hang together. this film actually made my wife scream out loud!
anyway, worth checking out...and brad anderson is another one worth watching (3 of 4 young filmmakers named anderson impress me btw)
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Post by Michael West on Jul 25, 2005 7:34:59 GMT -5
session 9 is...a little like some of the better j-horror in that way (think the eye or ju-on). these films really get under your skin and give a good dose of the chills, even if the plot doesnt completely hang together. this film actually made my wife scream out loud! I agree. My wife and I didn't scream, but we both uttered "Oh shit" and "Oh my God" over and over again. A Tale of Two Sisters is the same way (see related thread). You should check that one out if you haven't already.
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Post by obliv326 on Jul 25, 2005 13:08:09 GMT -5
tale of two sisters?
thanks mike. i will. i have seen a lot of these asia extreme titles out, and have been curious to see them, but unsure of where to start. i will follow your advice...
is memento mori a sequel to this film?
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Post by obliv326 on Jul 25, 2005 13:09:20 GMT -5
re: my last post...
"this film" being tale, not session...
i see how this could be confusing, given that this is a session 9 thread, but we're discussing another movie, which is also repped by its own thread...
anyway, yeah...
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Post by Michael West on Jul 25, 2005 15:15:51 GMT -5
is memento mori a sequel to this film? "this film" being tale, not session... i see how this could be confusing, given that this is a session 9 thread, but we're discussing another movie, which is also repped by its own thread... anyway, yeah... I knew what you meant. Anyway, Momento Mori is a sequel to the film Whispering Corridors. I have both films in my "Que" on Blockbuster.com As soon as I get and watch them, I will post reviews. ;D
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tomoran
Citizen of Harmony
Posts: 173
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Post by tomoran on Jul 29, 2005 20:59:26 GMT -5
I agree with you completely about both films. My wife and I watched both together and were actually a bit unsettled at times. There were two scenes in "A Tale Of Two Sisters" where I yelled out an "oh shit". Great films--both of them. Tom session 9 is...a little like some of the better j-horror in that way (think the eye or ju-on). these films really get under your skin and give a good dose of the chills, even if the plot doesnt completely hang together. this film actually made my wife scream out loud! I agree. My wife and I didn't scream, but we both uttered "Oh shit" and "Oh my God" over and over again. A Tale of Two Sisters is the same way (see related thread). You should check that one out if you haven't already.
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Post by obliv326 on Jul 30, 2005 2:06:06 GMT -5
i am in the process of watcinh 2 sisters and had to turn it off and sit here and write you...
but lets just make sure everyone understands what just happened.
im 36 years old.
i had to stop watching a movie, on tv, because i was scared.
and just so you'll know that im not one of those people who was scared by the hawaiian episode of the brady bunch.
i watched exorcist.
alone
at 1 am.
with the lights off.
nothing.
things dont scare me. this pretty damn near did it...
the only other movies that worked for me in any way on that level are the eye, which also made me stop watching...
the ring, the first time i saw it at the theatre.
the changeling, w/george c scott...(pretty creepy, if you can find it)
and blair witch...although, i should explain...i saw it several weeks before it came out. the hype had not started, and heather had notyet been in a steak and shake commercial. essentially, when i saw it, it was a small underground fil that was generating some buzz, and people knew very little about it except what it said...so we werent sure if it was real...granted, it is hard to accept that it would be, and after the hype happened, it was impossible, but imagine you just found this film that no one knew about, that claimed to be raw footage, and showed what appeared to be a few kids get killed by a witch.
i promise it would creep you out.
and honestly, whether you liked it or not, that house at the end is creepy.
mike, i have a sugestion, then...why not a thread about "things that scare you". it can be movies, books, a story you heard, etc. i think that kind of topic is always fun, and it couldnt be more appropriate, given your love of all things horrific. and i think it would send us all scrambling to check out each other's selections.
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Post by Michael West on Jul 30, 2005 6:56:21 GMT -5
mike, i have a sugestion, then...why not a thread about "things that scare you". it can be movies, books, a story you heard, etc. i think that kind of topic is always fun, and it couldnt be more appropriate, given your love of all things horrific. and i think it would send us all scrambling to check out each other's selections. See Chit-chat. ;D
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Post by Michael West on Jul 30, 2005 8:44:00 GMT -5
I agree with you completely about both films. My wife and I watched both together and were actually a bit unsettled at times. There were two scenes in "A Tale Of Two Sisters" where I yelled out an "oh shit". I bet one of those scenes involved a sink.
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Post by notthebrightestgodintheheavens on Aug 17, 2005 23:00:31 GMT -5
I watched Session 9, because you reviewed it. I didn't even read the whole review. I had the impression that you liked it, so I rented it.
Do you feel the love? *g*
Of course, I loved Session 9. If the setting is right, you really don't need a whole lot of action. In that case the twist (such as it was...not surprising) ends up being superfluous. I’m all about locations in themselves being evil and this movie clinched that. I don’t know if it’s because I loved Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting where “Some houses are just born bad” but this movie really did it for me. It wasn’t about the psychos that lived there, it was about the place. The cast didn’t matter…it was just the space.
Thanks Mike. *g*
By the way, where did you find Tale of Two Sisters? I've searched blockbuster.com and my local Blockbuster store and have not been able to find it.
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Post by Michael West on Aug 18, 2005 9:24:44 GMT -5
I watched Session 9, because you reviewed it. I didn't even read the whole review. I had the impression that you liked it, so I rented it. Do you feel the love? *g* I'm feeling it. ;D You should read the whole review though! Of course, I loved Session 9. You have excellent taste. If the setting is right, you really don't need a whole lot of action. In that case the twist (such as it was...not surprising) ends up being superfluous. I’m all about locations in themselves being evil and this movie clinched that. I don’t know if it’s because I loved Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting where “Some houses are just born bad” but this movie really did it for me. It wasn’t about the psychos that lived there, it was about the place. The cast didn’t matter…it was just the space. The setting is half of the terror for me, the other half is character. This nailed both, IMHO. No problem! Happy to scare the crap out of you any time. By the way, where did you find Tale of Two Sisters? I've searched blockbuster.com and my local Blockbuster store and have not been able to find it. I got mine at Wal-Mart for $8. It's more than worth it! If you can't find it there, go to the links page of my main website and click on the link to Laser's Edge. They will probably have it, and they ship.
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tomoran
Citizen of Harmony
Posts: 173
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Post by tomoran on Aug 27, 2005 16:26:34 GMT -5
Hey Obliv326, I hear you loud and clear. After talking about TWO SISTERS, I decided to watch it again as I went to bed. I got so freaked out that I had to turn it off. My wife woke up, saw that it was on, and threatened to sleep on the couch.
I'm glad that I'm not alone.
The CHANGELING ROCKS! Love that film.
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Post by obliv326 on Aug 28, 2005 2:41:00 GMT -5
Hey Obliv326, I hear you loud and clear. After talking about TWO SISTERS, I decided to watch it again as I went to bed. I got so freaked out that I had to turn it off. My wife woke up, saw that it was on, and threatened to sleep on the couch. I'm glad that I'm not alone. The CHANGELING ROCKS! Love that film. no problem! im glad you liked it...yeah, a few times i had to shut two sisters off, im ashamed to say, and wait for daylight... and anyone who digs changeling is ok in my book! btw, have you seen audition (this is for everyone, btw) ? i know we had brought it up a couple times in other threads...i actually got through it the other night... damn. that was intense! anyone else?
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Post by Michael West on Aug 28, 2005 8:23:03 GMT -5
I've seen it before, Stace, and I just bought this new version. I'll be posting a review soon.
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