Abandoned Minds: A Review of Session 9
Welcome to an hour of escalating dread as we unpack Brad Anderson's 2001 minimalist masterpiece, Session 9.
Shot on location in the chilling, decaying halls of the real Danvers State Hospital (The Danvers Asylum), this film is a masterclass in psychological horror that relies on atmosphere and mounting tension, not cheap jump scares. We join an asbestos abatement crew racing to clear the facility in a week, only to discover they're up against something far more toxic than dust.
What We Cover:
The Descent: We track the terrifying psychological unraveling of the Hazmat crew, led by the stressed-out Gordon (a powerhouse performance by Peter Mullan), as pressure, past trauma, and the sheer weight of the asylum's history push them to their breaking point.
The Tapes: The chilling, central mystery of the film—the discovery of old patient therapy sessions. We discuss the nine audio recordings, the case of Mary Hobbes, and the slow, shocking reveal of the dark personality known only as Simon in the titular "Session 9."
Key Cast & Crew: Breaking down the intense, claustrophobic performances from a stellar ensemble cast, including David Caruso, Josh Lucas, Stephen Gevedon (who co-wrote the script with Brad Anderson), and Brendan Sexton III.
Is it Haunted? We debate the film's brilliant ambiguity: is the horror in the hospital's dark past and the entity "Simon," or is it a purely psychological breakdown driven by guilt and stress?
If you're looking for an underrated horror movie, a deep dive into asylum horror and found footage elements, or a chilling psychological thriller that will stick with you long after the final credits, press play.
Keywords: Session 9, Brad Anderson, Peter Mullan, David Caruso, Josh Lucas, Danvers State Hospital, Abandoned Asylum, Psychological Horror, Simon, Mary Hobbes, Horror Movie Review, 2001 Horror, Cult Classic.
