Session 9

This picture carefully builds characters and atmosphere, putting all this into good use during the ending. This is a movie that relies heavily on the screenplay and actors, while luckily both are high class. A bit of a shame that Anderson rather pointlessly uses sleight of hand (read: style). On the other hand, it’s a great advantage if you don’t know what to expect. (16/08/2005)

A comment with the potential of a spoiler. Looks like Brad Anderson is still sort of learning. Some scenes are a bit lacking in dynamics and two or three of the characters are pretty formulaic. On the other hand, the scene where the noctophobe or whatever the disease is called runs down the hallway from the lights going out is really neat, for example, as is the pleasant lack of jump scares and the elusive atmosphere of evil. Unfortunately for me, the incredibly difficult to grasp digital cinematography (perhaps the only film that has managed to do it well imho is Antichrist) doesn't add to the experience and only adds to the impression of cheapness. So I’m giving it a fourth star for the payoff, which turns a solidly constructed psychological thriller back into a mystery horror thanks to the generalization of "evil" ("I dwell in every weak person"), but still feels fresh. (18/10/2010)

This is a strange film built on the paradox that, although it is a horror film, it formally approaches the genre with more or less only one scene. Anderson's work in stirring the audience’s feelings lies elsewhere. The well-chosen digital cinematography, the cramped setting of a former mental institution, and the interconnectedness of the protagonists serve to create an incredibly evil atmosphere. Although I didn't feel as tense as a string, I felt devastated when the end credits rolled, as if I had just walked out of that place of evil... alive and well, but forever scarred. (26/08/2007)

Nicely atmospheric thriller/horror with a good script and superbly written characters. At the beginning it gives you a pleasantly unpleasant feeling that increases manifold by the end. Do we all have our Simon? 85% (01/01/2008)