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Film Details:
Directed by Brad Anderson (Happy Accidents) Written by Brad Anderson and Stephen Gevedon Starring Review: by Melissa (e-mail your faithful reviewer) This week, I also had a second look at one of the most astonishingly creepy films I have ever had the good fortune to see -- Session 9. I hear you now. "What? I've never even heard of that one." That's why I decided to write it up here. The movie hit DVD and video last year without so much as a ripple, and very few people have heard of it. I had the luck to accidentally stumble across a screener when it was released. I was amazed. This movie has the most incredible grasp of atmosphere that I have ever seen. It knows what you don't see is creepy. It knows that a good sound designer can be a horror flick's best friend. It has a firm grasp on insanity. Even though it has nothing to do with any of Lovecraft's work, I would heartily recommend it to anyone who wants to see how a Lovecraft film should be done. After I saw this film for the first time, I had a hard time turning off the lights to go to bed. Yes, it freaked me out, and I'm pretty macho about horror films. Session 9 is about a hazmat removal team that has been contracted to remove asbestos from the Danvers State Hospital, an abandoned lunatic asylum. The film follows one week in the lives of these asbestos workers. To say more would be a crime. The thing I love most about this film is the location. The Danvers State Hospital is a very real place in a very real state of disrepair. The rotten patina on everything the characters touch has a solidity that could never be approached on a set. The atmosphere is so rich and effective, it's dumbfounding that this film has gotten almost no attention at all. So, if you love being creeped out, go grab this film on DVD. Avoid the video if possible, because the DVD has three big bonuses: widescreen (which is critical to this film), rich blacks during the dark scenes, and fantastic special features. DVD Details: Dolby Digital Stereo This DVD is rich with features, and boasts of a widescreen transfer that makes the most out of the original print of the film. To see this film on VHS would be a crime. The Haunted Palace featurette leaves a lot to be desired (the Hospital building is far more interesting than the actors, but the actors take the focus in the short film), but the rest of the features are great. The Story to Screen segment of the DVD shows portions of the film side-by-side with conceptual drawings and production footage. The deleted scenes and alternate ending (which include separate commentary tracks) are very interesting indeed. I have yet to listen to the director's commentary track, but if it's anything like the commentaries on the deleted scenes, it could be very interesting. Further Information: |
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