Session 9 2001

Dave Kehr, New York Times: Often feels long and aimless. Read more

David Edelstein, Slate: The final illuminations ... are a poor return on nearly two hours of ear-buckling, eye-stabbing incoherence. Read more

Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times: So effective that its sense of uncertainty lingers long after the theater lights have gone up. Read more

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: A marvel of verite nightmare atmosphere. Read more

Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail: For a while there, the film has us going. Read more

Paul Malcolm, L.A. Weekly: A deft exercise in atmospheric horror and insanity. Read more

Rex Reed, New York Observer: Despite the talent involved and the unbearable atmosphere of the asylum, the script is a letdown. The final resolution is more ludicrous than convincing. Read more

Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle: The story doesn't quite pay off, characters are underwritten and the surprise ending is contrived and unconvincing. Read more

Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star: The movie's misplaced psychological emphasis is matched by its stubble-scraping visual style. Read more

Robert Koehler, Variety: Although aimed at restoring the psychological horror movie to full life after years of dormancy, Session 9 is little more than an overworked exercise in jostling red herrings, and not particularly fresh herrings at that. Read more

Amy Taubin, Village Voice: The script for Session 9 is so underwritten that even such lively character actors as David Caruso, Peter Mullan, and Brendan Sexton III are left stranded. Read more