The movie's misplaced psychological emphasis is matched by its stubble-scraping visual style.

| Sep 21, 2001

For a while there, the film has us going.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Sep 21, 2001

The story doesn't quite pay off, characters are underwritten and the surprise ending is contrived and unconvincing.

| Original Score: 2/4 | Sep 14, 2001

A spine-tingler.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 27, 2001

The final illuminations ... are a poor return on nearly two hours of ear-buckling, eye-stabbing incoherence.

Full Review | Aug 20, 2001

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.

Full Review | Aug 13, 2001

The film isn't remotely scary.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Aug 10, 2001

Yet another lesson to Hollywood that a fright film need not be awash in blood and elaborate special effects.

Full Review | Aug 10, 2001

As the violence escalates, the store of ominousness shrinks and gives way to silliness, leaving some talented actors high and dry.

Full Review | Aug 10, 2001

So effective that its sense of uncertainty lingers long after the theater lights have gone up.

| Original Score: 4.5/5 | Aug 10, 2001

Often feels long and aimless.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5 | Aug 10, 2001

Despite the talent involved and the unbearable atmosphere of the asylum, the script is a letdown. The final resolution is more ludicrous than convincing.

| Aug 9, 2001

A marvel of vérité nightmare atmosphere.

| Original Score: B- | Aug 9, 2001

The film never creates any true suspense, and the bloody climax feels forced and phony.

Full Review | Aug 8, 2001

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.

Full Review | Aug 7, 2001

Claustrophobic and terrifying.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Jul 30, 2001