Session 9

David Caruso and Peter Mullan head an impressive cast, (Mullan particularly shines) who have the unenviable task of clearing out an abandoned asylum. That should be enough to put the creeps up anybody, but it soon becomes clear that the asylums past history may be coming back to haunt them.

What could easily have become territory for a bad B-movie, instead becomes a tale of terror as the tension mounts and the truth is slowly revealed. The brilliant location is expertly used to instill in you a fear that something rather unpleasant is waiting just around the corner, but it never once resorts to cheap thrills.

It is shocking to think that with all the rubbish that comes from Hollywood every year, an original film like Session 9 doesn't even get a cinema release in the UK.

You do however get the feeling that it will struggle for a convincing ending and indeed it does fall apart a little in the final thirty minutes. That said, this is still a brilliantly understated pyschological chiller, that is part "Blair Witch Project", part "The Shining" and it deserves to find an audience, hopefully it will find it's home on DVD.

I can see why it had no cinema release here : No massive stars, no nubile young girls and no overly gory scenes. In fact, the opposite to the usual fare on offer these days. Instead, you have a slow, well acted and beautifully shot piece of cinema that is worth watching for these factors alone. In terms of the story, it is a little confusing, particularly as what you expect to happen, may not actually happen. The good thing is that it leaves you asking questions and demands to be seen again and even again!! 'Horror' fans per se may not love the film but if you love cinema in general and like to be 'moved' be it by horror, suspense or just good acting, then watch this movie!!