A great setting in search of a decent horror film to fill it.

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

For a while there, the film has us going. full review

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

A spine-tingler.

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

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

The film isn't remotely scary.

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

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

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

Often feels long and aimless. full review

May not quite be more than the sum of its creepy parts, but as a reality-is-fear launch into workaday darkness, it clearly points toward the horror genre's best destiny.

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

A marvel of verite nightmare atmosphere. full review

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

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