Session 9 is a 2001 American psychological horror film, directed by Brad Anderson and written by Anderson and Stephen Gevedon. It premiered at the Fantasia Festival in July, 2001, and stars David Caruso, Peter Mullan, Stephen Gevedon, Paul Guilfoyle, Josh Lucas and Brendan Sexton III. The plot focuses on the growing tension within an asbestos removal crew working at an abandoned mental asylum, which is paralleled by the gradual revelation of a former patient's disturbed past through recorded audio tapes of the patient's hypnotherapy sessions. The film takes place in and around the Danvers State Mental Hospital in Danvers, Massachusetts.
While not a financial success, Session 9 is considered a cult film, and many fan theories and interpretations of the film have developed.
The Theories[]
- In reviewing the film for the 2003 edition of The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror, Ellen Datlow contends that "Simon" is not necessarily an alternate personality of the former patient Mary, but rather a malignant genius loci or demon that targets weak and worried people. She also points out that the deleted scenes included on the DVD help fill out the narrative.
- "Simon" is the personification of the darkness inside ourselves.
- Gordon was a personality of Mary Hobbes.
- Gordon used to be a patient at the Danvers hospital.
- The last day was imagined by Gordon.
- Mary Hobbes is one of Gordon's personalities.
- The homeless woman from the alternate ending is actually Mary Hobbes.
- Gordon placed the trail of coins on the floor.
- Simon saying that he preys on people who are "weak and wounded" is literal, as both Gordon and Mary were literally wounded before meeting Simon.
- The entire crew were just Gordon's other personalities.