Session 9?

[Nana]

Anyone seen this film and can comment on it?

I read about it today, it's supposed to be about these contractors who have to refit an abandoned insane asylum (yeah, it's horror).
It looks like my kind of movie as it is by all reports very moody and atmospheric, but I wondered if I could get a consensus of opinions before I ordered?

[Jazzatola]

I've had my eye on this one since last year. Still not sure if its going to get a UK release (http://thedvdforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15146&pagenumber=2) as I've seen/heard nothing as yet. Looks good although appearences can be deceptive and certainly have been in the past!

[Montevideo]

I've seen it.
Not too bad - not good though.

Certainly not horrific - midly unsettling in one or two parts, but nothing that would ever give anyone nightmares.

I found myself frustrated with it throughout - could have been a lot better than it actually is. Low budget (not a problem for me usually), poor acting, straight to video direction - but with a mean and moody setting that almost saves the whole film.

The score grated on me (stark single notes on a piano mostly), as did the way the characters constantly refered to each other as 'man' - even 'Gordo', the Scottish foreman was at it and it just sounded out of place. But that's just a personal hang up probably :)

And the ending is ropey to say the least. I thought I'd misunderstood it at first, then realised - nope, there's not actually more to it than I thought. Talk about hammering it home.

Definitely wouldn't recommend buying it, although I watched it on the back of some glowing reviews on imdb, so you may enjoy it more than I did...

[Jazzatola]

Originally posted by Montevideo
...I watched it on the back of some glowing reviews on imdb...

Thats what attracted me too. Not so sure after reading your review! :)

[Montevideo]

Originally posted by Jazzatola


Thats what attracted me too. Not so sure after reading your review! :)

Funny that one - it's gets a score of 5.something outta 10 on imdb (which is about right) yet most of the reviews are fulsome in their praise...

I suspect most of the positive views are penned by Brad Anderson, as they all seem to praise his 'bad episode of The X Files' style of direction ;)

[Nana]

Think I'm going to give this a wait and see approach and not order too hastily.

[Dr Derek Doctors]

I watched it a few months ago and really enjoyed it. I'd agree that the score is a little off in some parts but I thought the ending was great and it all ties up and makes sense. The setting is absolutely superb, though, not since The Shining have I seen a location with so much character.

Shock-wise there aren't that many, but there are a fair few tense scenes (especially in the dark tunnels of the building) and the gore is kept to a sensible level (don't get me wrong, I'm a complete gorehound but in this film less was definitely more). I'm just waiting for play247 to list it on their coming soon pages so I can order it.

Still, I have a legendary tolerance for fairly bad films so I might well be talking utter cr*p. :)

[Montevideo]

Originally posted by Dr Derek Doctors
I watched it a few months ago and really enjoyed it. I'd agree that the score is a little off in some parts but I thought the ending was great and it all ties up and makes sense. The setting is absolutely superb, though, not since The Shining have I seen a location with so much character.

I almost compared it to The Shining, as it's obviously, ahem, an inspiration to the film makers, but I couldn't bring myself to mention the two films in the same breath.

Perhaps the ending is just me. Yeah it ties it all up, and yeah it all makes sense - but to my eyes there was no revelation, no twist, no shock, not even a mild surprise about the conclusion.

It all seemed so obvious that I was expecting to be wrongfooted by a twist that never came.

All a bit horror by numbers for me. Thought Monsters Inc was scarier :D