session 9 is severely underrated. I am usually not one for horror movies. I like David Lynch's work, though I feel his movies can be pretentious at times, but this movie is probably my favorite horror/psychological thriller-type movie.
I just wish it hadn't done the flash back where they show Gordon killing each person. It was obvious who the killer was at this point, there was no need to do that really.
I also had a theory that each character represented part of Mary's story.
I think the ending of this film was deliberately left 'open' to the audience to interpret however they want. Obviously, people here seem to have three main theories as to who/what Simon is: human weakness and rage (and hence insanity), a demon, or a genius loci. Personally, I find the demon idea to fit best, and to be the most intriguing.
On that note, whoever voiced Simon...this is gonna sound weird, but...he sounds hot. XD
Anderson said they wanted to leave it a little bit of a mystery as to whether Simon was in fact just a representation of the rage that can exist in us all or if he in fact was possessed by the spirit that Mary had created or conjured.
However, let me say this. If you watch the deleted scenes, it is makes it clear that Mary was watching them throughout the film. Mary is dead, we see her grave 444 during the part where Gordy is in the cemetery.
It is pretty clear from that, and the fact that we later see Gordy and Mary's face merge that it was the Simon entity who was watching them in the form of Mary and he has taken over Gordon in his weakened state, just like he did Mary. I am not sure why they removed those scenes because it dramatically changes the story and has gone on to cause some of the confusion and probably a lot of the heat that the film got where some people say it makes no sense.
Simon is some kind of rage entity that has the ability to manifest itself in us all when we are at a weakened state, like the entity in Paranormal Activity. It doesn't even necessarily imply that it is demonic. It is just something that is, that is currently beyond our ability to explain, which is where I think Anderson was trying to go.
@TNAROHfan The lady in the deleted scenes was simply a homeless lady, not "Mary". He says this in the directors commentary. So he took it out because test audiences were confused and thought it WAS Mary.
This movie is excellent. Its of the same order as the shining, where everything is in the subtleties. You can watch this repeatedly and it never gets boring because it is so crammed with depths that arent directly alluded to.
If I had the salary a footballer earns, I would have bought the whole fucker and had it restored at my own expense to the exact original plans.
Simon is the force that takes control when we relinquish it through the effete of the mind and person through stress or just natural character weakness that cant cope with quotidian life; in that they are susceptable to cracking and Simon then takes host. When people are 'broken' they are more susceptible to extreme actions, same as the guy that pops and kills everyone at the office the next day. The horror is; that all of us have it. Simon is the anthropomorphised voice of that element.
Simon Magus--founder of Gnosticism, called a sorcerer, demon. Notice names as Peter and Mary. Simon represents the deep, dark undercurrent that vast but unseen, dwelling among us since the beginning.
I had to watch this movie a couple of times to fully figure out what happened. But I really do like movies like this. The story unfolds slowly and it's interesting all the way through.
These scenes, all using the same SIMON voice show there was an evil demon that possessed Mary and Posessed Gordon, they were weak and could not fight it.
I loved this movie. It was soooo creepy to me. It really got under my skin. My theory, with all due respect to everyone else's, is that there was an evil spirit (demon) that took advantage of people that were weak and were going through turmoil.
Im going west park asylum in london next week. Its still got medicine bottles on the floor and patients files, weird pictures on the walls AND the padded cells downstairs. Its gna be fuuuuucked up!! I have to go b4 it get torn down because there wont be any left soon
I've seen the film twice and my theory always shifts as to what is going on. Simon is obviously the metaphor for impulsive rage when being pushed to far. But in the case of Mary, Simon is more like another personality hidden away.
When they play out the scene verbally between Gordon and his wife, all she did was spill boiling hot water on him by accident. A simple accident sparked violent rage in Gordon so he killed his wife and kid. Similar to the other story on those session reels.
ye, im from danvers, its scary because i live down the street from it, the construction workers built over unmarked graves, so they neveer rested in peace.
I was up there not too long ago. The main building is still there but condos are all around. That staircase leading down outside is still there. I went down. VERY creepy after watching this movie. Couldn't find the graves though....
The main road like in the beginning of the movie is still there, so it's creepy from the first drive up. Even though there are condo's everywhere it still creeps me out. Partly because of this moive and partly because I know what used to go on there. They were in the process of taking the steps down to the graves out but still, terrifying. There is a long downhill walkway that has old railings etc. Creeeeeeepy. It is in Danvers, Mass right off RT 1. I want to find the graves still.....
simon isnt an actual entity i think he is a metaphor for the darkness and violence that is inherent in every human being. i think the message of the movie is that anyone can be pushed passed the breaking point if conditions are extreme enough.
@dreamingsanity121 They edited this movie quite a bit. Originally, there was supposed to be a crazy lady in the hospital. It's why some of the scenes are from up high. It's supposed to be the crazy lady looking down.
Incredible movie. Anderson knows how to make a horror. It doesn't have to rely on gore. Horror's need great atmosphere, tension, and characters that you are able to feel for.
gordon is weak and wounded, too. his wife accidentally burned him with cooking water, his job is hard, phil annoys him...so gordon gets obsessed with simon, too, and kills the other workers and his family.
the prove that simon is not just the dark side in all of us is that mary speaks with simons voice. she MUST be obsessed, a woman couldnt speak like a man suddenly. and - gordon hears the same voice when he gets obsessed with simon (in the dark hallway staring at the wheelchair).
simon is some kind of presence you become obsessed with when u are weak or wounded.
for example mary. her brother scared her in the dark and when her doll broke she cut herself on it...so she was weak and wounded at the moment and so got obsessed with simon at this moment, stabbed her brother and her family.
The chair had to do with a sub-plot which was unfortunately removed. The sub-plot was that there was a homeless woman living in DHS that saw all of the stuff that was going on, and you'd catch glimpses of her now and then. The directors chose to remove this sub-plot because they thought most people would mistake this woman for Mary.
from drBob former employee: the chair is just a prop, but represents a visual so when ever people see this chair in the middle of the creepy room they think of Session 9
session 9 is severely underrated. I am usually not one for horror movies. I like David Lynch's work, though I feel his movies can be pretentious at times, but this movie is probably my favorite horror/psychological thriller-type movie.
I just wish it hadn't done the flash back where they show Gordon killing each person. It was obvious who the killer was at this point, there was no need to do that really.
I also had a theory that each character represented part of Mary's story.
sefaen 2 months ago
I think the ending of this film was deliberately left 'open' to the audience to interpret however they want. Obviously, people here seem to have three main theories as to who/what Simon is: human weakness and rage (and hence insanity), a demon, or a genius loci. Personally, I find the demon idea to fit best, and to be the most intriguing.
On that note, whoever voiced Simon...this is gonna sound weird, but...he sounds hot. XD
polarisedelectrons 4 months ago
Anderson said they wanted to leave it a little bit of a mystery as to whether Simon was in fact just a representation of the rage that can exist in us all or if he in fact was possessed by the spirit that Mary had created or conjured.
However, let me say this. If you watch the deleted scenes, it is makes it clear that Mary was watching them throughout the film. Mary is dead, we see her grave 444 during the part where Gordy is in the cemetery.
TNAROHfan 1 year ago
@TNAROHfan
It is pretty clear from that, and the fact that we later see Gordy and Mary's face merge that it was the Simon entity who was watching them in the form of Mary and he has taken over Gordon in his weakened state, just like he did Mary. I am not sure why they removed those scenes because it dramatically changes the story and has gone on to cause some of the confusion and probably a lot of the heat that the film got where some people say it makes no sense.
TNAROHfan 1 year ago
@TNAROHfan
Simon is some kind of rage entity that has the ability to manifest itself in us all when we are at a weakened state, like the entity in Paranormal Activity. It doesn't even necessarily imply that it is demonic. It is just something that is, that is currently beyond our ability to explain, which is where I think Anderson was trying to go.
TNAROHfan 1 year ago
@TNAROHfan The lady in the deleted scenes was simply a homeless lady, not "Mary". He says this in the directors commentary. So he took it out because test audiences were confused and thought it WAS Mary.
lonstar70 1 year ago
This movie is excellent. Its of the same order as the shining, where everything is in the subtleties. You can watch this repeatedly and it never gets boring because it is so crammed with depths that arent directly alluded to.
If I had the salary a footballer earns, I would have bought the whole fucker and had it restored at my own expense to the exact original plans.
infinitesimotel 1 year ago
Simon is the force that takes control when we relinquish it through the effete of the mind and person through stress or just natural character weakness that cant cope with quotidian life; in that they are susceptable to cracking and Simon then takes host. When people are 'broken' they are more susceptible to extreme actions, same as the guy that pops and kills everyone at the office the next day. The horror is; that all of us have it. Simon is the anthropomorphised voice of that element.
infinitesimotel 1 year ago
Simon Magus--founder of Gnosticism, called a sorcerer, demon. Notice names as Peter and Mary. Simon represents the deep, dark undercurrent that vast but unseen, dwelling among us since the beginning.
Kirke182 1 year ago
I had to watch this movie a couple of times to fully figure out what happened. But I really do like movies like this. The story unfolds slowly and it's interesting all the way through.
PandawdyBob 1 year ago
Because Mary let me Doc, "They" always do.
"Hello Gordon"
These scenes, all using the same SIMON voice show there was an evil demon that possessed Mary and Posessed Gordon, they were weak and could not fight it.
firstmode4c 2 years ago 4
I'm happy you picked up on that. I made this with that in mind.
lostkinds 2 years ago 2
@lostkinds I read a review somewhere that said it wasn't so much a "demon" as a protective spirit.
philosophygoth91 8 months ago
I loved this movie. It was soooo creepy to me. It really got under my skin. My theory, with all due respect to everyone else's, is that there was an evil spirit (demon) that took advantage of people that were weak and were going through turmoil.
gomezmiguel 2 years ago
Im going west park asylum in london next week. Its still got medicine bottles on the floor and patients files, weird pictures on the walls AND the padded cells downstairs. Its gna be fuuuuucked up!! I have to go b4 it get torn down because there wont be any left soon
tim10o0o0 2 years ago
get some of those pictures and files for me XD:)
thEannoyingE 2 years ago
love when it shows there dead bodys at the end, my fan film red grass is basicly a remake of this
chrisfehn13 2 years ago
they burned that place down
pooplifez 3 years ago
nah dude, they put condos in the main building, tore the rest down, yet it did catch on fire a few times.
indie500sessions 2 years ago
one of the scaryist movies i've seen
FlippinSweetFilms 3 years ago
I've seen the film twice and my theory always shifts as to what is going on. Simon is obviously the metaphor for impulsive rage when being pushed to far. But in the case of Mary, Simon is more like another personality hidden away.
When they play out the scene verbally between Gordon and his wife, all she did was spill boiling hot water on him by accident. A simple accident sparked violent rage in Gordon so he killed his wife and kid. Similar to the other story on those session reels.
joe6panther6 3 years ago
ye, im from danvers, its scary because i live down the street from it, the construction workers built over unmarked graves, so they neveer rested in peace.
NickInlineSkating 3 years ago
in fact i talked to a construction worker during the end of the demo and he say they did dig up some bodies near the main entrance to the hospital.
thEannoyingE 2 years ago
Thats disturbing. I wonder if there were any complaints of strange activity during the construcion
lostkinds 2 years ago
This movie scared the shit out of me!!
1998disco72 3 years ago
I was up there not too long ago. The main building is still there but condos are all around. That staircase leading down outside is still there. I went down. VERY creepy after watching this movie. Couldn't find the graves though....
ghetto8v 4 years ago 2
That is the coolest thing EVER! Bet it left a very stange feeling being there in person. Where is it by the way?
lostkinds 3 years ago
The main road like in the beginning of the movie is still there, so it's creepy from the first drive up. Even though there are condo's everywhere it still creeps me out. Partly because of this moive and partly because I know what used to go on there. They were in the process of taking the steps down to the graves out but still, terrifying. There is a long downhill walkway that has old railings etc. Creeeeeeepy. It is in Danvers, Mass right off RT 1. I want to find the graves still.....
ghetto8v 3 years ago
its in danvers, i dont know the excat address but its pretty big and everyone in danvers knows the story.
Elmosix66 3 years ago
simon isnt an actual entity i think he is a metaphor for the darkness and violence that is inherent in every human being. i think the message of the movie is that anyone can be pushed passed the breaking point if conditions are extreme enough.
dreamingsanity121 4 years ago 5
@dreamingsanity121 They edited this movie quite a bit. Originally, there was supposed to be a crazy lady in the hospital. It's why some of the scenes are from up high. It's supposed to be the crazy lady looking down.
PandawdyBob 1 year ago
Do it, Gordon!
partyboynyc 4 years ago
Incredible movie. Anderson knows how to make a horror. It doesn't have to rely on gore. Horror's need great atmosphere, tension, and characters that you are able to feel for.
jorgekluney 4 years ago 3
umarım iyi bir filmdir
btosun39 4 years ago
simon gets into peoples heads and makes them kill. but only because they let him.
thats the essence of this movie. kind of ghost story. nothing else.
amen ;)
ChernabogFancier 4 years ago
gordon is weak and wounded, too. his wife accidentally burned him with cooking water, his job is hard, phil annoys him...so gordon gets obsessed with simon, too, and kills the other workers and his family.
the prove that simon is not just the dark side in all of us is that mary speaks with simons voice. she MUST be obsessed, a woman couldnt speak like a man suddenly. and - gordon hears the same voice when he gets obsessed with simon (in the dark hallway staring at the wheelchair).
ChernabogFancier 4 years ago
haruka and alucard: its pretty simple.
simon is some kind of presence you become obsessed with when u are weak or wounded.
for example mary. her brother scared her in the dark and when her doll broke she cut herself on it...so she was weak and wounded at the moment and so got obsessed with simon at this moment, stabbed her brother and her family.
ChernabogFancier 4 years ago
We all like PHil/ DAVID CARUSO!!!!!!!!!!!
ilovehoratio 4 years ago
I heard that!!!lol!!:D
AmericanGangsta51 4 years ago
this movie is so killer. many people see it and don't get it. many see it, and are enthralled by it. yo gotta check it out for yourself..
reignman2112 4 years ago
this makes me afraid to be in an abandon building again
KandiGrrl420 4 years ago
A great film. Peter Mullen is class!
rab9002003 4 years ago
What I wanna know is that who in the hell was simon?.
bootcamp661 4 years ago
That's why it's awesome.
HorseDestroyer 4 years ago
He was the evil personality that all the other personalities were afraid of and in the end he was part of Gordon
frcombi 4 years ago 2
i don't get it. soo simon was hypnotized or sleeping?
haruka7tenoh 4 years ago
No, Simon is the killer personality. He was talking through Mary in the tapes.
DrGregoryHouseIT 4 years ago
I never understood this movie
Alucard1310 5 years ago
I've seen Session 9 so many times. Simon always freaks me out.. i like billy <3
MissSaira 5 years ago
omg, i wacthed that movie at my sleepove in yr 9, twas very good. all my friends quote the crazy ppl now
thestrokesROCKON 5 years ago
The chair had to do with a sub-plot which was unfortunately removed. The sub-plot was that there was a homeless woman living in DHS that saw all of the stuff that was going on, and you'd catch glimpses of her now and then. The directors chose to remove this sub-plot because they thought most people would mistake this woman for Mary.
ve3xls 5 years ago
what did the chair had to do with the movie :S and did David Caruso die :P
brietjuh 5 years ago
from drBob former employee: the chair is just a prop, but represents a visual so when ever people see this chair in the middle of the creepy room they think of Session 9
pompom11 4 years ago
thats why he says dont watch unless you have seen it...
KandiGrrl420 4 years ago
Yes. Phil got killed. Everyone in the movie is killed or hurt - we never see Hank dead - by Gordon
DrGregoryHouseIT 4 years ago
One of my favorite movies...
RockNRollBiatch 5 years ago
"hey, fuck you"
piemaster 5 years ago
If you've never seen this movie before, don't watch this video. Spoils the entire thing.
Spentbrass 5 years ago