MovieChat Forums > Session 9 (2001) Discussion > It's a demonic possession/influence.

It's a demonic possession/influence.

posted 9 years ago by joshdestardi
12 replies | jump to latest

I don't trust anyone who is 100% cocksure about something that is ambiguous...

The Director did not set the movie up to 'trick' people.

How did Gordon pick Mary's room, out of all the rooms...with his own family's pictures on the wall? Why did the moment Mike found the folder with Mary's grave number on it, it flashed to Gordon showing him sitting right next to it - plot 444.

The connection between Mary and Gordon, is Simon, which is odd, wouldn't you agree - because Gordon hasn't been exposed to Mary's tape sessions. He knows nothing about Mary, yet he's gravitating towards her room and her cemetery plot, for what reason? Just a coincidence? In real life, sure, but the Director focused on these items on for a reason. Was it just to confuse us poor little 'demon' based theorists? NO. Directors show specific scenes for specific purposes. It is quite a 'coincidence' out of a heavily populated cemetery that the guy that is weak and vulnerable based on his personal circumstances suddenly chooses to hang around plot #444. And no, the same voice that speaks for Simon is the same voice that Gordon hears...does not make sense in the 'purely psychological' theory. Also "Why did Mary let you? Simon: "They always do, doc, they always do' while laughing." Oh, so here's a completely different voice, a completely individualized entity referring to more than one person when asked about ONE specific person, "Mary". Why did MARY let you and the entity responds "THEY always do".

Notice when the doctor asks 'Simon' where do you live - the camera shots take on a completely new view - floating above the building.

This is about mental illness as a vulnerability and an opening to influences, in this case demonic.

Not very original, but 'We accept the love we think we deserve.' Brilliant.

[–] gvkeitz 9 years ago

Disagree with thinking it is demonic/supernatural, but that's definitely a possibility. Very good points about all these coincidences. Agreed that the director deliberately left it unclear (not out of laziness) and up to the viewer to decide.

That's part of what makes it a great movie.

[–] FourthYear 9 years ago

That's part of what makes it a great movie.

Exactly. I pop back on this board every few months, and 15 years after it came out, people are still arguing whether this movie is about mental breakdown, some type of supernatural possession, or both.

If a movie can stick with you, it's a good movie. Session 9 is a great movie.

[–] Danimal_77 9 years ago

Demons and ghosts do not exist. Mental/psychotic breakdowns do.

[–] lloydonlead 9 years ago

In this film they do exist. The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing everyone he doesn't exist.

[–] pappa-b-bear 9 years ago

You've stayed as your opinion as fact.

[–] Don_Cheech 9 years ago

Just finished it. Somewhat of a mind bender. Much better than I thought it would be. The digital camera added alot to the visuals... reminded me of Inland Empire. the natural light and focus.

but: lets not over think it here. theres really only a few options:

1) The place is "haunted". Theres a bunch of weird stuff going on here-- several coincidences.... some hallucinations. Almost a typical - haunted - abandoned insane ayslyum. (which is fine- thats creepy enough IMO). and sort of explains all of the echoing cries and what not. The guys also seem fine in the beginning... but as days pass... become more and more distressed.

OR

2) Possession/ Gordon is having a mental breakdown. In this time of distress, Gordon is especially vulnerable to this entity... "simon" as Mary states in the session tapes. Simon preys on the weak. Gordon is the weakest of the bunch- hence he is preyed upon. The subplot of Mike analyzing the session tapes is the films way of gradually explaining what is going on. Gordon is facing the same "demon" as Mary.

i am new on this specific board so im probably just repeating things others have said.

what have i missed? and what is now the overall consensus? lol

[–] lazarillo 9 years ago

I'm 100 percent cocksure that it IS ambiguous. You are right that there ia lot of evidence of a demonic possession. BUT you also can't rule out a purely psychological interpretation. If Gordon is hanging around the asylum at night, he COULD have heard the tapes. He COULD know about Mary. He could even have conflated what he did with what Mary did.

It's interesting that NOBODY is actually listening to the "Simon" tape at the end. It COULD be playing only in Gordon's head and it might be about what HE did, not what Mary did. Adding to this interpretation, is pure believability. There are, unfortunately, many crimes like that committed by husbands/fathers, but by a little girl? That has NEVER happened. All you know from the "objective" witness to the tapes, Mike, is that Mary did SOMETHING bad to Peter. The rest COULD be in Gordon's head.

But I'm not saying either interpretation is the correct one; I'm saying it is obviously INTENDED to be open to at least two valid interpretations. I love ambiguity like this personally. I don't know why it bothers a lot of people so much.

"Let be be finale of seem/ The only emperor is the Emperor of Ice Cream"

[–] kurt-2000 8 years ago

Also, why would the generator give out just went two people are in very vulnerable locations?

Why would the coins suddenly be discovered?

Too many things are going on in this film that go way beyond a mad man planning murders.

But the people who made this film wanted doubt to be cast on all theories. That's why I own this flick. It's actually a pretty good concept.

[–] keith66-1 8 years ago

While the movie does seem ambiguous, it is in fact a possession story. Simon speaks to Gordon early in the movie before any conflict and before he's been hanging out there, or had any other chance to hear the tapes. The only reason the tapes are played is to explain what is going on. Simon lived in Mary and now lives in Gordon. Brad Anderson has stated this before and does so in the Blu-ray special features.

[–] kurt-2000 8 years ago

Thank you. There's been a debate on that subject here on the board.

[–] keith66-1 8 years ago

No problem. I love how the movie really makes you think. One can certainly draw any number of conclusions and find evidence within the film to support them. Nothing is force-fed, but the filmmakers definitely intended for this to be a supernatural story.

[–] Sunshine62 8 years ago

@ to kurt 2000:

I took your advice and watched the film and I did enjoy it.

I believe that Gorden was influenced by Simon just like Mary...I don't see why a child would kill her brother and her parents just because he scared her and she fell and hurt herself on the China doll that broke.

At the most she would have been angry that her doll had broken but she would have seeked help and support from her parents,not kill them.

Furthmore the parents would have already noticed some violent behaviour prior the raptus incident ...if this was true I don't think they would have given a knife as a gift to Peter , her brother having a liability so close by.

Already in the first scene we saw that Gorden was stressed out due to the baby's ongoing health issues and to finacial problems so ,I think, when Gorden visited the mental facility with Phil ,to check out the job ,Simon sensed Gorden's severe mental fatigue ... that was why he said "Hello Gorden" because he had chosen him to be his instrument of death.

I find it was strange how Mike found the box with the tapes... the light suddenly dimmed down for a few seconds and this made Mike look up and that was when he noticed the BOX which was until then out of sight ,on a very high shelf.

The coins and other items were all hidden behind a wall..but 4 or 5 were strategically put on the ground to be found.

I'm not sure but I think after murdering his family (the night of the day he went with Phil to checkout the job.)he started living in the ex room of Mary , where he pinned up the pictures of his family and friends .It can't be a mere coincident he chose that specific room ?
Phil actually found Gorden's wallet laying around the premises and gave it back to him.

One thing I don't understand though?. Simon had always killed his victims...why didn't he kill Hank ? ...did he leave him alive to use him as bait ?...when they don't find him on the staircase where the kid said he saw him ,they all go different ways in search of him...being separate made them all vulnerable and easier to be killed by Gorden who was under the influence of an evil entity.

The other clues that might suggest that Gorden just went nuts were put there to misdirect us, in my opinion.

The wheelchair really freaked me out ...maybe because it's an object that is used often in horror films..like the one Norman Bates's mother /mummy was sitting in.

even on a rainy day he brings sunshine to my life