Session 9
The brief
Brad Anderson turns a routine asbestos removal job into a slow-burn psychological nightmare that gets under your skin without relying on cheap scares. The abandoned Danvers State Hospital becomes a character itself, its decaying halls and oppressive atmosphere doing most of the heavy lifting while Peter Mullan's increasingly unhinged foreman anchors the human drama. It's all about creeping dread and workplace tension that builds to something genuinely unsettling, with David Caruso delivering one of his most restrained performances. Perfect for fans of The Shining's institutional horror or anyone who prefers their scares rooted in psychology rather than gore.
The verdict
If you crave slow-burn psychological horror that builds dread through atmosphere and isolation rather than jump scares, this is essential viewing for fans of institutional nightmares like The Shining. If you need faster pacing or more traditional horror payoffs, the deliberate buildup and workplace drama focus might test your patience.
Watch with
- 👤 Solo viewers who appreciate slow psychological horror
- 👥 Horror fans seeking atmosphere over jump scares
- ⚠️ Those expecting fast-paced horror should skip
Heads up
- Mental health themes and psychological breakdown (moderate)
- Disturbing imagery in abandoned hospital setting (moderate)
- Workplace tension and verbal confrontations (brief)
Credits
- Director
- Brad Anderson
- Cast
- Peter Mullan, David Caruso, Stephen Gevedon, Josh Lucas, Brendan Sexton III, Paul Guilfoyle, Larry Fessenden
Official synopsis
Tensions rise within an asbestos cleaning crew as they work in an abandoned mental hospital with a horrific
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with You Were Never Really Here (2017)
Both explore psychological breakdown through isolated protagonists haunted by trauma.
Total runtime: 1h 40m + 1h 29m = 3h 9m
