Gonjiam: Haunted asylum

I'm always a bit hesitant to watch found footage films with the haunted house/asylum narrative. They all usually follow the exact same formula with almost the exact same scares. Honestly this one is no different. But of course I watched it because there was no doubt I wasn't going to. And even though it's similar to films like "Grave Encounters (2011) and such, it builds an impressive amount of tension and makes what you'll expect seem fresh. The setup is basic, a production crew goes to a supposed haunted asylum for their reality show to capture ghosts live and break into a room (402) that's locked and so far impenetrable. The first 35 mins are pretty introductory but does a good job of making you feel good with the crew. Once they arrive at the asylum, things unfold naturally at a steady pace with the last 20 mins or so being quite hair raising. Seriously, there were a few instances where things got spooky, for real. This isn't a movie that does anything new or reinvents the "Haunted Asylum" film, but what this South Korean film does do is let you know just because you might know what's going to happen, you shouldn't be comfortable still in the manner that things play out. This one might be in my top 10 for the year.

If you're a fan of scary B movies, the scares are amazing on the second half. I really hate the blacking out/glitching effect the movie did. I enjoyed watching it when everything rolled out.

How much you get out of this Korean found footage horror will depend on your mindset for this particular sub-genre. There's really nothing new here - think along the lines of "Grave Encounters", but better executed with the use of upgraded technology to stream live any paranormal encounters. The premise is run-of-the-mill; a small crew from a horror web series "Horror Time" grab cameras to explore an abandoned and isolated asylum late one night for a live broadcast. However they get a lot more than what they initially bargained for.

No surprises in how the situation plays out, however the atmosphere is laid on thick. Pure dread, looming shadows and creaking sounds engulf a dank, colourless location that will simply swallow you up. It very much reminded me of the tone/ambiance found in Session 9, maybe even creepier. One thing though, no way would you get me in there after midnight.

After a slow beginning introducing the characters, chemistry dynamics and a little history of the asylum including other thrill-seekers that have disappeared after entering the building. It all works up quite nicely to the obligatory jump scares and equipment failure. What seemed simple at first showed the plot had a surprise or two up its sleeve in its paranormal loophole, which is all centred around the cursed room 402. There were a couple rather effective set-pieces, yet probably not enough incidents in what feels kind of drawn out. Still those moments we do get, and there are a good 3 or 4, are well-shot hair-raising thrills.

Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum (2018) is one of the most effective found footage horror films in recent years. Hailing from South Korea, this film takes the familiar setup of a group of thrill-seekers livestreaming their exploration of an abandoned asylum and turns it into an absolute nightmare.

Initially, I was skeptical about the quality-many found footage films suffer from weak execution-but Gonjiam immediately proved me wrong. The film excels at creating an eerie atmosphere, gradually building suspense before unleashing full-blown terror. The use of sound design and immersive camerawork makes for an incredibly unsettling experience. Watching this film on a large screen with a surround sound system is highly recommended, as it amplifies the claustrophobic horror.

Having seen countless horror films, I rarely find myself truly unnerved, but Gonjiam managed to push me to my limits. The tension is so palpable that my friend and I had to pause at times because the atmosphere was too overwhelming. That's a testament to the film's brilliance-few horror films can achieve such a deeply visceral reaction.

If you're a fan of found footage horror, Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum is a must-watch. It stands alongside Grave Encounters and The Blair Witch Project as one of the best in the genre.

A terrifying found-footage horror from the South Korean film industry, Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum travels a well-worn path, packs the expected genre tropes, and implements the same formula that other similar examples before it did. And yet, everything about it is surprisingly better & far more effective, possibly due to its genuinely tense build-up & excellent rapport between its committed cast.