Fear Challenge

Here's The Lowedown on "Heilstatten: Haunted Hospital" (NR - 2018 - DVD)

Lang: German Genre: Horror/POV My Score: 5.3

Cast=4 Acting=6 Plot=7 Ending=5 Story=3 Scare=3 Jump=5 F/X=6 POV=7 Twist=7

At an abandoned sanctuary near Berlin, a group of YouTubers illegally enter for a 24-hour challenge they hope will go viral. They learn too soon that they are not alone and not welcome.

"Rule number one: no Internet while we're here." I thought this was pretty good, but only because I am a POV horror junkie. This movie would only appeal to those that would think the same way. Even still, there was a solid concept (maybe because YouTubers die) and a good twist (you have to pay attention). If you're desperate, this might be worth a look.

The movie is a found footage horror, and a lot of the movie rehashes what has already done before (but that's the case with all found footage horror movies nowadays). If you don't like found footage movies, then don't watch this one, obviously.

But if you're like me and love found footage horror, then you may be interested in this movie, and some of the scares are truly ok. My biggest issue is that the characters are really annoying, which began to wear on me around the 45-minute mark: the women just kept screaming and crying, the guys kept fighting and bickering with each other. With better characters, I might've been inclined to give this movie more praise.

Pretty decent movie with a good twist. Loved it. Much better then the rating showes..

I have to admit, I didn't know the movie was German. If I had known, believe me, I wouldn't have clicked. But it was in the top ten ranking on Netflix, I repeat, I didn't know anything about the movie, so I clicked. Oh boy. What a waste of time. Why, and I am asking this as a German, why are German productions like this? For once, we didn't steal from Hollywood, I think, had a decent idea on a historically valuable building and its background and that's the outcome? Wow. We literally failed every film academy class one could think of. From script to special effects. Too bad. The idea was so good. Not original, we are talking about an asylum here, which literally created the horror genre, but good. Solid. If only they did a little more research on the patients, on the history. What a great movie this could've been. Not necessarily horror but drama.

The worst thing is people donated money so the film could be shot. In a crowd funding on the web! I hope they didn't want their money back after they've watched it.

I've seen way better Found Footage movies. Even with all the spins and twists, this probably will not entice you too much. On the other hand, how is this different or worse than any other of the many FF movies out there? Yes from a story standpoint it tries to give it a spin (especially towards the end), but overall this is business as usual and shocking moments as usual as well.

The acting is overall ok, though I would totally understand if you feel differently. Either go with the flow and the ridiculous premise(s) or better not watch at all