Movie Review: Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum (昆池岩)

This is based on a real site in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea and is featured as the 7th freakiest places on the planet according to CNN Travel (see article here). Whether if it is truly haunted, I suppose only the daredevils who have the guts to explore will know but for now I'd settled with a fictional story. Ironically, despite the authenticity, most of the scenes were filmed in an abandoned school in Busan instead of the real site with the production team adhering closely to the floor plan of the actual hospital (according to Wikipedia). I understand the real site is closed off to the public and CCTVs are even installed at the front gate of the entrance but this doesn't discourage the adventurous ones from going in (see videos below).   

The story opens with the formation of a group of seven people (4 males and 3 females) who dare themselves to explore the haunted site. Among the group is the leader, Ha-joon, who is the host of "Horror Times" (think YouTube channel) and his aim is to hit a million views through their live broadcast of their exploration and earning some money through advertisements. Before their exploration, there are rumours about a cursed room and the director of the asylum killed the patients before she disappeared. Whatever the motives are (to find answers or to gain viewers; or maybe both), this group of explorers enter the site with their spirits high and little do the females know the guys are planning to play a few pranks on them. But of course we can all foresee what would happen next and this is when the real horror truly begins. 

I've noticed that this found footage technique for horror films has become quite a trend after The Blair Witch Project and a few others. While I found the idea refreshing in the beginning, personally I felt the technique lacks the novelty as it goes so while it still hold a certain charm to some viewers, for me I'd still prefer the "third party viewer" more than the "first person account" method (hope my statement makes sense). That being said, I'd a good scare towards the end and that's what counts for a horror movie, right? 

Below are two videos I watched taken from the true explorers and both claimed they heard footsteps or doors slamming. Whether if there are ghosts or not, I shall leave it to you to judge them yourself. ;-)   

(click this link for the first video.)

(second video)

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