Dir. Jung Bum-shik | Now Streaming On: Tubi | Rating: 4/5

Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum is another Asian found footage film that had me keep the lights on for the night. The film is also a huge commercial success in South Korea, currently standing as the third most-watched horror film in the country behind A Tale of Two Sisters (2003) and Phone (2002). The lore around its release is controversial, from the owners of the actual Gonjiam asylum filing a lawsuit to one of the main actors, Lee Seung-wook, announcing his departure from entertainment just days after the film’s release. ⁠
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Gonjiam’s style calls back to MTV’s Fear of the early 2000s, where we watched moderately attractive and annoying twenty-somethings wander around historically haunted locations in the dark armed with nothing but a camcorder. It actually plays off the idea that these thrill and/or fame hungry young people have entirely gotten themselves into this mess, which may remind the audience of its legendary predecessor The Blair Witch Project. ⁠
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The jump scares in this film are spectacular and stick with you after watching. Though it doesn’t offer substantial commentary on anything other than the millennial obsession with fame, this is a must watch for fans of the found footage subgenre. ⁠
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Know Before You Watch: Features flashing lights, rapid camera movement, blood, death. ⁠