I've Watched More Than 100 Horror Films, and This Korean Found Footage Gem Is the Scariest One Ever

Horror is my passion, my guilty pleasure, and the best way to test my nerves. Over the years, I've watched more than a hundred horror movies, ranging from cult classics like The Exorcist and The Shining to lesser-known works like Hagazussa.

But only one movie has really given me the creeps and forced me to sleep with the lights on – Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum.

Gonjiam did what neither Sinister nor Hereditary could – it instilled in me an irrational, almost childish fear of the dark.

What Is 'Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum' About?

A YouTuber who specializes in exploring the creepiest places in South Korea visits the Gonjiam Psychiatric Hospital, where 42 patients committed mass suicide in 1979.

To honor the 40th anniversary of the tragedy, the YouTuber and his team organize a live broadcast and investigate Room 402. This room has become the subject of creepypastas and legends because no one has ever managed to open it.

'Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum' Is the Scariest Found Footage Horror from South Korea

Jung Bum-shik's movie is seven years old, but time is kind to horror projects in the found footage subgenre.

If you thought nothing could surprise or scare you after watching dozens of horror flicks, give Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum a chance – it is the most frightening found footage project from South Korea.

'Gonjiam' Starts off Rather Slow, but Picks up the Pace Toward the End

Gonjiam will have its greatest impact on a laptop screen, as if you were watching a real live blogger.

While the bloggers exaggerate their reactions to strange sounds during the first few minutes, there will soon be no need for any artificial buildup of atmosphere. Victims of terrible experiments will crawl out of every corner and ward of the hospital.

In contrast to the slow beginning, the finale with a bunch of creepy ghosts is overwhelming. The live broadcast format enhances the feeling of claustrophobia by making it easy to immerse yourself in the setting of an abandoned building.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum'?

• Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum has 92% from critics and 75% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the horror movie has a score of 6.5/10.

Where to Watch 'Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum'?

Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video and Shudder.