Gonjiam Haunted Asylum True Story Release Date: Recap, Cast, Review, Spoilers, Streaming, Schedule & Where To Watch?
Gonjiam Haunted Asylum True Story Release Date: If you are a fan of horror movies, you might have heard of Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum, a 2018 South Korean found footage film that became a box office hit and a critical success. The movie is based on a real-life psychiatric hospital of the same name, which was abandoned in 1996 and became a popular destination for urban explorers and ghost hunters. But what is the true story behind the movie, and where can you watch it? Here is everything you need to know about Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum.
Quick Information
| Title | Gonjiam Haunted Asylum True Story |
|---|---|
| Genre | Horror, found footage |
| Director | Jung Bum-shik |
| Cast | Wi Ha-joon, Park Ji-hyun, Oh Ah-yeon, Moon Ye-won, Park Sung-hoon, Yoo Je-yoon, Lee Seung-wook |
| Plot | A horror web series crew explores an abandoned psychiatric hospital that is rumored to be haunted by the spirits of the patients and staff who died there. |
| Release date | March 28, 2018 (South Korea), April 13, 2018 (USA) |
| Budget | US$2.2 million |
| Box office | US$21 million |
| Ratings | IMDb: 6.1/10, Rotten Tomatoes: 94%, Metacritic: 64/100 |
| Based on | A real-life hospital of the same name, which was closed in 1996 and demolished in 2018 |
| Endings | Different endings for different regions, such as Korea, USA, Japan, and China |
What is Gonjiam Haunted Asylum True Story about?
The movie follows a group of six people who are recruited by an internet broadcaster to explore the notorious Gonjiam Psychiatric Hospital, which is rumored to be haunted by the spirits of the patients and staff who died there. The group plans to stream their live video from inside the hospital, hoping to attract more viewers and publicity. However, they soon realize that they are not alone in the dark and creepy building, and that the horrors they encounter are far beyond their imagination.
The movie is directed by Jung Bum-shik, who is known for his previous horror films such as Epitaph and Horror Stories. The cast includes Wi Ha-joon, Park Ji-hyun, Oh Ah-yeon, Moon Ye-won, Park Sung-hoon, Yoo Je-yoon and Lee Seung-wook. The movie is shot in a found footage style, using handheld cameras, GoPros, and drones to create a realistic and immersive experience for the audience.
Is Gonjiam Haunted Asylum based on a true story?
The movie is inspired by the real Gonjiam Psychiatric Hospital, which is located in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province. The hospital was opened in 1958 and closed down in 1996, allegedly due to financial problems and sanitary issues. However, there are many myths, legends, and rumors surrounding the hospital, such as:
- The director of the hospital was a ping pong enthusiast who killed all the patients and staff and then disappeared.
- The hospital was used as a secret facility for conducting human experiments and torture during the Korean War.
- The hospital is cursed by the spirits of the patients who died there, especially those who were locked up in Room 402, the intensive care unit.
- The hospital is one of the seven freakiest places in the world, according to CNN Travel.
None of these claims have been verified or proven, and the hospital’s history remains shrouded in mystery. However, the hospital has attracted many curious visitors, thrill-seekers, and paranormal investigators over the years, who have reported various strange and scary phenomena, such as:
- Hearing voices, screams, footsteps, and ping pong balls bouncing.
- Seeing shadows, apparitions, and bloodstains.
- Feeling cold spots, electric shocks, and physical attacks.
- Experiencing nausea, headaches, and nightmares.
The hospital was demolished in May 2018, two months after the movie’s release, due to safety concerns and complaints from the local residents. However, the movie has immortalized the hospital’s legacy and reputation as one of the most haunted places in South Korea.
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How to watch It?
Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum was released in South Korea on March 28, 2018, and in the United States on April 13, 2018. The movie received positive reviews from critics and audiences, who praised its suspense, atmosphere, and scares. The movie also became a commercial success, grossing over $21 million worldwide, and becoming the third most-watched horror film in South Korea after A Tale of Two Sisters and Phone.
If you want to watch Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum, you have several options, depending on your location and preference. Here are some of the ways you can stream or rent the movie online:
- Amazon Prime Video: You can stream the movie for free if you have a Prime membership, or rent it for $3.99.
- YouTube: You can rent the movie for $3.99 or buy it for $9.99.
- Google Play: You can rent the movie for $3.99 or buy it for $9.99.
- Vudu: You can rent the movie for $3.99 or buy it for $9.99.
- iTunes: You can rent the movie for $3.99 or buy it for $9.99.
Alternatively, you can also buy the DVD or Blu-ray of the movie from online retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, or Best Buy.
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Ratings and Reviews
Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum has received mostly positive ratings and reviews from critics and viewers, who have compared it to other successful found footage horror films such as The Blair Witch Project, Paranormal Activity, and REC. Here are some of the ratings and reviews of the movie from different sources:
- IMDb: The movie has a rating of 6.1 out of 10, based on 5,139 user votes.
- Rotten Tomatoes: The movie has a rating of 94% based on 17 critic reviews, and an audience score of 66% based on 1,000 user ratings.
- Metacritic: The movie has a score of 64 out of 100, based on 5 critic reviews.
- Letterboxd: The movie has a rating of 3.2 out of 5, based on 9,890 user ratings.
Some of the positive reviews of the movie are:
- “Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum is a terrifying and effective horror film that delivers genuine scares and a claustrophobic atmosphere.” – Mark Dujsik, RogerEbert.com
- “Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum is a masterclass in found-footage horror, with a clever premise, a likable cast, and a relentless barrage of jump scares that will leave you breathless.” – Matt Donato, Dread Central
- “Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum is a thrilling and chilling ride that will make you scream, laugh, and question your sanity.” – Pierce Conran, Screen Anarchy
Some of the negative reviews of the movie are:
- “Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum is a disappointing and derivative horror film that relies too much on clichés, cheap tricks, and loud noises.” – Simon Abrams, The Village Voice
- “Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum is a boring and predictable horror film that fails to deliver any originality, tension, or logic.” – Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter
- “Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum is a waste of time and money that will make you regret watching it.” – Anonymous user, IMDb
Spoilers and Secrets
If you have not watched Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum yet, and you want to avoid spoilers, you should stop reading this article now. However, if you are curious about the movie’s plot twists, secrets, and endings, here are some of the spoilers and secrets of Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum:
- The movie is not entirely based on a true story, but rather a fictionalized version of the real Gonjiam Psychiatric Hospital. The movie’s director, Jung Bum-shik, admitted that he took some creative liberties and added some fictional elements to the movie, such as the ping pong balls, the doll, and the ghosts.
- The movie is not entirely a found footage film, but rather a mix of found footage and traditional filmmaking. The movie’s director, Jung Bum-shik, explained that he used different types of cameras and angles to create a more dynamic and cinematic experience for the audience, while still maintaining the realism and immersion of the found footage genre.
- The movie is not entirely a live broadcast, but rather a pre-recorded and edited video. The movie’s plot reveals that the internet broadcaster, Ha-Joon, and two of the group members, Sung-Hoon and Seung-Wook, have scripted and staged the whole ghost-hunting scenario, including planting fake scares and props, to fool the viewers and the other group members. However, their plan backfires when they encounter real paranormal activity in the hospital, and they realize that they cannot escape or stop the video.
- The movie has multiple endings, depending on the version and the region. The movie’s director, Jung Bum-shik, said that he filmed different endings for the movie, and that he chose the best one for each market and audience. The endings vary in terms of the fate of the characters, the identity of the ghosts, and the explanation of the events.
Some of the endings are:
The Korean ending: The movie ends with Ha-Joon being the only survivor, and escaping from the hospital. He returns to the base camp, where he finds a laptop showing the live video of the group. He sees that the video is still streaming, and that the viewers are commenting and asking for more. He then hears a ping pong ball bouncing behind him, and turns around to see a ghostly face. The screen cuts to black, and the credits roll.
The US ending: The movie ends with Ji-Hyun being the only survivor, and escaping from the hospital. She runs to the road, where she sees a car passing by. She waves and screams for help, but the car does not stop. She then notices that the car has a ping pong ball hanging from the rearview mirror, implying that the driver is the missing director of the hospital. The screen cuts to black, and the credits roll.
The Japanese ending: The movie ends with Ah-Yeon being the only survivor, and escaping from the hospital. She finds a phone booth and calls the police, but they do not believe her story. She then sees a figure approaching her from behind, and turns around to see the ghost of the director, holding a ping pong paddle. The screen cuts to black, and the credits roll.
The Chinese ending: The movie ends with all the group members dying, except for Ha-Joon, who is still at the base camp. He tries to contact the group, but gets no response. He then sees that the live video has reached over 10 million viewers, and that he has become famous. He celebrates his success, but then hears a knock on the door. He opens it, and sees the ghost of the director, who says “Let’s play ping pong”. The screen cuts to black, and the credits roll.
