The bank accounts of horror fans across the globe are preparing to be raided as Second Sight Films release yet another content-filled special edition version of Jung Bum-shik’s found-footage flick Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum.
Starring Wi Ha-joon, Lee Seung-wook, and Park Ji-hyun, the 2018 film follows a horror web series crew who travel to the infamous titular asylum to investigate the ghost stories surrounding the building. Rumour has it that the ping-pong-loving director of the hospital killed all of the patients and went missing, and the filmmakers’ livestream sees them uncover the horrors that took place behind closed doors.
The scares of Gonjiam begin in the opening scene, where a previous filmmaking team’s journey through the building is cut abruptly short, and it doesn’t let up from there as viewers are locked into a supernatural assault from all angles. Long, unmoving handheld camera shots ratchet up the tension, which is heightened by the harrowing tales unearthed in the asylum. Bum-shik has one mission and one mission only: to terrify his audience, and he achieves just that on multiple levels as its found-footage format grounds it in a haunting realism.
And what’s more, the Second Sight release features a brand new audio commentary, video essay, featurettes, trailers, and limited edition content for viewers to delve deeper into the mysteries of Gonjiam. This is the definition of terror: needling into your brain and never offering even a morsel of relief throughout its runtime. It is a must-watch for any horror fan, and this release should be a staple in any physical media collection.
GONJIAM: HAUNTED ASYLUM is out now on limited edition Blu-ray from Second Sight
