The Philippines’ Reality MM Studios has unveiled the first clip of its 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival entry “Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital” based on the South Korean box office hit “Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum.”
Produced by renowned director and “Master of Horror” Erik Matti with veteran filmmaker Dondon Monteverde and in partnership with actor Enrique Gil, the local adaptation will feature a group of young actors from the Philippines as they set out to explore and film in one of Taiwan’s most haunted places, Xinglin Hospital.
The Korean version was a 2018 found footage supernatural horror film directed by Jung Bum-shik. Based on an actual psychiatric hospital located in Gwangju-si, it starred actors Wi Ha-joon (Squid Game), Park Ji-hyun (The Divine Fury), Oh Ah-yeon (Mr. Sunshine), Moon Ye-won (Legal High), Park Sung-hoon (The Glory, Queen of Tears), Yoo Je-yoon (Extreme Job), and Lee Seung-wook (Joseon Fist) in the title roles.
“Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum” was a commercial hit in its native South Korea attracting more than 2.6 million viewers and U$21 million in box office takings, becoming the second biggest gross for a Korean horror film in 2018.
The project was brought to Reality MM Studios by Creative Leaders Group 8 CEO BJ Song (Taxi Driver, Boys Over Flowers, Princess Hours).
The Philippine adaptation, which recently landed on the radar of Hollywood media outlet Variety, stars film and television actor Enrique Gil (My Ex and Whys, Seven Sundays) as he leads a group of personalities who are all playing themselves on screen including actress Jane De Leon (Shake, Rattle & Roll Extreme), Alexa Miro and Rob Gomez (A Girl and a Guy), beauty queen MJ Lastimosa (Day Zero) with real-life tarot reader Raf Pineda and content creator Ryan “Zarckaroo” Azurin.
Zarckaroo is a local video creator known for filming actual footage in some of the region’s most haunted places and offbeat places. His YouTube account is followed by some 1.6 million subscribers while his Facebook page has 1.9 million followers.
Following the format of the Korean original, the group of Filipino amateur ghosthunters will explore the notorious Xinglin Hospital, an abandoned building located in Taiwan’s West Central District. The asylum is considered by locals as one of the most haunted places in Taiwan due to its recurring paranormal activities.
Dubbed as the Philippines’ very first meta found footage horror film, audiences and critics-alike are already looking forward to this reimagined style of filming technique.
The film was recently announced as Reality MM Studios’ official entry to the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival.
“Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital” is from the production duo of Matti and Monteverde known for hits such as On the Job (2013), Honor Thy Father (2015), Seklusyon (2016), BuyBust (2018), and Kuwaresma (2019).
The film opens December 25 in the Philippines.
Watch the trailer here:
