Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital (2024) Review

Synopsis

Seven celebrities explore a decaying, haunted hospital and discover horrors worse than they ever imagined.

My Thoughts

Good Points

Live-Stream Format Works

Much like in Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum, the live-stream format works well here, and seeing everything from the first-person perspective makes you feel like you’re there with the characters.

Slow-Burn Pacing

Scares are spaced out and deliberate, and the movie doesn’t just throw jump scares at you, and everything builds naturally and isn’t forced. Quiet moments are mixed bursts of tension, and it’s all very deliberate and well done.

Hospital Setting

The hospital spaces are used well, and the camera catches little details off to the side, so you really need to be looking everywhere at once!

Natural Performances

The characters react believable enough, and the fear isn’t over done or comical.

Sound Design

The sound design was brilliant. Little noises like creaks, and whispers are used really well, and thankfully the music is minimal, as it’s all about the environment.

The Escalation

Each decision adds to the tension, and all the fear builds fairly logically.

Technical Confidence

Camera work never gets messy during the chaotic moments. Some found footage films can get this part very wrong.

Self-Aware but Not Overdone

Even as a remake, it still manages to assert its own style even with the familiarity of it all.

Strong Atmosphere

The combination of the sound and the environment gives you a pretty constant sense of unease and dread.

Bad Points

Occasional Lulls

Some scenes do drag, especially when the story pauses for character interaction.

Reliance on Character Investment

If you don’t care about the characters, some of it will fall flat. The scares depend on how invested you are in them.

Pacing Issues

A few sections slow down too much, especially in the middle, and suspense takes a small hit. The slow-burn approach sometimes overstays its welcome.

Not a Jump-Scare Movie

Anyone expecting constant shocks might find the subtle approach a bit too restrained.

Familiarity

Certain moments do follow some well-worn horror beats, and even though it’s quite stylish, it probably won’t surprise you.

Minimal Backstory

Aside from the immediate situation, there’s little explanation about the environment or past events. Some more context would have been nice.

Is Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital Worth Watching?

I quite liked this one, and if you’re a fan of Gonjiam, you should definitely give this one a watch, too.

It’s well-crafted, and it will reward you if you pay attention to the details and character interactions.

To be honest, a lot of my praise and niggles I had with the film are pretty similar to what I said about Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum, too.

It’s certainly nothing new or ‘fresh’ regardless of it being a remake/based on Gonjiam, but it’s still a good enough watch overall.

Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital Trailer
Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital on IMDB
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