HORROR FILMS have long been a staple of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF); almost all of the popular Filipino horror anthology Shake Rattle and Roll premiered at the film festival. With “Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital,” director Kerwin Go embraces this tradition while attempting to introduce a fresh twist.
Inspired by the 2018 South Korean hit “Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum,” the film positions itself as the Philippines’s first meta found-footage horror, where an ensemble of online personalities participate in a live-streaming show and attempt to reach three million views.
Featuring Enrique Gil, Jane de Leon, Alexa Miro, Rob Gomez, Raf Pineda, MJ Lastimosa, and vlogger Ryan “Zarckaroo” Azurin, the actors play themselves, blending reality and fiction. Renowned filmmaker Erik Matti, celebrated for his work in the horror genre, is one of the producers.
The film’s standout feature is its use of action camera footage, creating an immersive experience as the ensemble embarks on amateur ghost hunting. Go reimagines Gonjiam’s narrative, trading the South Korean asylum for Taiwan’s Xinglin Hospital in Tainan City’s West Central District.
“Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital” excels in its minimal lighting and restrained camerawork, which heighten the tension and claustrophobia and deliver a unique sensory experience.
However, familiar shortcomings plague the film. Like many Filipino horror flicks, it sacrifices narrative depth for jumpscares and sparse dialogue, leaving its commentary on exploitation and sensationalism underexplored. The characters — despite their intriguing setup as real-life personalities — lack the depth needed to fully engage the audience or expand on the film’s themes.
Still, the film makes a pointed critique of the sensationalism surrounding real-world tragedies, a commentary particularly relevant in a social media-driven culture. The supernatural forces mock the characters’ exploitation of a historical landmark, offering a subtle yet sharp reflection on modern societal behaviors.
“Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital” is a bold step toward innovation in Filipino horror. It is a first, but not much else. To truly break free from the genre’s tropes, such films need to address the narrative and character development issues that have long hindered the local horror landscape.
