"STRANGE FREQUENCIES: Taiwan Killer Hospital" [2024]

Film

Enrique Gil, Jane De Leon, Alexa Miro

MJ Lastimosa, Raf Pineda, Ryan Azurin

Written by: Leovic Arceta, Dustin Celestino, Kerwin Go

Directed by: Kerwin Go

Reality MM Studios,

Creative Leaders Group 8

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RATING: ⭐⭐⭐.5 / 5

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WARNING: SPOILERS!

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SYNOPSIS:

Reality TV stars face mounting supernatural horrors while filming at haunted Xinglin Hospital in Taiwan. As paranormal activity intensifies, group dynamics crumble and a dark force manipulates their survival choices.

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I’m never a fan of horror movies; I get scared easily, and my imagination will surely run wild after I watch them. But for some reason, I got the courage to buy a ticket for this film and went. What piqued my interest was the fact that it would be the first Filipino horror film where the characters themselves serve as the "camera" for the whole duration of the film. Something similar to the Blair Witch Project.

As a non-horror fan, I think what distinguishes this movie from other Filipino horror movies is that it successfully detached itself from what we used to see in this type of genre. While the Shake Rattle & Rolls and Kris Aquino horror movies rely heavily on the “gulat” factor and a specific monster that haunts the characters, this film employs the most realistic methods of "scaring" its audience. The way they laid out the “scary” scenes was mostly unexpected—a false sense of suspense, leaving you hanging and wondering. Most of the characters did their roles well, especially those who aren't that well-known, like Raf Pineda and Ryan Azurin (Zarckaroo).

Another factor that made this film work is its relatability. The character’s desire to seek attention on online platforms, the need to be "viral," and the thirst for gaining popularity result in doing things that might put someone’s safety at risk.

Even though they're just using handheld cameras and the videos from the CCTV's and the lights were obviously not that full, it was still enjoyable to watch. Besides the earlier scenes that got me a little dizzy, the rest was fine.

If I had one criticism, it's that some lines (especially at the beginning) of the film were too scripted. Like there was this invincible “numbering” as to who would say their line first, followed by this person, then this one, and so on and so forth. There were also moments in the film where I felt that if it was a real scenario, no one would do what they did. (I can’t expound it further to avoid spoiling the film!).

Overall, Strange Frequencies can be considered a step-up when it comes to Filipino horror movies. While it was able to separate itself from other cringey movies that we used to have, it was still able to allow its audience to connect and be part of it. I may not be a fan of this genre, but at the end of the day, I think it all boils down to this question: Is it scary? My answer is yes.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxtA02ym9rk