Indonesian Horror ‘Korean Haunted Hospital’ to World Premiere at BiFan

The Indonesian horror film “Korean Haunted Hospital” will have its world premiere at the 30th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BiFan), screening in the festival’s Signature section.

The film, produced by MD Pictures and Umbara Brothers Film, is directed by Anggy Umbara from a screenplay by Lele Laila.

The picture is a remake of the 2018 Korean found-footage horror “Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum.” Following its BiFan world premiere on July 9, the film will be released in Indonesia under the title “402: Rumah Sakit Angker Korea.”

“I grew up surrounded by cinema. Coming from a family of filmmakers and starting my journey as a child actor, film has always felt like part of my identity,” Umbara said. “Among all genres, I have always been deeply connected to found footage because it creates a raw, intimate experience that feels frighteningly real. Films like ‘The Blair Witch Project,’ ‘Cloverfield,’ ‘Chronicle,’ and especially ‘Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum’ shaped my love for this storytelling style. When I learned this remake was being developed, I immediately knew I had to be part of it. I poured my fears, curiosity, scepticism, and excitement into every character and scene.”

“The original ‘Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum’ is one of my favorite horror films ever made. When I heard that MD Pictures had acquired the remake rights, I immediately pitched this story. My goal was to create a localized version that honors the original while bringing something new to the table – something distinct enough to justify its own existence as a remake,” Laila added.

“While maintaining the core premise and tension of the original work, the film thoughtfully reflects today’s streaming culture and content consumption environment, offering a distinctive and contemporary experience. It provides longtime fans with a fresh kind of enjoyment while delivering vivid suspense and fear to audiences encountering the story for the first time,” said Martin Lee, BiFan programmer for Asian Cinema.

The 30th BiFan opens July 2.

MD Pictures, listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange, produced “KKN: Curse of the Dancing Village” in 2022, which became the highest-grossing Indonesian horror film of all time with more than 10 million admissions.