Hillcrest Sanatorium: The Sun Is Removing, Madness Begins Horror films, which tell about the restless souls of innocently murdered patients of sinister hospitals, come out with enviable consistency. The fertile theme was used in several dozen, if not hundreds of paintings and still continues to be one of the most popular in the genre of horror. It is quite logical that with the shift of emphasis in the sphere of pseudo-documentary manner of shooting, the directors could not deny themselves the opportunity to send a group of unknown performers to abandoned hospitals, posing as real researchers of paranormal phenomena, thereby attracting the attention of the public with hints of the truth of the story. Of course, many filmmakers have tried to develop the sub-genre of “found films” in new directions, but not everyone has it with the proper result. Perhaps the most significant attempt to link abandoned hospitals to a reality show was the Vicious Brothers’ Grave Seekers. Modest production became a real event in the world of horror, proving that with the right treatment with dusty material, it is quite possible to create a masterpiece that will not be forgotten for a long time. In the footsteps of the Vicious brothers, a little-known director and screenwriter Brant Cersen decided to go, who has been working on the creation of various films for more than one year, but has not achieved significant results in this field. Viewing a lot of modern horror, Cersene personally wrote the script called “Ghost Sanatorium”, wanting to put it into development as soon as possible. Having received the necessary support from one of the independent studios, Sersen led the filming process, inviting performers who had not yet had time to familiarize themselves with the audience, so that the viewer first of all followed the plot, and did not associate the characters with the stars of popular culture. It would seem, quite standard, nothing special unremarkable project, which is an imitator of the "Grave Seekers" and many other horror films of a smaller caliber, will not be able to interest fans of the genre with something original and previously unprecedented. Indeed, the Ghost Sanatorium uses familiar techniques and methods of intimidation, as if afraid to expand the arsenal of the nightmare with unexpected finds. However, Brant Cersen was able to recreate a surprisingly eerie atmosphere of hopelessness, placing in it interesting characters for whom you want to worry.
So, the plot of the film tells us what happened on the set of the hundredth issue of the popular program, in which a group of fearless researchers of all sorts of mystical incidents falls into the ancient building of the former sanatorium Hillcrest, where once there was an experimental medical institution whose doctors unsuccessfully tried to find salvation from the White Plague, or as we know it, tuberculosis. According to urban legends, the father of the family, a patient of the clinic, brutally killed three of his children within the building, and their ghosts still wander around the wards, in connection with which Hillcrest was closed after multiple tragic incidents associated with the invisible presence of angry otherworldly guests. So the best place for the anniversary release of the show about the rampage of paranormal forces was hard to imagine. Five heroes go to spend the night in Hillcrest just in time for New Year’s Eve, the anniversary of the tragic incident, when in theory you can establish contact with the dead and find out what really happened here many years ago.
Mostly the story comes from the perspective of Samantha (Kate Riley), an attractive blonde, the wife of the main ideologue of the project, Tyler (Ben Rogers). The girl with all her strength supports the faithful, realizing that he threw all his strength to ensure that their show gained popularity. And a hundred issues on the air mean quite a lot, given the impermanence of audience preferences. Couple Samantha – Tyler is an island of adequacy in the whole company, because apart from them, no one takes seriously the shooting of a monotonous program, where release after release does not happen anything worthwhile, because of which the team has to periodically resort to a scam designed to make the viewer believe in the supernatural. The director successfully conveyed the complex psychological situation within the team. We see that Samantha herself is somewhat tired of spending the best years of her life in a van, especially since their life is going to have a serious break associated with pregnancy. But the girl is still not ready to abandon her beloved, realizing that he just needs to support the project at a height and for this she is able to make concessions. There is nothing extraordinary about Samantha and Tyler. This is a perfectly understandable couple who are not ready to raise a scandal without a serious reason, preferring to discuss all misunderstandings in a calm manner. From the point of view of the traditional plot, the main characters could not be different, because of which they seem slightly trivial. But their colleagues are all trying to entertain us, bringing to the narratives of the most important comedy component, without which the “Sanatorium of Ghosts” would be definitely a sad spectacle.
Two inseparable companions in the face of fake psychic Mark (Don Fanelli) and professional cameraman Cole (Justin Pernell) do everything possible to make the mystical show turn from academically strict to hilariously entertaining attraction thanks to the constant stupidity that they sometimes bring to the absurd. It is not at all surprising that the guys constantly have a conflict with Tyler, who takes any antics of his comrades too close to his heart, but they still cannot resist the incessant sense of humor that brings the necessary ease of perception to the tape, covering some shortcomings in the direction of Brant Cersen. It is worth noting that the cast for the most part can be safely considered almost the main asset of the film. Unknown, but memorable performers, in particular Don Fanelli, one of his charisma is able to pull out of oblivion even the most mediocre scenes of the film, which tells us that it is quite possible in the foreseeable future we will be able to see the actors of “Ghost Sanatorium” in more expensive films in not the last roles.
As for the expected nightmares with which the director had to fill the plot, although they look quite ordinary, but at the same time they form an alarming picture that can make even those viewers who have already revised all the important samples of the genre worry about the outcome of events. Brant Cersen competently approached the choice of the scene, moving the film crew to a real abandoned building. Of course, most of these films are actually shot in nature, but it is “Ghost Sanatorium” has an aura of real horror, lurking in the dark corridors of the dilapidated hospital. In the conditions of the crumbling building, you can remove both the frankly passing horror of category B, and the masterfully recreated atmosphere of a genuine nightmare. Brant Cersen created a cross between these two values, trying to scare the audience, rather than making a genre revolution. In some places, the film really disturbed and even frightened. Expect this from an inexpensive horror filmed almost on bare enthusiasm lately is not possible. But the “Sanatorium of Ghosts” is pleasantly pleased with the elaboration of images that cause interest, as well as an impressive visual part that looks not like a cardboard copy of reality, but as a real polygon of impending fear.
6 out of 10