Movie Review: Haunted Universities 4
- Faiz Faisal
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
I am a huge fan of horror anthologies. There’s something so satisfying about stories that conclude quickly with immediate, concentrated scares. Growing up on Western staples like Creepshow, Trick 'r Treat, and the V/H/S franchise was amazing, but Asian horror anthologies, especially Thai ones because really hit close to home.
From iconic classics like the 4bia and 3AM franchises to the ongoing Haunted Universities series, these films are an automatic, non-negotiable theater visit for me. So naturally, I had to catch the fourth installment on opening day.
Is Haunted Universities 4 (เทอม 4) worth the trip to the cinema? Let’s break down the good, the bad, and the surprisingly emotional beats of Thailand's newest campus legend anthology.
Movie Overview (Without Spoilers)
The fourth entry in Sahamongkolfilm’s hit campus horror series brings four terrifying regional urban legends to life, spanning universities across Thailand's North, Northeast, Central, and South regions:
"The White Bridge" – An eerie tale of local lore starring Jirayu La-ongmanee and Violette Wautier.
"The Concubine Villa" – A mysterious, atmospheric piece featuring Prapamonton Eiamchan and Jorin Khumpiraphan.
"Pink Room" – A tense, claustrophobic segment starring Puntita Boonchuan.
"D-Day Night" – A chaotic ensemble piece featuring Jennie Panhan, Thapana Jongkolrattanaporn, and Nato Phankarat.
The Cinema Situation in Malaysia
First, let’s address the elephant in the room: the showtimes for this movie in Malaysia are incredibly limited. On its release day, there were only four cinemas in the entire Klang Valley showing it, with a mere two showtimes a day per theater. It really makes you wonder what is going on behind the scenes with local distribution for regional Southeast Asian horror.
Because of the limited schedule, there were only five of us in the entire hall! On the technical side, the movie felt exceptionally loud. I found myself covering my ears and could still hear every bone-crunching sound effect perfectly. It’s highly possible that the empty space amplified the room's acoustics, but the gore and audio design definitely delivered.
Atmosphere and Themes: More Heart Than Horror-Comedy?
Out of the four stories in this anthology, three are genuinely fun to watch. The overall pacing holds up well, and the plots are easy to digest.
However, compared to previous installments, this movie leans much heavier into heartfelt emotional beats. While Thai anthologies usually dedicate one segment entirely to laugh-out-loud horror-comedy, "D-Day Night" attempts to fill those shoes here but didn't quite deliver enough comedy for me. The humor relies heavily on just two characters, resulting in a few slapstick moments rather than sustained laughs.
Instead, the core theme driving this installment is human connection and relationship dynamics, whether between lovers, friends, or complete strangers. Despite the ghost encounters, it turns out to be a genuinely touching movie. I surprisingly found myself saying "awww" as the credits rolled on most of the stories.
Segment Breakdown & Personal Ranking
The one major speed bump in the anthology for me was "The Concubine Villa." The pacing felt a little slow, and I found myself losing track of the plot. Part of this confusion might stem from local censorship cuts regarding LGBTQIA content. Even if censorship shouldn't completely derail a movie, it left the narrative feeling disjointed enough that I couldn't quite grasp what was going on or perhaps the concept was just a bit too deep for me!
Despite that roadblock, the film delivers a solid amount of overall scares.
My Personal Segment Ranking:
D-Day Night (The most entertaining of the lot)
The White Bridge
Pink Room
The Concubine Villa (The weakest link)
Is It Worth Watching?
Haunted Universities 4 is a fun, casual watch. If you go in looking to enjoy yourself on a casual movie night rather than picking it apart as a strict film critic, you’re going to have a good time.
RATING 7/10: A solid, heart-filled Thai horror anthology that trades pure slapstick comedy for emotional human connections, great gore, and fun regional scares.
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