Yeah, on the whole, this is a lesser version of said recent classic in the genre. However, let's dig deeper. Please ignore the votes of 1; I don't know if it's bias or an unwillingness to judge something fairly if they didn't like it that caused them, but objectively speaking, this could be far worse. The technical aspect is, in fact, quite expertly done. Editing, cinematography, the sound, the score, all excellent. The FX are pretty convincing. This builds atmosphere rather well, getting immensely creepy and intense when it goes for such. It only goes for that, though; the plot is severely underdeveloped, essentially unoriginal(as I already mentioned) and clearly merely exists to stage the terror(which, again, is great). There are scenes that serve no purpose other than to add more fear-inducing stuff(the utterly gratuitous dream sequences, for example). In one bit, a couple of people are laughing in the sort-of background, and it gets to be excessive(no one goes on for *that* long), and it costs credibility, as does the one-note, single-trait(innocent, "evil", two-faced, etc.) characters(with what can be a seriously messed up logic). See, I would argue that the acting in this is good, and they(particularly the leads) certainly tend to be natural; they simply aren't allowed to truly explore their roles. I think all of this goes for many of our mainstream productions. Every conclusion about the ghost is reached by guesswork, yet it guides numerous of their actions. This underlines the issue that they don't reveal much about it; while mystery is not a bad thing, you can't expect it to have an impact when what the protagonist is doing lacks a solid basis. In as straightforward a story as this, the audience should never ask "why" someone we're meant to side with is doing what they're doing. There are other gaping holes. The nonexistent fleshing out keeps us from caring when anyone dies. Near the ending, it gets even worse. The very last shot is cheap, sacrificing a chunk of the value of the overall concept for a jump-scare that makes little sense. This could have been an excellent drama-thriller about closed social environments, or an effective piece of supernatural horror. All it had to do was make a choice of what to be, instead of promising both and not completely delivering on either(if you think it succeeds as the latter, try re-watching it, and pick out all the filler and the portions that don't pay off). What we get is a film of two mismatched halves, and you can easily tell where they crudely overlap. Wasted potential. Please, guys, get a better script next time. Perhaps the US remake will improve it. On the plus side, this features a couple of *hawt* chicks, including Rønholt and Mira Wanting(known from Hvide Løgne, or White Lies). There is some disturbing content, bloody and gory violence and sexuality in this. The DVD comes with an informative and interesting commentary track(by the sound guy, the photographer, Neel and director), a 23 minute well-done and fun behind the scenes production, a theatrical trailer and a teaser. I recommend this to fans of those who made it and/or the idea. 5/10

Danish supernatural horror following the style of the recent Asian ghost story crop? Quite possibly. 'Room 205' isn't too bad, but fairly an uninspired minor effort on all fronts with the college dramas (outcast---fitting in with in-crowd) taking centre stage, as the slow-moving ghost story feels secondary. When this side of the story begins to push along it's rather straight-forward with a nasty little back-story (told in flashback later on) behind the evil entity. Even the stringy concept about souls being trapped in mirrors is an interesting touch, which was done better in the little more complex Korean horror film 'Into the Mirror' (that got an American revamp in 2008; 'Mirrors'). In all, the old-hat story is kind of flat and threadbare with clichéd build-ups and scares, but at least coherent in its progress and considerably depressing in tone. Too bad it ends on not a redundant, but lame cheap shock ending. Something a little more haunting would have worked better. In these cases it's what you call all style, little substance. The slick direction proves it with the flashed up visuals, broodingly dour illustrations and effectively instrumented atmospheric sound work caught within a cramp, gloomy dormitory. Juddering editing and camera-work seems to be used around the minimal special effects and sped up jolts which are competently pulled off. The make-up of the ghost is slender and a little bit of splatter doesn't go astray either. The performances were a lot better than expected and one of the film's main staying power. The endearingly sympathetic Neel Rønholt is strong enough in the central role and Julie Ølgaard is potently good as the spitefully, stuck-up antagonist. Moderately creepy, but systematically plotted and forgettable.

Danish supernatural slasher, heavily influenced by Asian ghost tales like Ringu or ju-on. Katrine(Neel Rønholt)moves to a dorm managed by the really bitchy Sanne(Julie Ølgaard), the kind with a major superiority complex, thumbing her nose at those who are below her economic status quo. Katrine is an extremely likable gal, whose past yields a startling truth which plagues her, concerning the suicide of a mentally disturbed mother. Katrine takes a shine to the handsome Lukas(Jon Lange), little knowing that he is just a player wanting to have sex with her..his charm and looks mask this, with her bewitched only to find that he has a reputation for such behavior..in actuality, he was linked to Sanne. Sanne, at first, seems to offer her hand to Katrine..but a rotten practical joke during a dorm party goes awry, and Katrine is excommunicated from Sanne's "pack." Alienated, Katrine embraces a friendly relationship with the oft-ridiculed Rolf(Mikkel Arendt;who favors Paul Bettany), a decent enough chap, quiet, keeping to himself, but considered creepy and uncool therefore a subject to nasty behavior. Lena(Mira Wanting), is Sanne's best friend(..although, Sanne often has her working as a type of servant, commanding her to run errands, often insulting her in one way or another like taking jabs at her IQ and coke habit). Sanne's room houses a bedroom mirror holding the tormented soul of a girl sodomized by a group of college males twenty years ago, and when Katrine accidentally shatters the glass(..after seeing the ghost of the girl), the vengeful spirit is set free, aiming at those in Sanne's inner circle. Like in Asian ghost tales, the girl pops up after victims encounter a premonition of their up and coming demise in a mirror during a confrontation with Katrine. Katrine is the catalyst for how this all started and she is with all the victims when they see their grim fates in mirror glass. One falls through a table with a shard of glass stabbing her into the throat. Another's head is crushed when attempting to exit a stopped elevator that starts back up with no time for him to escape. A third receives a broken piece of mirror glass directly into the eye after a scuffle takes a turn for the worse. Together Katrine and Rolf will work together to send the ghost back where she came from.Director Martin Barnewitz uses several visual techniques toying with focus and light, often vibrating his camera when the ghost appears to an unknowing victim, with loud sound effects and music cues awakening the viewer to her ghoulish presence. The dorm was actually an abandoned retirement home and an ideal place for a film about a ghost on the loose. Neel Rønholt is incredibly photogenic and she's just adorable..plain without much make-up, but far from a wallflower. And, that smile with the little wrinkles, she's just a sweet-heart and I couldn't help but wish for the best despite the gamut she's put through over the film's running time.Arendt as Rolf, is also ideally cast, sympathetic to her cause and understands her plight because he himself has faced a lot of scrutiny and strife. Of course, Ølgaard, as the true antagonist Saane, always creating problems because it's in her DNA to inflict misery to those she deems inferior, is also perfectly cast. Lange as the smarmy stud Lukas, is able to switch from a potential love interest for Katrine to a sneaky heel rather well..these kind of guys exist in every part of the world. The ghost has a massive forehead, white pale skin, albino eyes, wearing a gown. Katrine "gains access" to this girl's fate since she was the catalyst who released her.

Rating based on US DVD of Room 205 (Kollegiet), not the original version. I'd rate this higher, but apparently Ghosthouse Underground doesn't trust the audience to be literate enough to read subtitles. What would have been a very good horror film was ruined by overdubbing the original dialogue with English. It's not the 70s anymore, trust the audience to be able to follow subtitles. The vocal performances are lost under new, studio polished American voices, which takes away from the quality of the film. It's a shame, because it's nice to have a film based on fear, not gore. It's not a perfect film, and I wasn't scared, but it made me want to see more from this cast and director.But shame on Ghosthouse Underground for overdubbing! I know they've ruined Vikaren (The Substitute) based on the overdubbed trailer at the beginning of this DVD. I've seen that subtitles, and I shudder to think of how they ruined that one.So know if you rent this, you aren't going to get the full benefit of the original film.