Silent Hill

Rating: 4/10 (22 April 2006)

I went into this film with high expectations of a good, atmospheric horror film that would remind me of the video games. A portion of my expectations were fulfilled, however there are things I have a significant problem with. I may be a geek, but the problems I had weren't geek-related.
The thing I liked most was the production designs in the film. The creatures were AWESOME. Just utterly cool monsters that were almost identical to the game(s). I've only played SH2, so I don't know about all of the meanies. The set designs were VERY atmospheric and just plain nasty in some places, even the ones that didn't have blood or guts splattered liberally to the wall. I also learned that most of the monsters were not CG, which surprised and delighted me. I think filmmakers rely on CG way too much. I'd rather see Claymation than CG in every scene of a movie, just the fact someone worked hard to make an effect look real gets so many more points in my book than dime-a-dozen CG work.
The flayings aplenty also helped speed up the pace. When the creatures were out there was almost an instant feeling of dread that came over me and I'd like to say I'm a hardened veteran of the horror genre scene. So there were some really cool moments, particularly Pyramid Head's scenes.
So from a technical standpoint, I loved it. But here's where it gets bogged down. SPOILER AHEAD - If you know nothing of the story and will go to this movie regardless of anything bad anyone has to say, don't read. (Which I have to give you props for because I really have no respect for the sheep that read critic reviews and won't see a movie if it doesn't fit the taste of the reviewer, it should be about what YOU want to see and if no one else likes it but you do, it's OK. Movies are about ENTERTAINMENT, not popular opinion. Sorry, I'll get off the soap box now.) One last disclaimer before I start the Silent Hill dissension, I understand that the storyline involves the following elements in the game storyline. That being said if you read through the following, hopefully I can shed some light on why I don't think it works the way it is presented to the audience.
Acting and the script/plot were arguably the weakest points. Although not really all that bad, the writer's didn't seem to want to go beyond the call of duty and deliver the viewer a really top-notch story. I will say that the film has an effective soundtrack, although the best part of it was in the first 10 seconds of the movie.
But I'll get back on the soap box now. The thing that really irritated me is the bigoted, hateful way they treat religion in general, Christianity in specific. I never let any movie really get to me, but I actually became ANGRY at the filmmakers as they showed the scene of the girl on a metal grill being barbecued alive with a huge fire pit below her. Conveniently placed scripture verses taken out of context and cut up to get the filmmaker's views across pepper this movie with a very dim view of any redeeming quality in faith (Not necessarily just Christian.) I understand that they have developed a cult out of witch-burning fanatics from Salem, but the symbolism is so overwhelmingly linked to Christianity (One bible verse is one speaking of the righteous judging angels on a billboard for a church outside of Silent Hill, mysteriously reminding you of the fire-and-brimstone performance of Alice Krige) that all you are left with is a feeling of disgust for any sort of praying or church activity.
This really left a bad taste in my mouth, and as I do not want any sort of bigotry in my life or presented to me, be it racism or against religion or people who do not believe in God at all. The filmmakers here so seek to poison the viewer that there is NO COUNTERBALANCE ANYWHERE to a normal, positive person of ANY faith.
OK, I'm not kidding, this tells some of the ending, so SPOILER ALERT again for good measure.
As the film progresses, this just turns into a supernatural bloodbath with lots and lots of barbed wire (And believe me, I love a good flaying), and in Alice's case, barbed wire essentially ripping her from the inside out before slicing her to chunks. This is one movie where honestly the theme is that hating and mercilessly killing (albeit already dead and self-worshiping cult followers) is something to be admired. I would give this movie 2 stars for really fantastic work on effects, the writing, cast and sound were all standard to a little better than standard, although the plot will confuse people who do not follow the games at all. For viewers who just don't care about bigotry in all it's forms (In this film viciously attacking Christianity) they might give this 3 to 4 stars out of 4.