Best video game adaptation yet, but still has its flaws...

Rating: 7/10 (22 April 2006)

Following a viewing of "Silent Hill" with some friends, many of them were quite perplexed at the film. Needless to say, the film was a tad bit confusing to those who were not familiar and had not played the video game franchise. Being a person who had played the games, I was very satisfied with the film. Not only did the film provide an interesting way to bring the game into the movie-world, but also stayed extremely close to many elements of the game and included various things from the first three video games. "Silent Hill" is by far the best video game adaptation yet, but it still has its share of flaws. For one thing, based on discussions with friends and reading reviews online, it seems quite clear who will surely enjoy this film: fans of the video game. Those who aren't familiar with the game will be left in the dark, confused by an incomplete cinematic explanation that will isolate them from the rest. My friends who hated the film had every reason not to like it. The story is confusing, the character development lacks, and the ending seems almost incomplete (to those not familiar with the game). To me, the film was excellent, following parts of the game's storyline. However, I don't think Christophe Gans or the screenwriters did a good job at making this film for the unfamiliar viewer. Another problem with the film is that it's really not scary at all. The film is visually stunning and gross, perfect to the atmosphere, but lacks the general creepiness that the game brought to its players. Not once did I jump or get concerned about what was going to happen, as it didn't set-up like a horror film. Regardless, I do believe that on its own, "Silent Hill" is a good movie that deserves multiple viewings to fully understand its complexities. In summation, "Silent Hill" is a good movie that will surely attract the curious and satisfy its fans. However, it didn't come to its full potential due to the fact that it seems to have been made for such a small, fan-based audience.