A Miss for the Mainstream / A Hit for Game Fans

Rating: 8/10 (21 April 2006)

The first time I played Silent Hill, I was 13. My playstation was to my 13 year old self what my laptop is to my 19 year old self. I was a fan of several adventure horror games, but when Silent Hill came out and dropped the adventure part altogether, I knew I was home. Silent Hill is a true horror series, and since it's US release, it has maintained a steady cult following. Three sequels on PS2, X-Box, and PC have been relatively well received (Silent Hill 2 will always be my favorite) and fans have been anticipating a movie adaptation for a while.
And here it is.
The film is obviously catering to fans. At times, it can feel like the director is sitting next to you, nudging and winking every few seconds.
As the lights came up in the theater, I instantly noticed the looks of confusion on nearly every other patron's face. Three people stopped me on my way out to ask what had just happened. (I was wearing a PH t-shirt, so I was an easy mark, I suppose.) If you're a fan of the games, I genuinely think you'll enjoy it. If you're not... you might want to reconsider your movie choice.