Dark, disturbing, operatic and powerful

Rating: 10/10 (5 September 2006)

Christophe Gans has created a visceral masterpiece. The film has been roughly described by many as Alice in Wonderland meets Dante's Hell, and this is a very appropriate description. The film is simple, it's a journey that satisfies a humans gnawing curiosity about evil, deep down we'd all want to know what purgatory looks like without ending up there. A talented cast including the always great Alice Kridge, Radna Mitchel and Sean bean, and great writing from Academy Award Winner Roger Avery (Pulp Fiction) make for a sublime cinematic trip. Yet i can say most of the credit must go to the awesome production designers who have created a visual feast for the eyes. At times the film can divulge into directors self indulgence but after all the overrated tripe, Hostel, Wolf Creek, Haute tension and a couple of unnecessary, terrible remakes, Silent Hill undoubtedly stands as one of the best horror films of the year.