A Mother Is Like God To A Child

Rating: 7/10 (30 October 2006)

A little girl sleepwalks each night, putting herself in danger. When her parents hear her repeat the name Silent Hill, her mother Rose decides to take her there in search of answers. But Silent Hill is an abandoned town, apparently deserted after huge underground coalmine fires over thirty years before. Even as Rose and her daughter come crashing into the town, the little girl disappears, and Rose is thrown into a hellish nightmare as she tries to find her daughter, and thus discover the truth.
Viewers will probably be split into those familiar with the game, and those not, and whilst the producer and director have probably stepped on many a game-player's toes here, as a separate entity, the film is extremely effective. Interestly, almost all the main protagonists are female, and this throws up the key theme of maternal love vs. hatred/evil/betrayal etc. The town of Silent Hill is superbly portrayed as post-apocalyptical, riddled with terrifying mutated creatures. Amongst this, credit all for outstanding performances - Mitchell especially is magnificent as Rose, creating a totally believable ordinary woman thrust into a hellish maelstrom, whilst Unger, Krige and Holden offer strong support.
Game or no game, this is a classy horror pic, and highly recommend to all but the most fanatical or purist game-player.