Must Have an Extended Version!

Rating: 10/10 (20 February 2007)

It's hard to write about this movie, because the reaction to it depends somewhat on having or not played the games. This movie is based on Konami's "Silent Hill" series of games, mainly on the first, with elements of the second. Some people that have played the games seem to have failed to realize that, expecting to see a "film version" of the first game, what this movie is not! SH is based on the games, not converted from them, fortunately. The only complaint I have about this movie is that it is too short, the plot is too complex for a two-hours movie, some scenes could be expanded and some speeches slowed down (with longer background sequences).
The characters are mostly from the first game, the others are originals. Their development is much better than in the game, mostly because the characters wander alone in the first game. In the movie, the characters stay together most of the time (it's not "Scooby-doo", they do not separate when things get rough...) The actors also play very well their roles, mainly the little girl. Pay attention to her eyes, they tell more about the story than is actually said.
One thing that is preserved from the games (and even enhanced) is the background, the "something-scary-is-coming" atmosphere. If the movie was longer, some elements of the games that appear in the movie could have been better used, but that doesn't make the movie less enjoyable.
And after watching the movie, I realized something that is not so obvious in the games: humans are the real monsters (and I don't mean only in the games/movies!) The demons stalking in Silent Hill don't compare in evilness to the humans hiding there! If you can't cope with violence in movies, especially in this one, then don't read the morning newspapers, lock the doors and stay in bed... And once you are at it, play "Silent Hill", the game, it has not one, but TWO different "happy endings"! Real life is not so merciful...