Disappointing, from an otherwise avid Silent Hill series fan

Rating: 3/10 (21 April 2006)

I find myself surprised that many fans have so far rated the film so highly having played and loved the games since it was first released - have we been playing the same series? In all this film left me feeling dismayed that this was being shown as an official tie-in, representative of the series, wondering whether in future the game series would be judged based on what people saw in the cinema and frankly whether other people only play the games for the gore content.
What works in this film? The visual effects, for one. The nightmarish Otherworld has never looked so good and the transition between the two was given an interesting twist with the burning effect and subsequent 'reapplying' of the surroundings. The monsters were also fantastically designed and moved very well indeed (I understand from IMDb that they were actors and not CGI which should say something to Hollywood, really).
What doesn't work? Well, most other things.
Clearly my biggest gripe was the story and general atmosphere of the film. Silent Hill games have all been about atmosphere - drawing you into the world, a stranger in a lost place. The start of this movie gave this in droves and it really felt as though an excellent film was to follow. Sadly, this failed to materialise as Rose travels through endless areas with no particular aim in mind, clues vaguer than those in the original game and with rushed scenes giving no chance to get drawn into the atmosphere. It was by the time they had finally reached the church that I knew the film would not recover. Pyramid Head's appearance, whilst clearly there for the fans (to which I've no objection, if done properly) was hampered by the gore that followed with absolutely none of the subtlety of the second game and a change of purpose. No longer there as a conjuring by a guilty soul to show past sins by making appearances and affecting his emotions, he's degraded to ripping people's skin off and directing hords of cockroaches. Great job.
Things turn from bad to worse with even more gore, the burning of a great character, Cybil, and the cringe-inducing ending worthy of a B-grade horror movie only (barb wire up the dress, anyone? You had to shake your head, as a fan, when people laughed audibly over the loud volume in the cinema). Out of the window flies the subtle, psychological terror from the games and in comes floods of blood, people splitting in half and all manner besides. I'm not suggesting blood is not usable - of course, the Otherworld has it as part of its decor - but the movie has clearly attempted to appeal to the masses. The games on the other hand use it to great effect and sporadically but more importantly - with purpose. Once more, it's about the atmosphere created, not the flesh and blood you spill.
As a result neither were impressed; people who hadn't played the game came out of the cinema with really negative reactions (comments ranging from "I think that's the worst film I've ever seen" to "Were you scared? Reply: No, not at all") and I as a fan feel let down.
The acting from Radha Mitchell was good given what she had to work with, whilst Sean Bean looked bewildered. Jodelle Ferland as the young Sharon played the cute child part well, though getting her to explain the whole scenario in a snap five minutes was a poor choice no matter which child actor you use.
All in all, not recommended and I won't be buying the DVD. This was a real opportunity to add to the series and it was let down by the rehashing of the first game and the tweaks made to appeal to the blood-gore-horror movie watchers. Not recommended, and I'm praying that the movie and the upcoming Silent Hill: Original Sin (warning: potential remake) is not going to disrupt the canonicity of the games; though somehow I'm left feeling the series has been tainted, regardless.