Interesting experience

Rating: 8/10 (22 April 2006)

To be honest, this film did not reach my expectations, but I believe that had much more to do with my theater surroundings than it did with the film itself. People talking throughout the movie, the sound seeming not loud enough for even an action film (I had went to see the Benchwarmers a a week or two before and did not have this problem, which makes me believe some people complained about the volume level of the movie), let alone to engage you as a intense experience.
That said, when these nuances were not ruining my theater going experience, Silent Hill became a very engaging film. Perhaps the last half hour seemed to really chug ahead as even the theater problems could not keep me from really getting into the movie.
Having not played the games, the movie itself came off as a very different experience. It isn't the typical horror movie...it really does not fit into any genre, it is just a very off kelter experience that takes some guts. Some might not like the ending, and some might say they do not understand the movie, but the movie is extremely straight forward and actually has a pretty interesting ending sequence that I would give more credence to than if it would have been given a nice little ribbon.
The visuals were amazing.