Tense, Darkly Beautiful, Intriguing -Anything but Silent

Rating: 10/10 (21 April 2006)

I am a big fan of the Silent Hill games, and this movie did not disappoint. Though the trailers seemed lackluster, the film itself is creepy, edgy and downright frightening while looking darn good -even if the look is "Modern American Hell." The movie starts off with a mother driving her young daughter to the ghost town of Silent Hill in an attempt to solve the problem of her daughter's strange sleep-walking. Upon reaching Silent Hill, the mother is thrust into a strange environment that soon becomes darker and more dangerous...which she must explore to find her wandering daughter.
This film is a great horror film: the tension runs high throughout, the danger is believable and imposing and there is a dangerous plot to uncover. Overall, the look of the movie is amazing. CG and real-life effects blend seamlessly to create the frightening environment and breathe new life and detail into some of our favorite monsters from the games. There is gore, to be sure, but the gore is not so much shocking as compelling in the way it heightens the mood. The sound, as well, is superb. The soundtrack does more than add some occasional creepiness, it really dramatizes all scenes and fans of the games will experience occasional flashbacks (whether pleasantly so, or not).
The only real drawback to this movie is that it may be difficult to comprehend, for some. For those devoted to the plots of the games, the story of the movie is very familiar and clear. However, those who have not played the games may not expect a need to bring their brains to a horror flick. There is exposition, and plenty of it (a bit too much, for my taste) so anyone paying attention will leave the theater with only a few questions in mind, if any. As anyone familiar with tales of Silent Hill will know, the need for audience comprehension is crucial in piecing the plot together, and not all answers will be blatantly stated. (This is unlike most films, which require no imagination or intuition of its audience) If you are a fan of horror movies or horror games, definitely see this film. If you like it, play the games...just make sure you have a soft hand nearby to squeeze or a fuzzy blanket to cower under when the denizens of Silent Hill come out to welcome you.