One of the most impressive and original horror productions in years

Rating: 7/10 (2 May 2006)

While based on the video game (which I have played) this movie does enough to stand on its own in terms of presentation alone. There are some holes in the plot, but to be fair the game didn't make a lot of sense either. Players had to wait for Silent Hill 2 to have them answered. That's not to say that it leaves the viewer stranded. It gives more than enough information for the audience to draw their own conclusions, as is sometimes the case with supernatural-type movies.
The acting was done well; actually better than I expected, with only a couple of lines made cheesy with a tongue in cheek attempt at humor. I actually remember only one line that was delivered fairly badly (and many would probably know it when they hear it) but considering the character it's pretty trivial. Some may say it was too speech-y towards the end but considering the content, most of it was necessary and done so in a way that it merely gives you a little breather before the "final confrontation", so to speak. Radha Mitchell (Rose) delivers one of the most blood curdling screams I've ever heard in a movie. You'll know it when you hear it; it's that effective.
The impressive use of filming and sound to set the scenes are what really immerse you in the disturbing and unsettling world of Silent Hill. There is one shot in particular, in which an ambient but subtle use of bass as the camera slowly does an overhead pan of a drugstore sign, that makes you feel as though something could seriously be wrong with this town. This is definitely a movie to see on a big screen with Dobly 5.1 sound, as it pleases (and often disturbs) the senses, which both directly and indirectly adds to the suspense. The limited use of CGI blends well with real on-screen action and all the characters look incredible.
All in all the movie definitely succeeds in delivering a unique horror experience, which gives the audience enough closure to the main story while leaving room for a little imagination. I actually understood the video game better after watching the movie, so in that case alone, no you do not need to know about the game to understand the movie, as some critics might have falsely led you to believe.
One more thing, it's pretty violent in some parts, featuring some of the most innovative and detailed death scenes on film. However, it's done in such a way that it seems more stylish than grotesque (although there's bits of that too!). A truly beautiful albeit disturbing movie.
Individual ratings (10 pt scale):
Plot: 7 Acting: 7 Visuals: 10 Sound/music: 10 Entertainment factor: 10