En enjoyable experience, although not for everyone.

Rating: 9/10 (23 April 2006)

I must say that I've waited nearly 4 years for a Silent Hill film to come out. Once I sat and witnessed the work of everybody involved in this film's production, I was more than satisfied.
On the technical side, the production design, cinematography and photography are just amazing. Truly, there is a masterful design that stays true to the spirit in some SH titles. The majority of the tracks heard throughout the film are excerpts from the games. I tried to figure out which part was composed by Yamaoka-san and which by Jeff Dana.
The atmosphere of this film, rather than scary, is tense and suspenseful, obscure and grim at times. The plot is good, but it could have used some elements that would not make it complicated and hard to digest at times. By that I'm not saying that the film is flat and lineal; the story sometimes puts the neurones to work for a bit.
The acting is impressive, considering the fact that we're not talking Award Winning performances, but most of the characters are truly believable. Sometimes I thought I was immersed in the game, through some exquisite camera movements and takes that are require a few seconds to find certain details.
The secondary approach on the story, focused on the character Chris, needed to be taken a bit further, although it's not the core of the movie, but one of its branches.
As a fan of the game, I give it a 9 because there are some elements that slow the pace and may drive the viewers to fast-forward one or two scenes. Also, the lack of emphasis on some crucial points in the original story make it confusing for a few minutes.
The presentation is superb, the score is amazing and the whole design is just a masterpiece. I dare to say that this film is not scary, but very graphic and tense. It follows some perspectives that Mr. Gans has taken on some of his films. In addition, it is a promising addition to the horror genre that will become an instant classic and a landmark in video game film-making.
Enjoy the film, whether you are a fan of the game or not, but dare to look for some answers for yourself, rather than judging 'a la' Ebert & Roeper.