Gets Way Better Over Time

Rating: 8/10 (22 January 2019)

27 August 2006. This could have been a better horror-thriller. It wasn't even necessarily scary - this is a movie that tried to much special effects and gore, the same old stuff in a different way. Most of it didn't seem to make a lot of sense, except to being different. But overall plot is decent and by the end the movie actually has the mild twist, while not classic, sufficient to accept as something nicely done. Unfortunately, too much was done to try to make this movie different, but mostly in the stylish, creepy way that just didn't seem to work all the time. At other times though, the movie had an emotional connection, a lingering sense of horror. It just didn't seem to all mesh together perfectly. Six out of Ten Stars.
**Broadcast version - 11/5/11**. An amazing transformation and a rare occurrence except for Mission Impossible (1996) has a movie had a reawakening impact in its emotional and cinematic improvement. With selective use of in sync music of a diversity of tones and rhythms that echo the eerie and haunting and solemn horror movie, Silent Hill has suggestion of Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970) along with fascinating and compelling set designs and engrossing themes in resemblance of quality fantasy horror movies such Coraline (2009) with the mysterious eyes and creepy nether world, Dark Water (2005) with the emotional bonding of mother-daughter and the immersion into the set design of mood and captivating environment and The Cell (2000) with its amazing depiction of the inner world along with the same older woman and young child theme. Even such movies as La Planete sauvage (1973) and Spirited Away (2001). The most significant weakness appears to be a somewhat edited, forced opening sequences that didn't quick portray the typical lush photographic and smooth flow of quality mainstream, high production value movies. What is quite impressive is the acting and the character presence without well not stars and instead the consistent storyline once revealed allows this movie to become well-rounded and proceeds like The Blair Witch Project (1999) to rivet the audience by the substance of the movie itself. This is one of the few horror movies and movies in general that appeared to become stronger and more densely rich as the movie went on until the haunting twist at the end suggestive of such highly impactful movies such as Solaris (2002), The Sixth Sense (1999), and 1408 (2007).