For a game to film adaptation, its a decent horror film.

Rating: 6/10 (10 November 2006)

Silent Hill, is a 2006 horror film based on the video game of the same name. The movie was directed by Christophe Gans, and stars Radha Mitchell as Rose Da Silva and Jodelle Ferland as her adopted daughter, Sharon. Ferland actually plays two roles in the movie, and does a pretty convincing and frightening job. I have never seen the video game. Well, let me rephrase that, I saw a small snippet of the video game years ago while my son was playing. My impression then was that the game was probably the creepiest I'd ever seen. The movie stays true to my first impression. Its really creepy.
For anyone who is a "SilentHill" video game fan, and is feeling particularly protective of this movie, let me say that I liked the film, and in no way mean any disrespect in any comments I make here. Its just my honest opinion. So, peace, man, OK?
As I understand it, fans of the game will be pleased with the movie, since it seems to try to capture the principle characters and theme of the game - so I'm told. Having little or no knowledge of the game, I have to say the movie holds up as a straight-up horror movie. That's not to say that there aren't flaws in the story line, but c'mon, what horror movie doesn't have those? For example, if you're all alone, and the basement is pitch black, there are scary sounds coming from down below, and half your friends have already been brutally killed...do you really go to investigate? Same holds true for Silent Hill.
The basic plot is set-up very quickly in the first few minutes of the movie: Sharon is a troubled young girl, suffering from nightmares about a town called Silent Hill. Her adoptive mother, in an attempt to find answers to her daughter's nightmares, decides to take-off for said town. This is against her husband Christopher's (played by Sean Bean) wishes, and he does what any concerned husband/father would do: cuts off his wife's credit cards. Sure, what better way to help get your wife and daughter get back home, but by cutting off their only source of funds. OK, so let's go along with this. I'm not sure what's more horrifying, the monsters in the movie, or the husband cutting off his wife's only means of coming home. Let me ponder on that one. Nope, its a tie.
We quickly find Rose and Sharon in Silent Hill, which is a creepy, creepy town. There they meet a variety of creatures who appear only after a warning siren is sounded. No, I'm not giving anything away. I have to give extra credit to the director and all those responsible for the creatures and sets. They used very little CGI, and stuck to make-up, real actors in rubber suits, and they actually found a semi-abandoned town to fill in for Silent Hill. This ultimately gives the movie an all around real feeling, and for the most part makes the creatures pretty frightening.
I'd have to say despite the story flaws, and seeming lack of explanation or reason for the appearance (or motive) of some of the creatures, the movie is definitely entertaining, and at times, scary. No, not so much that you are "actually" scared, but you know, the kind of scared you let yourself get when you're watching a horror movie. I definitely recommend the movie.
The following might be somewhat of a spoiler, so skip this part if you haven't seen the movie...but you might want to read on, if you'd like to get a chuckle during one scene. Toward the end, Rose has to pass down a dark hallway filled with crazy, murderous monster-like nurses. There are probably about a dozen or so of them, and from the neck down, they are all pretty hot, dressed in short, tight (though tattered) nurse's outfits. Though their faces are disfigured and covered with bandages, they still have their nurse's hats on, and are even wearing high heals. Hmmm. Funny, at least to me.
What makes this scene really funny to me is that the nurses were obviously choreographed (in fact they were, you'll discover if you watch the "making of" featurette), and their movements, dressed in their sexy outfits, reminds me of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video. Use your imagination, you'll see.
Watch for Alice Krige as Christabella. She (Krige) will forever be the queen of the Borg from Star Trek: First Contact. No matter how they change her make-up or character, I can't help but see her in that Borg get up.
Lastly, I recommend watching the extras included with the DVD. The "making of" is fascinating; especially seeing the actors who played some of the creatures. Watching these people, without the make-up and lighting, is still, well...creepy. They also go into the location a bit, and its all pretty interesting.