Disturbing and disappointing all at once (Contains spoilers)

Rating: 7/10 (24 April 2006)

I went to see this film with high expectations having seen the trailer. Although I haven't played any of the Silent Hill games I have read up on the background and theories about it and found them fascinating (yes, I probably need a hobby), so I was looking forward to it. After a heavy weekend I'm too tired to get a good ramble on so I'm going to summarise.
*SPOILERS COMMENCE*
The Good.
Monsters: Brilliant. From the first creature who appears to be struggling inside its own skin, spraying acid(burning?) blood everywhere when it gets shot (shades of Aliens there), to Pyramid Head wielding his great knife and flaying someone alive with his bare hands. Horribly terrific. There's a good 60/40 percent mix of CGI and prosthetics here which works to good effect. I'm not a big fan of over the top computer graphics but these seemed to work well in combination with the shadowy setting.
The Town: Silent Hill melts. Its the only way to describe it. It dissolves into a hellish rust and blood spattered environment you'd only find in your worst nightmares. Fans of the game will inevitably get a shiver when they hear the fire/air raid siren wailing before the onset of the dark. Very well done.
The Bad.
The Dialogue: "SHARON! SHARON!" *waves flashlight about, wanders around looking dazed, repeat ad nauseum for about 20 minutes or so* Yes in the games you're meant to feel isolated and alone...watching someone in a film wander about yelling is another thing entirely. Made it drag a bit.
"There must have been a fire here." There's ash falling from the sky. The website told you the underground fires had been burning for 30 years. Or did the large amount of burnt and blackened ruined buildings tip you of there sweetheart? Bless.
The Acting: See The Dialogue. Poor sods didn't really have much to work with in all fairness. And what accent was Sean Bean attempting to convey I have no idea...I just kept getting this image of Sharpe attempting to take the mickey out of an American accent.
The Inadvertently funny.
The Angry Mob: "Burn the witch! Burn the witch!" If anyones watched Monty Python and the Holy Grail before seeing this, any drama will be leeched from this scene immediately.
The Story.
Time: It all started 30 Years ago? Some of the characters appear to have difficulty aging. Sharon, for instance. And that detective who burnt his hands. No idea.
After all is said and done...
I'm going to get this on DVD when it comes out. Fantastic setting, grisly monsters but let down by horrible acting and utterly barmy dialogue. 50/50 good/bad split really.