Silent Hill
Silent Hill
Directed by: Christophe Gans
Written by: Roger Avary (screenplay), Nicolas Boukhrief, Christophe Gans (story)
Starring: Sean Bean, Radha Mitchell, Jodelle Ferland, Laurie Holden
If the past few years have taught us anything, it is that video game movies are pre-destined to fail miserably…
so what’s with all the excitement about Silent Hill? Normally I would not necessarily be eager to see a horror movie based on a video game, but I think the draw here for myself (and many others) was the fact that there were finally some talented filmmakers involved, instead of a second-rate director like the notorious Uwe Boll. Would screenwriter Roger Avary (Killing Zoe) and director Christophe Gans (Brotherhood of the Wolf) prove that something decent can come from a video game adaptation after all?
To be perfectly blunt, I’m afraid the answer is a resounding no. Although I really wanted to like this movie, and I did enjoy what I’ve seen of the Silent Hill games (I’ve really only played part 2), in the end this movie was just plagued with way too many problems from start to finish.
Rose and Christopher Da Silva have an adopted daughter Sharon, who sleepwalks, draws disturbing pictures, and repeatedly mutters the name “Silent Hill” while in a trance-like state. After doing some research, they discover that Silent Hill is actually an abandoned ghost town in West Virginia, so naturally Rose decides the only way to cure her daughter is to bring her there! After approaching the town and accidentally crashing her car, Sharon disappears in the eerie town, and Rose is forced to explore it alone and uncover some dark secrets to bring her daughter back home.
The whole introduction was completely trite and contrived, and happens so quickly that you learn absolutely nothing about the characters. Although initially I was willing to dismiss it — heck, if this was the video game it would just be a meaningless cut scene you would probably skip anyways — the movie never recovered from its terrible start. In fact, I really wish I could have skipped the rest of this movie with the push of a button. The biggest issue by far seems to be the fact that Avary and Gans were huge fans of the game, and it blinded them to the fact they were actually making a movie here. They were so caught up in recreating little details and mimicking the style of the game, that they didn’t realize that almost nothing interesting happens in the movie. There is no plot — the basic synopsis I described above essentially sums it all up. You have 2 hours of Rose wandering aimlessly from location to location in Silent Hill, occasionally encountering a scary creature, lead on by little clues — just like in the game!
While it’s fun to solve puzzles and explore a creepy environment in a game, it’s not so fun to watch someone else do it. Open a desk drawer, find a flashlight. Find a piece of a hotel sign, go to the hotel. Find a note in slot 111, go to room #111. I mean, how dull is that? They also tried to recreate the cameras found in the game, particularly when exploring the town: there are a lot of static shots where the camera is fixed and the characters walk in and out of the frame, then it switches to another camera. I guess this is a fun tribute in the same vein as Doom’s ridiculous first-person action sequence, but really, what does it accomplish? It’s bad enough that so many video games nowadays are trying to copy movies, we certainly don’t need movies copying visuals from video games.
Of course, the other major problem is that the acting was absolutely atrocious… though, to be fair, so is the dialogue. None of the characters have any personality whatsoever, so it’s like every word they speak seems forced. The cops in particular are the worst part of this movie, both the female biker cop and the detective acted extremely unnatural and were not believable in the least. Sean Bean was emotionally distant and uninterested, and the young girl who plays Sharon was also over the top (which is always a risk with young actresses).
I have to say, however, that the one thing I kind of liked about this movie was the end. I know a lot of people will say that it’s muddled, convoluted and confusing… and it is. But it also features a really gruesome bloodbath, and at the same time, I really liked the fact that not everything got explained literally… that it was more abstract in a way. I recently read that one of Christophe Gans’ favourite horror movies of all time is John Carpenter’s underrated Prince of Darkness, specifically because the evil force in the movie is so abstract and undefined.
The movie ends up having a definite J-Horror feel to it, in part because of the unexplainable ending. I suppose this makes sense considering the game itself is Japanese in origins. I just wish all these movies didn’t have to have the pre-requisite creepy little girl in them, I think we’ve all become desensitized to it by now.
Visually the movie is above average; well-directed and with decent effects that resulted in some seriously bizarre and disturbing imagery. The environments and sets for Silent Hill itself were quite creepy and interesting, and true to the game. Some of the CGI did look fake however, which kind of shattered the illusion for me at times.
Fans of the game will still get a kick out of seeing the town and some of the creatures brought to life, but overall this is a pretty unremarkable and empty film. I’m not sure what’s worse, a mediocre horror movie or a bad one — this one isn’t even bad in a funny way. I still give it points for the visuals and for an interesting ending, but overall this is just another strike against video games and movies crossing over. — Sean
SCORE: 
Recommended If You Like: The Ring, Session 9, Hellraiser, Prince of Darkness, Jacob's Ladder
Comments (14)
one more about this movie……SHITE!
Posted by Chopper on April 27th, 2006This movie was so bad that it got good and funny, but then it just got bad again. There were points at which I was thrown into fits of uncontrollable laughter just at the horribility of it all. For Example “It looks like there has been a fire in here”. For godsakes, we’ve already established that the entire town has been on fire for years. That’s why its a ghost town in the first place.
Sean, I know what you mean about the video game feel. It completely sucks, because once, just once, I would love to go to the theatre and see a video game movie that is actually any good. I did appreciate, however, the beginning when Rose is running through Silent Hill, simply because it was a “real life” set of the video game.
For the time being, I am going to put video game movies on hold, and sit at home and figure out all the puzzles on my own with an xbox controller in hand.
Posted by Daughter of the Non Light on April 27th, 2006How about a movie on my other favourite video games…
Gladius?
Posted by Bassmasta-Baychuk on April 27th, 2006Manhunt?
Fatal Frame?
Ghost Recon Summit Strike?
Max Payne?
we need a Battletoads movie.
Posted by Goon on April 27th, 2006Ahaha YES!
It better be a hell of a lot easier than the game though.
Posted by Sean on April 27th, 2006terrible dialogue, stupid plot, mostly senseless and unexplainable…
but i have to say, my expectations were lowered enough at this point that in the end, i enjoyed this as a rental. I’d buy it from a 5 dollar bin at a grocery store, heh. It reminded me of a lot of senseless anime, but with live action… kinda like Casshern. Looks nice, is a movie I could comment on with friends making fun of it as i watched, kinda like Alien vs. Predator…
in the end i enjoyed watching it, even if it is bad.
Posted by Goon on August 29th, 2006Goon, are you a gamer who followed and completed the Silent Hill games?
Posted by Bassmasta-Baychuk on August 29th, 2006i’m only vaguely familiar with the Silent Hill games.
I have to say, I’d have been very satisfied if at the end of Silent HIll the movie they went with the secret Silent 2 Dog Ending.
Posted by Goon on August 29th, 2006I was only implying that maybe the movie is more for the fan boy. I’m hoping to like, because I completed all four games and thought one day it may become a good movie.
BUT it is good for somebody indifferent to it, like yourself, to give a review from a non fan boy side.
Posted by Bassmasta-Baychuk on August 29th, 2006i just dont think its worth being a fanboy about av ideo game movie. until theres an amazing one, noone should have high expectations.
i was particularly glad that they often kept the music true to the game.
Posted by Goon on August 30th, 2006Saw this last night.
I’d give it a 2.5 / 4 though.
Pretty much what Sean said is accurate. The flashback sequence was neat and the scene of the burnt girl was a tad disturbing amongst other scenes.
I think the movie was confused on whether it wanted to be a “safe” horror for the kids, or the “bloodbath” that it could have easily become. The cop’s acting was pretty bad. She seemed to more of a psychotic who goes around pretending to be a cop and harassing tourists.
Some of the CGE was a bit obvious, but not as bad as I was expecting. Like Good said, the music is very Silent Hill and was happy with that effort. The setting and the atmosphere was very close to the game too.
This movie followed the FIRST game pretty damn closely though and I was happy with a lot of attention to details to bring the game to life, in which it did succeed. I think it is definately one of the MUCH better video game to movie adaptations.
The next one I want to see is MAX “fucking” PAYNE on film. Its got great potential especially if done by Quentin Tarrantino and Max would have to be played by Ben Affleck (no joke, he could pull it off). Then add a “Sin City” look and this movie could rule!
Posted by Baychuk on September 22nd, 2006Here is a great overview of the games leading up to the movie.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wg5MkZQvY9I
Posted by Baychuk on September 22nd, 2006For all you ppl who sad this movie was crap, go play Silent Hill 1, 2 and 3 and then you’ll form a different opinion. Evn though it’s not award winning material, it is by far the best remake of a video game onto the big screen ever.
I’ve played all the Silent Hill games and thought the movie was done very well and kept the feel of the game and true to the story. It must of made some money because they’re already doing a second one which alot of ppl will see just to know what really happend in the end of the first one, even if you didn’t like the first one I can bet most of those ppl will see the second movie.
Posted by Danny on January 14th, 2007What happens at the end? could anyone give a clue? I couldn’t work out
Posted by Amin on January 7th, 2008Leave a Reply