Silent Hill

“Based on the best-selling horror/action video game, Silent Hill stars Radha Mitchell (Pitch Black) as Rose, a desperate mother who takes her adopted daughter, Sharon, to the town of Silent Hill in an attempt to cure her of her ailment. After a violent car crash, Sharon disappears and Rose begins a desperate search to get her back. She descends into the center of the twisted reality of a town’s terrible secret. Pursued by grotesquely deformed creatures and townspeople stuck in permanent purgatory, Rose begins to uncover the truth behind the apocalyptic disaster that burned the town 30 years earlier.

Dare to step inside the horrific town of Silent Hill, where darkness preys on every soul and Hell’s creations await around every corner. But know that once you enter … there is no turning back. This stylish horror film was directed by Christophe Gans (the 2014 version of Beauty And The Beast, Brotherhood Of The Wolf) and co-stars Sean Bean (Game Of Thrones), Alice Krige (Ghost Story) and Laurie Holden (The Walking Dead).”

Whenever I hear someone say that there are no good video game adaptations, I always point out Silent Hill. Although I was more of a Resident Evil game fan back on PS1, Silent Hill had its own unique style of horror that made the game unforgettable. These moments are translated very well into the film adaptation, making Silent Hill a horrific-gorefest that still holds up to this day.

The story follows a family desperate for answers as their adopted daughter, Sharon (Jodelle Ferland), sleepwalks at night muttering strange things about a mysterious town called Silent Hill. With all avenues exhausted and her parents Rose and Christopher (Sean Bean) at their wits end trying to protect their daughter, Rose decides to take Sharon to this mysterious town to get answers, without Christopher’s knowledge. Finding the town closed and abandoned, Rose busts through the gate while being chased by a police officer, losing control of her vehicle after seeing a figure dart across the road. She awakens to find Sharon gone, beginning her search for her daughter and answers relating to the fate of Silent Hill.

This story deviates a bit from the game which follows Harry Mason who is searching for his daughter Cheryl. There are of course other alterations to the core of the story which I think work as an advantage on screen, causing much more conflict, especially thanks to the religious zealot group lead by Christabella (Alice Krige). The mystery of the town, why they are trapped there, all unfold very organically and is one of the things the film does best. This is best demonstrated by the two separate stories being told, one in Silent Hill with Rose and Cybil Bennett (Laurie Holden) searching for Sharon, and the other with Christopher searching for his wife and daughter, feeling their presence at times but unable to comprehend how they’ve disappeared, and also searching for clues as to what truly happened in Silent Hill’s past.

Other things worth mentioning that the film does extremely well: the transitions between the fog and the darkness, which brings unimaginable horrors, are very effective. Though the CG isn’t the best, the blaring horn from the church, the masked figures carrying a caged canary, and the impending dread of what is about to come make for some great tension that keeps ramping up as the film progresses. The gore is one of the things that still holds up best in the film, which any horror fan will surely appreciate. The acting is also well done all around. Radha Mitchell and Sean Bean play their separate stories of parents looking for their child equally well, though Radha has the much more difficult job of dealing with the horrors of Silent Hill. Laurie Holden plays a great supporting role as the police officer, and Alice Krige plays an amazing antagonist as always. Jodelle Ferland does a fantastic job as Sharon, playing both her and another version of her, a chilling performance for someone so young.

Video

Silent Hill is presented in 1080p High Definition Widescreen 2.35:1 with an HD Master approved by the director. This transfer looks exceptional. There are quite a few changes in tone and look of the film as we explore the different ‘realities’, the normal, fog, and darkness. Each one has a unique look that compliments the sequence very well, with a good balance of color in each one. No defects or issues were noticed.

Audio

The audio is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. This track sounds exceptional as well, providing that nice range of sound and balance between the surrounds and center channel. You’ll definitely notice the nicely utilized surrounds in the scarier sequences, and an amazing surround effect once the horns from the church bellow throughout your house. Dialogue is clear and concise, and there were no defects noticed.

Special Features

Some great extras from Scream Factory presented on a separate Blu-Ray disc included in the set. These are fascinating, worth watching for any fan.

Disc One:

• HD Master Approved By Director Christophe Gans
• NEWAudio Commentary With Cinematographer Dan Laustsen
• Theatrical Trailer

Disc Two:

• NEWInterview With Director Christophe Gans
• NEWA Tale Of Two Jodelles – An Interview With Actress Jodelle Ferland
• NEW Dance Of The Pyramid– An Interview With Actor Roberto Campanella
• NEW Interview With Makeup-Effects Artist Paul Jones
• Path Of Darkness: The Making of Silent Hill– A Six-Part Documentary
• The Making Of Silent HillVintage Featurette
• On Set Interviews And Behind-The-Scenes Footage
• Photo Galleries – Still Photos And Posters

Silent Hill gets the treatment it deserves in this Collector’s Edition by Scream Factory. One of the better video game adaptations, let alone horror films of the early 2000’s, Silent Hill definitely holds up!