Silent Hill [DVD]

I have never played the games but I like horror films and this one I liked. It is very atmospheric and the scenery is terrific. It is a horror movie that doesn't use cheap tricks and there is a lot of suspense. It has a intriguing story line that you feel compelled to see through.

Looking at the other reviews this seems to be the kind of movie you either hate or love. I had no problems with the acting and thought the movie was well cast. I have never played the games so I cannot compare the two but it might explain the rich if confusing storyline. I was uneasy at all times and when day turns to hell (night) I found it to be very hellish and longed for the day again.

To me this story is a keeper, but since it has such love or hate reactions I can only help you by saying that I like horror movies such as Alien, The Thing, The Others and 28 days later. I don't like Scream, Halloween or Friday the 13th. Hope it helps.

Upon watching this on DVD (as I waited for the DVD release instead of watching it at the cinema with all the usual distractions an annoyances) I was immediately thrilled at how they managed to stay so faithful to the game, not exactly to the game mind you but what would be the fun in that if you played it as I have and knew exactly what was going to happen?
First off, the music! This was excellent using more or less exactly the same music used in the game, this also applied to sound effects and even the good old sound of the air raid siren that is in my view a very memorable and eerie factor in the first of the Silent Hill games.
Then the visuals, these are also superb conveying the run-down surroundings and look of the town and the strange inhabitants when the darkness comes, the creatures are excellent! Nice to see a director not go running strait for the PC when they want to achieve nice solid viuals. Although I thought Pyramid Head could have been utilised more as he looked spot on! But at the same time it's good that the creatures weren't relied on too much to entertain as Silent Hill is as much about loneliness, atmosphere and isolation as it is about strange goings on and things that rip you to shreds in the night. The fact applies is that the spirit, feel and heart of the game has been successfully captured and faithfully reproduced in a movie that can't be easy to do. And has managed in my view to be the best movie adaptation of a game to date, especially when I thought who would even attempt to make a film of a game that has remained strictly `cult' as it's not a game for everyone.
Obviously the only `flaw' (I say flaw, more like a `comparison') is that you don't get exactly the same Immersion with the games as you do with the movie but this is obvious as you don't get the same interactivity with a film. Maybe a longer version might help this and draw you in more, I for one could have happily sat through more.

If your a fan of horror films you will probably love Silent Hill. Obviously based heavily on the bestselling game series, Silent Hill is enjoyable weather you have or havent played the games. Many of the main characters and monsters from the earlier games feature heavily in the film, some of which have been suitably adapted and work well. The script is good and to the point, but some may concider it slightly bland in places. The quality of acting from the relativly unknown cast is of a good standard, especially compared with liker concieved films such as 'Resident evil' that is not a touch on this adaptation.

Silent Hill town itself has many firmiliar locations and sequences that have been directly taken from the games and make welcome sights for devoted games. The special effects are very good and do the game justice, with an original use of computer technology for scenes when the town 'turns to darkness'.

The film moves steadily and surly as the plot unravels and there is a nicly ominous conclusion that fits well into the franchise. Overall some may find the mysterious theme of this film not to their taste but for Horror film fans and Silent Hill game players this is an excellent theactrical adaptation and worth watching.