Return to Silent Hill (dir. Christophe Gans)
By: Dave Hughes
Enthusiasts of horror video games often cite the Silent Hill series as a pinnacle of the genre. Alongside Resident Evil, the series is widely regarded as one of the most significant representations of horror within the gaming universe. Unfortunately, neither franchise has transitioned successfully to the box office. Most cinematic entries have been met with dismal earnings and convoluted scripts though some have developed a cult following. The latest attempt to translate this atmospheric world to film is Return to Silent Hill. Produced by the original game company, Konami, this iteration carried significant expectations. However, the final results unfortunately continue the lackluster tradition of adapting this series for the big screen.
Based on the narrative of the video game Silent Hill 2, the film follows James, a writer who experiences a chance encounter with a woman named Mary at a bus stop. Their subsequent romance leads James to become a de facto resident of the town. Following a significant time jump, James receives a mysterious letter from Mary pleading for his return to the town of Silent Hill where they shared so many fond memories. While the plot maintains loose threads to the original game, director Christopher Gans (Brotherhood of the Wolf, Silent Hill) takes major creative liberties when it comes to choices characters make and consistencies among relationships between characters. These departures from the established lore are likely to leave dedicated fans of the franchise feeling perplexed and alienated.
Perhaps the most significant disappointment of Return to Silent Hill is the overabundance of poorly executed CGI. Much of the excitement surrounding a big-screen adaptation stems from the potential to bring iconic video game creatures to life with modern technology. However, the manifestations in this film often appear lower in quality than their digital counterparts from decades ago. This technical failure severely impacts both the scares and the overall atmosphere. Silent Hill’s video games are memorable because of the grotesque, psychological entities that haunt its streets. Presenting these creatures as flimsy representations of the original designs does a massive disservice to the source material and its dedicated fan base.
Another area in which the film struggles is its central performances. Jeremy Irvine (War Horse, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again) portrays James with little to no discernible emotion. James serves as the essential guide through the fog of Silent Hill. When a protagonist fails to connect with the audience or demonstrates a lack of palpable fear, the viewers lose the investment required to buy into the town's mysteries. Joining Irvine is Hannah Emily Anderson (Jigsaw, Dark Phoenix) as Mary. Mary is a legendary and tragic figure within the fan base. While Anderson does an admirable job of carrying on the character's legacy, the script leaves her with little to establish a truly lasting impact. Despite the empathy the audience naturally feels for Mary, the performance and writing ultimately fall short of making her the emotional anchor the story demands. The central performances are key to any Silent Hill story and unfortunately these both fall short.
Target Score 3/10: Through an over-reliance on CGI and lackluster performances, Return to Silent Hill is a letdown for horror enthusiasts and longtime fans of the video game franchise. Both groups deserve a creative team dedicated to giving this legendary property the respect it deserves.