Dir: Christophe Gans, 2006, US/Japan/Fr, 120 mins
Cast: Radha Mitchell, Sean Bean, Alice Krige
Review by Matthew Rodgers
Soon it will be time to pull the plug on video game adaptations. Enough
restart buttons have been pressed in an attempt to make a successful
movie from some (Mario Brothers aside) promising material. The list
makes painful reading for anyone subjected to a genre whose main problem
is that it’s more fun to play a game than endure a patchy recreation
that makes you feel you are watching your friend play over his shoulder.
Ask any games player and they will tell you that's no fun at all.
The controller has now been handed to the acclaimed director of
Brotherhood of the Wolf, Christopher Gans, with the support of Pulp
Fiction contributor and Rules of Attraction helmer Roger Avery. He has
been given some of the strongest material yet with the adaptation of
popular game franchise Silent Hill, and he comes agonisingly close to
getting to the next level by actually making a good, if slightly
incoherent, film.
Silent Hill tells the story of Rose (Rhada Mitchell), a young mother who,
along with estranged husband Christopher (Sean Bean), is enduring a
torrid time with their sleepwalking daughter Sharon. In one of the many
inexplicable decisions made throughout the film, Rose decides to take her
daughter to the town of Silent Hill because she keeps shouting it out
during her nightly excursions. A chain of events is then put into motion,
via a police chase through the remote back roads, that results in
Sharon going missing and Rose screaming her name a lot in an attempt
to find her, without ever realising that may be what’s getting her attacked
by the menagerie of monsters that inhabit this hell on earth. Oh, and it's also raining ash!
Silent Hill is a success because director Gans has created two films in
one. The first for the target audience of gamers who will be delighted
with the familiar and effectively creepy soundtrack, the bird's eye view
shots of Rose running through the repetitive streets that will conjure
up memories of their own struggle to find the right direction, and the
recreation of some of their favourite monsters. The second is for the
viewers that previous adaptations have failed to attract - the casual
moviegoer. They are not to be disappointed, though, as they are subjected
to some inventive plot developments and some truly horrific set pieces,
one of which gives new meaning to the phrase "shedding some skin".
What both demographics will have in common is the undoubted confusion
that the film instils, particularly in the final third where all
of the mystery is undone by a rushed montage that only frustrates in
being completely underwhelming. Praise must also go to the scriptwriter
for not conforming to the standard Hollywood coda of a happy ending,
instead opting for a stunningly confusing and nonsensical one. But by
doing that they are sticking to the source material because, as a veteran
of the four games, I still can't work out what was going on.
Joining in the general bewilderment is rising star Rhada Mitchell
(Melinda and Melinda, Pitch Black) who, although given very little to do
as the film’s protagonist, is always convincing as the mother descending
into hell. The script slows down a little towards the end for exposition
purposes, allowing her to show glimpses of talent. Sean Bean, however, is
completely wasted as the exasperated husband trying to piece the mystery
together on the outskirts of the town.
Visually, Silent Hill is on the highest setting. Atmospheric, convincing,
and, in the realisation of the creatures, inspired. It's the benchmark
for all video game adaptations from now on and a step in the right
direction, albeit a "bloody" confusing one.
Discuss this film here
Pathé Distribution Ltd. have announced the UK Region 2 DVD release of Silent Hill for 4th September 2006 priced at £19.99.
Features include:
- 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
- English DD5.1 Surround
- English subtitles
- Making Of
- Trailer & TV Spots
- Photo Gallery
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