Return to Silent Hill - Harry Review - 3/10
*Spoiler warning for Return to Silent Hill & Silent Hill 2*
Well, this was certainly disappointing. Don’t get me wrong, in no way did I walk into this screening expecting Return to Silent Hill, to live up to the classic game it’s based off, let alone the first film in the series, but it nearly failed at all points during its mercifully short run-time.
Christopher Gans (who also directed the 2006 adaption of Silent Hill) comes back for this third outing. For his part, I do think he tried to make a semi decent film on a relatively low budget, which might make the outcome more disappointing. Sound design, imagery and recreation of some of the creatures from Silent Hill 2 earn it some points here, but that is where the praise dries up. It did make me jump once, but I’m not considering this a plus, as I’m pretty sure I was beginning to nod off when a ‘scary’ scene happened.
From the off, you meet James and Mary, before the main events of the film, at the synonymous bus stop/toilet area at the start of the game. This is where the film deviates the most in fleshing out a backstory between them. It is not needed. If like me you were totally thrown at the ridiculousness of Mary not getting on the bus at the start, because she won’t just put some clothes back in her bag and inconvenience the bus driver for about 5-10 seconds, it doesn’t get much better from here on in.
Aside from all the poor acting, unwanted additional backstory which doesn’t add anything meaningful to the story, its cardinal sin (apart from just being nonsensical and dull) is how it handles the character of James. The whole point of Silent Hill 2, is that everything which is occurring to James, is a manifestation of his guilt for killing Mary. This is handled so poorly in this film due in part to the additional backstory, which completely undercuts the importance of James actions and makes Mary seem more of a suspicious character.
I’m all for adaptions expanding the roles of characters who only really serve as a plot device for the main character; when it works. Here it makes James seem more sympathetic as he uncovers a cult conspiracy which Mary is embroiled within. For this particular story to work and for the ending to hit the way it does in the game, you need to see Mary as this beacon of light for James, as this unimaginable loss for him, which, come the ending of the game makes his actions even more shocking. The film ruins even this. It has such a strong story to lean on and is caught between wanting to honour the game and wanting to expand upon it and proceeds to fail at both.
I try to keep these reviews brief, as the purpose is less of a deep dive, but more of a decision-making guide as to whether a film is worth your time. But I could write so much about how much I disliked this film, which speaks for itself. Experience this story the way it was intended, either by the original Silent Hill 2, or its excellent remake.
Harry 3/10
