4/5 Review
When I heard there was going to be a “Silent Hill” sequel, I got excited. When I heard it wasn’t going to be directed by Christophe Gans, I became a tad worried. As a result, I had mixed feelings going into “Silent Hill: Revelation.” What I got was definitely a step up from the original, but still hast flaws of its own.
I actually like the first “Silent Hill” movie. Despite its flaws, it is still the most faithful adaptation of a video game series on film. Konami has played many of the right cards when it comes to film adaptations of their games. They have notably exercised the necessary amount of creative control over their properties, rather than just hand them off to every Paul W.S. Anderson that walks through the door.
The sequel picks up over 10 years after the events of the first film, and is loosely based on the third “Silent Hill” game. Harry Mason, once again played by Sean Bean, and his daughter Heather, played by Adelaide Clemens, have been moving from city to city in order to outrun the members of The Order of Valtiel, who seek to kidnap Heather for use in a ritual to summon their god and end the nightmare of Silent Hill.
That synopsis alone was tricky to type, because there’s a lot that is explained within the first few minutes
It’s not done via some cheesy recap, but rather through a few quick scenes. During those scenes, the film tries to rectify the various discrepancies between the two films, such as the changed character names, as well as bridge the gap between the two movies, given that the first one ended on a bit of a cliffhanger. The rest of the film progress normally, as we learn about the history and weirdness of Silent Hill alongside our main character.
Much of “Silent Hill: Revelation” relies on the visuals and pacing to convey not only a sense of panic, but also the sense of eeriness that the “Silent Hill” series is known for. For the most part, the visuals do the job, but there are some shots that were added to specifically cater to the 3D gimmick and aren’t even blended that well with the rest of the footage.
The film is also littered with various allusions to the games, whether it’s through the use of music taken from the games, or the inclusion of characters and creature designs from other “Silent Hill” games like “Homecoming,” “Origins,” and more recent “Downpour.”
Overall, despite its flaws, I still found “Silent Hill: Revelation” to be enjoyable. It balances its jump-scares with its eerie atmosphere. It successfully fills the gaps and plot-holes from the first film and managed to out-do the original in terms of visuals and overall aesthetic.
It’s a good film if you’re a fan of the games, and will probably be easier to take in that the “interfered-with-at-the-last-minute” predecessor.
