Well we're past the halfway mark and it's all downhill from here - literally.
And let's not forget that Day Fifty-Two of the Challenge means that there are only 48 days left until Halloween!
And with that, I have very little else to say. Today's movie is one of those video game flicks, but it has a decidedly horrific edge. I hope you enjoy "Silent Hill," and thanks for reading.
Silent Hill (2006): Directed by Christophe Gans. Starring Radha Mitchell, Laurie Holden, Sean Bean, Alice Krige and Jodelle Ferdland.
The Skinny: Based on a series of immensely popular survival horror games of the same name, "Silent Hill" follows a mother in search of her adopted daughter's strange and tragic past. Her search takes her to the town of Silent Hill, where reality shifts at the sound of an air raid signal and the town's ancient history affects all who enter its realm.
What's Good: For the most part - I think the "Resident Evil" titles aside, most video game adaptations pretty much suck. Usually it's because the director, in an effort to make a sound plot, changes or borrows elements from the source to create something that barely resembles the original ("Super Mario Bros.") or one that is just so ridiculous that it isn't even worth your time ("Houses of the Dead.") Not having ever played any of the games in the franchise, I was not jaded going into the film, and that's a good thing. Because this is actually a decent movie - it's edgy, atmospheric and at times scary without the jarring BOO! scares so frequent in today's horror flicks. The movie doea a great job at recreating some of the creatures from the video game, actually embellishing on them and making them even scarier than before. The thing about the movie that works most for me is the way things just suddenly appear along with the dimensional shift. And each of the monsters are a psychological manifestation of the young girl's fears and trauma. This is a film that rewards with consecutive viewings because there is just so damn much to see.
What's Bad: THE ENDING! I mean, I understand video game logic and that everything isn't supposed to resolve in a neat little package. But I swear this ending defies its own logic and ruins the rest of the film for me. Also, Sean Bean (Boromir from "Lord of the Rings") is underused - in fact, you barely see his ass and when you do, it's just for him to brood and struggle to cover his accent. Other than that, it's not a bad flick at all.
Why We Like It: It's dark, it's moody and the characters are flawed and tragic. It has all the makings of a classic gothic horror tale, except for the hideous pat ending. The special effects truly compliment the action and are used to perfect chilling effect - the way certain things move, as if every twitch causes them mortal pain. It's a good way to spend two hours. Just dont' mind the very beginning and the bitter end and you'll be okay.
Memorable Stuff: The scene where Radha Mitchell confronts a group of faceless nurses who move when light hits them is downright disconcerting. The nurses are again a symbol of the girl's physical pain and discomfort coupled with the idea that those causing her pain are faceless entities without concern. Yeah, that's scary fucking shit right there.
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