Return to Silent Hill – Review

So, after a mehhh sequel, we have the return of the first movie’s director, and a fresh story based on the most popular game in the series (and also my favorite). Nowhere to go but up, right?!? Hmmm… Welp…

As a convertible Mustang zips through winding hills at high speed, driver James Sunderland (Irvine) presses the gas and lights a cigarette. So fucking cool. After almost dying due to not paying any attention, he meets Mary Crane (Anderson), a traveler waiting for her bus, which she promptly misses.

James decides to drive her home to Silent Hill, since her trip to the city was ruined. After some flirting, they head to the small town as an ominous breeze rolls through. Silent Hill summer storms of course.

Years later, James wakes up at a bar table, his phone buzzing and his dreams reminding him of his lost love, Mary. As he fights the staff on the way out, it is hard to have much sympathy for him. Finally, he answers his phone. It’s his therapist, M (Alexis), trying to get him back on the rails.

James is a painter, and these days he focuses on haunting pictures of his deceased wife. In his apartment, he finds a strange handwritten letter. It instructs him to come to “their place,” as she needs him. It is signed Mary. This can only mean one thing: a return to Silent Hill. But, how can this be if his wife is dead?! What will he find?? Who sent the letter??

Return to Silent Hill has a few positives, and plenty of unfortunate negatives. The script is most certainly a bit choppy at best, and plenty weird at times. The main character’s acting is not a selling point. There are some inexplicable character interactions throughout, and odd behavior choices. I found the many flashbacks jarring to the pacing and progression, as opposed to being a useful juxtaposition to the horrors found in town. The psychological aspect to the game’s story was mostly neutered by narrative shifting and the script in general.

So, what are the good bits? It’s a new story, ignoring the other Silent Hill movies, which is fine. Set design is solid. The monsters again look good and the special effects work, bringing along some creepy imagery. The atmosphere isn’t that bad, and it’s nice to see a few well-produced settings and moments. The well-done horrors of the town itself make more of an interesting protagonist than James.

While I don’t find this film utter trash like many viewers and critics, it is about the quality of the second film, which is not high praise. It does not do the game it is modeled after justice story wise, which is a letdown. It gets a touch boring at times also.

If you haven’t played any of the games, I am not sure if that will make it a better or worse experience honestly. If you didn’t hate Silent Hill: Revelation, give this a try, but if you didn’t like the first two, this one won’t work for you either.

"Are you with us Mr. Sunderland?"