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'Silent Hill' review
It screened late, but we've got Time Out's review of the horror film right here, right now.
Apr 24 2006
French director Christophe Gans's adaptation of the 'Silent Hill' computer game is visually inspired and thematically ambitious, yet ultimately uninvolving.
Distressed by her adopted daughter Sharon's sleepwalking and talk of 'Silent Hill', her mother Rose (Radha Mitchell) drives her there. A former West Virginia mining community now poisoned by gases from an underground fire, it is also permeated by an ancient evil and peopled with disfigured demons, including a pyramid-headed giant, armless monsters and faceless nurses. Aided by motorcycle cop Cybil Bennett (Laurie Holden), Rose tries to unravel her daughter's mysterious past.
Gans's fluid visuals make fine use of the striking set designs by Cronenberg collaborator Carol Spier and the fetishistic creature designs of Patrick Tatopoulos.
Yet the nightmarish imagery, much of it reminiscent of 'Jacob's Ladder' and 'Hellraiser', is more disturbing than frightening. Scriptwriter Roger Avary's clumsy storytelling is also problematic, with confusing shifts between the haunted town's different time/space dimensions.
User comments on this story
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- ali said...
- I am so confused...that movie was soo bizzare and I wish someone could tell me hwat happened cause I have no Idea haha ...what happened? Posted on May 19 2006 18:34
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- keiana said...
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THIS MOVE ROX i love silent hill
is there a real place like silent hill???? anywherre in the world if there is does anyone want to come with me to go there Posted on May 12 2006 02:37 - Report as inappropriate
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- sue and derek said...
- Dissapointed in this film, could pick out lots of faults Why didn't the ladder and rope burn when her face was melting?. Bad story line, not very good actiong. Posted on May 10 2006 16:10
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- laura phillips (registered user) said...
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avoid at all costs.
A terrible film with a very poor plot line and way too long. People actually left the cinema it was that bad Posted on May 02 2006 15:30 - Report as inappropriate
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- elouise said...
- i totally loved this film as i am a big fan of the games i completely understood the story as i know a bout all the games like the back of my hand i reccommend you go and watch this film as it is full as unexpected delights Posted on May 02 2006 11:30
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- Paul said...
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Great film!
It really felt like the game! I wonder if they'll make a second one? Posted on Apr 29 2006 23:42 - Report as inappropriate
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- Harriet said...
- One word: TERRIBLE. Please do not go and see this film. It was awful; not scary, zero plot line EMBARRASING american accent by sean bean. Was quite easily the worse film i have seen in my life Posted on Apr 29 2006 00:41
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- Felix Beam said...
- I thought the film was completely awful - not scary, a crummy storyline, and so uninvolving I almost fell asleep a couple of times. Dull. Posted on Apr 28 2006 17:13
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- Ben said...
- Was almost a great film until the dodgy witch-burning scene, but there were a few good ideas it didn't pinch from the games. Posted on Apr 27 2006 22:19
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- Robert said...
- This film was actually shot here in Brantford Ont Canada.Our Downtown is so rundown they hardly had to change much. Posted on Apr 25 2006 22:20
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- layla said...
- i think this movie was the best scarry movie ive ever seen...... Posted on Apr 25 2006 18:42
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- JOebell said...
- Though there were some shakes in the plot in the end everything came together in the end. It seems that happens w/ every video game to film type movies. The music and special effects made this movie and an awesome movie it was. Posted on Apr 25 2006 05:12
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- Stephen Hart Elder #1 said...
- Centralia was the working title of the film. In order to keep a 'secret' lid on production. Strick NO CAMERA/phones rules enforced on the set. Great sets to work on with great actors. Posted on Apr 25 2006 04:51
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- Lou said...
- The town is based on a real place (Centralia Pennsylvania) ...The underground coal fires have been burning for 40 years now.... Posted on Apr 24 2006 18:37
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- sonia said...
- i totally liked this movie i thought it was scarry but does silent hill really exists??? Posted on Apr 24 2006 16:38
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