Many Hollywood controllers make the attempt of turning the thick line that divides movies and video games into a thin line that they can get away with crossing. From the early ’80s “Tron” to recent horror games “Resident Evil” and “Silent Hill,” writers are always scrambling for the next sure fire creation. With the ever advancing scope, storylines, and popularity of video games and consoles, movies based on games are becoming more and more prevalent.
I’ve been a big fan of the Konami horror game series “Silent Hill” since its release on the PlayStation platform in 1999. The game, which is actually a terrifying ordeal to play, has created a legacy that has witnessed over ten sequels spanning half a dozen consoles, in addition to a handful of relatively unsuccessful movies. The idea of a horror game was born with the “Silent Hill” franchise.
In 2012, English filmmaker Michael J Bassett wrote and directed “Silent Hill: Revelation,” a sequel to the 2006 “Silent Hill.” Based on the PlayStation 2 game “Silent Hill 3“ (which I own and thoroughly enjoyed playing) “Revelation” fails to capture the intrigue that the game its based on does.
One mistake in “Revelation” is that Bassett just assumes the viewer understands the story and the rules of the “Silent Hill” universe. Nothing is explained in terms of how, what, or why what is happening is happening, and if you haven’t played any of the games, the entire movie comes across as completely ridiculous. A simple paragraph as found in the instruction manuals of the games on screen at the beginning could have easily rectified this.
It’s obvious Bassett is a fan of the games as the sound effects and score perfectly mirror the game, and seconds into the movie I was transported back in time to my “Silent Hill 3” playing days. The fact that he made the movie ten years after the game came out should also clue you in to his obsessions with the series.
“Silent Hill” is a Rated ‘M’ for mature game due to its disturbing and graphic images. While the movie does its best to replicate the terrors of the game, the output rests further on the side of gross than it does scary. In all fairness, “Revelation” was intended as a 3D theatre movie, but that doesn’t excuse the overloaded lot of sickening scenes.
The beautiful Adelaide Clemens takes the lead role of Heather Mason and you’ll get goose bumps at just how closely she resembles the character from the game. Clemens does a decent job as Heather; a young woman vexed with the mysteries and surrounded by the monsters of “Silent Hill.” At times, it seems like Clemens takes the role more seriously than any other on, or off screen talent does. The rest of the cast flat out stinks, and inadvertently seem to act like secondary NPC’s from a game.
Heather goes about to solve the mystery in a nearly identical way to the game which is also a huge miss. While sharing common similarities, video games and movies just aren’t meant to be interchangeable parts. Games are meant to be played. Movies are meant to be experienced.
Like the games, “Revelation” does have some somewhat cool and definitely disgusting monsters, but most have been inserted as a flex of technological muscle. While there are some parts that may make you jump, the movie isn’t nearly as terrifying as the game.
If you want a real scare, throw any of the “Silent Hill” video games into a console, turn out the lights, and be ready for the nightmares. As far as “Revelation” goes, don’t bother.
by – Matt Christopher
