The one thing the original Silent Hill did better than nearly any other video game turned film was create an atmosphere that was engaging and intriguing. It was also the only thing that film did well, of course, as weak characters and mediocre acting coupled with a lack of scares nearly crippled the film. Throw in a barely comprehensible plot and you had a film that was for fans of the franchise and … well … that was about it. But it made a decent amount at the box office when international grosses are thrown in. Coupled with a small budget for the film it was profitable and thus a sequel was created.
The sequel follows nearly all of these same conventions, unfortunately.
Silent Hill: Revelations 3D follows the cast a number of years after the first film. Sharon (Adelaide Clemens) and her father Chris (Sean Bean) have been on the run for some time. They’re being chased by cult members from the first film, wanting to bring Sharon back into the town in which Sharon’s mother (Radha Mitchell in a cameo) is being held. When Chris is kidnapped Sharon decides to brave the alternate dimension that Silent Hill resides in to rescue him. He’s being held by a cult led by Claudia (Carrie-Anne Moss) who needs Sharon to bring forth the end of times.
While I’m not sure if this was originally filmed in 3D, or converted afterwards, this is one of the best uses of the cinematic gimmick of the year. The Silent Hill films both have had remarkably well done atmospheres and set design; they come through wonderfully. This is a film naturally a bit dark, and the 3D doesn’t help with that, but the film is lit well enough that it’s barely noticeable. Silent Hill 2 oozes atmosphere and it’s easy to get sucked in. It also takes full advantage of the R rating it rightfully deserves; there aren’t a lot of scary moments but there are a lot of cringe-worthy moments. This is a film that’ll make you squirm in your seat, if nothing else.
And that’s the problem. Despite the wonderfully well done atmosphere and tone there isn’t much else. All the dinner theatre level acting, weak characters and distinct lack of truly scary moments are back from the first and the film becomes borderline laughable on occasion. This is the case where a film was crafted around a visual presentation and nothing else.
Silent Hill: Revelations 3D may take advantage of the 3D format better than many horror films but that’s about all that it does well.
Writer / Director: Michael J Bassett based off the video game “Silent Hill 3″ published by Konami
Notable Cast: Sean Bean, Adelaide Clemens, Carrie-Anne Moss, Malcolm McDowell, Peter Outerbridge
