Silent Hill: Revelations – 2/5 Movie Reviews by Ry!
Silent Hill: Revelation – 2/5 – Going into a movie like this (Based on a video game and classified as horror) I knew not to expect an Oscar performance. Along with this, I was hoping just to be entertained even if it there is a cheesy script or typical characters. I was pleasantly surprised by this film. Unlike the new Resident Evil film, it doesn’t take itself too seriously and only does what a 3-D movie should do; entertain, even on a basic story in this unneeded sequel.
Heather Mason and her father have been on the run, always one step ahead of dangerous forces that she doesn’t fully understand. Now on the eve of her 18th birthday, plagued by horrific nightmares and the disappearance of her father, she discovers she’s not who she thinks she is. The revelation leads her deeper into a demonic world, a town called Silent Hill. This movie is a sequel, and like the original, it pretty much is your standard horror/creepy film based on a video game. The film first starts out following Heather (Adelaide Clemens) and her father (Sean Bean) as they are on the run from the issues created from the first film. She doesn’t remember much of her childhood, and has been on the run with him. When the father gets taken, she must travel with her new friend Vincent (Kit Harington) who was sent to bring her back to Silent Hill. Once you get to Silent Hill that is where the fun begins. The girl who plays the daughter is typical of a girl you find in most films of this stature. Lost, confused and trying to find answers to her past but also trying to save someone she loves. Even for this cliché personality, she goes beyond and brings depth to her performance. The depth is added by her past, and she brings intrigue and awe, as well as keen feeling as she is trapped in this nightmare, reacting to the common situations befallen a horror style movie. She is frightened, but is goal oriented. She will do anything for her father as well as find an end to this ‘nightmare’ of a past. For Sean Bean, there isn’t anything out of the ordinary, and he is given ample time to setup a description of the girls past and to be captured. The other characters in the movies don’t do much, and aren’t worth paying attention to. They are basically just planted to progress the story.
The direction in the film is pretty thin. There isn’t anything deep, provoking, or anything to bring something out to cause a ‘Star Wars’ revolution. The basic plot point is for Heather to find her father, and to take out the evil that is haunting Silent Hill. Even for the thinnest in its standard elements of the directing, it does have a peak of originality, especially when the direction moves to the town. There is a basic setup for the town for people who haven’t seen the original, but overall, there isn’t too much that will cause confusion. The failing of the simplistic direction makes the dramatic effects of the story fail at parts. You really don’t care about the people of Silent Hill or the supposed cult that is trying to rid this town of evil, which centers on Heather. There should have been an emphasis on the basic premise of the creepiness and horror of silent hill, but overall, you’re still entertained throughout the movie.
The cinematography is where the films true calling is. The horror, travesty and overall creepiness that Heather comes across in Silent Hill is truly remarkable. All the buildings are drenched in ashes, the darkness is all consuming, and it the doom and gloom is felt throughout every interaction of the movie. You feel the vileness of each place she comes into contact with, and come to the notion you don’t ever want to visit this place. Dark, dreary and demented, all terms that can describe what you see throughout the latter half of the film.
Overall, this film is really entertaining. There isn’t anything that stands out deeply or is thought provoking. Along with this, there isn’t anything of a gamer changer by the use of 3-D. Where the film succeeds is by mostly staying true to its lore and not taking itself more seriously than just to be a creepy film based in a creepy town. The main girl, played by Adelaide Clemens, is believable in her role. She does a good job in creating someone with depth in a simplistic film. There are a few cheesy lines and plot points that aren’t worth paying attention, but the overall tone and nature of the eeriness is what keeps you watching. A good film for people fans of the lore, game or horror films.