Return to Silent Hill – Review

I went to the cinema and I didn't really like it…

I'll start with a short disclaimer, by which I want to emphasise that we haven't started reviewing films. Our main focus remains games, and every now and then, when Tudor Sprînceană and I get struck by lightning, we also dabble in a bit of Lego. For the cinematic segment, which we call “kino” on the GRIND Discord server, we recommend reading our colleagues at MovieNews.ro, who do an excellent job. However, I plucked up the courage and decided to jot down some thoughts about my experience with “Return to Silent Hill”, also known as Silent Hill: Return to Hell by the film's distributors in our cinemas.

I didn't necessarily plan to see it on the big screen, but I had a day off and, somehow, it fit perfectly into my schedule. I took Mr. V. Ianțu's advice, called a friend, and, boom, found myself in the cinema with a nachos and cheese menu and a Pepsi Twist. Yummix, 10/10 recommend, if you're not on a diet. To be honest, I didn't have very high expectations. From the very first images, I felt that something was wrong with the production, but here I am, the universe brought me in front of the screen anyway. Maybe it was the Silent Hill curse that “fogged” my mind (get the joke?) and made me press the button that said “buy ticket”. Or maybe part of the “blame” lies in the fact that, in 2024, when Bloober Team released Silent Hill 2 Remake, I dared to write about it in GRIND IV and felt, in a way, responsible to carry this burden further, including by watching the film.

Is this what horror should be like?

Now, I wouldn't want to make a bigger drama out of my going to the cinema than James's own. It wouldn't be fair to the team behind Return to Silent Hill, who poured about 23 million dollars into the production, for me to come along with a 500-line text and manage to convey more emotion than the three screenwriters did. Far be it from me to think that… but the truth is that, at least from a personal perspective, this “wonderful” horror film didn't move me in any way. It didn't even scare me too much, with the exception of two jump scares that had an impact more due to the good sound system in the cinema. It's worth mentioning that I'm not a big fan of the genre, but for Silent Hill, I decided to make an exception, out of respect for the game.

Now, let me tell you a few things about the film. I'll try to avoid spoilers as much as possible, especially for those who haven't “button-mashed” the game. For the rest of you, first of all, respect! You are gentlemen of refined taste. Silent Hill 2 (especially the remake) is a must-play regardless of preferences. And, secondly, you don't really have much to worry about, because you already know what happens in approximately 90% of the film.

James Sunderland

The main character, James Sunderland, is played by a gentleman named Jeremy Irvine. I don't recall seeing him in other films, although a quick search on IMDb.com shows he was in War Horse, the rest of his filmography is completely unknown to me. I'm trying not to be mean, but, as a quick characterisation, I can describe him as a “dude” with a slightly arrogant attitude, wearing a wig (if that's his real hair, then the hairdresser should be fired), some “cool” clothes for 2004, and driving a rather nice convertible Mustang. For those of my generation, this James from Return to Silent Hill would fit perfectly in the role of a rival from Need for Speed: Most Wanted or Carbon. He didn't convince me for a second. I couldn't perceive him as the James Sunderland I know from the game, especially after Luke Roberts' excellent “performance”. I don't understand why he wasn't even called for casting. I don't know if he would have saved the film, but he certainly would have done a much better job than Jeremy.

The James in the film is a visual artist, passionate about alcohol, cars, and, obviously, Mary – the love of his life. There are a few successful moments at the beginning, where you really feel the shock he experiences when he sees the state the once quiet and bohemian town has fallen into, as well as the dubious creatures scurrying through the streets. Here, I think the credit largely goes to the sound team. The way James breathes when he first hears the unmistakable sound of the radio without a signal, followed by the reveal of an acid-spitting creature, is truly spot-on. It's one of the few authentic moments of tension in the film. Unfortunately, after the character “gets used to” the town's oddities, the element of surprise almost completely disappears. From then on, the scared and desperate James quickly transforms into the angry and boring James.

Maria Angela Laura Crane

The second main character – or, to make a little joke, the film's “first lady” – is played by Hannah Emily Anderson. She doesn't seem to have an impressive portfolio either, but, unlike her screen partner, I liked her acting. I don't know if she's more talented, more inspired, or simply more charismatic than the gentleman playing James, but her performance works.

Her role is much more complex and comes with a small twist: Mary in the game is a fragile, vulnerable character you almost instantly connect with. You come to understand her suffering and, implicitly, James's obsession with her. There's something about that Mary that motivates you to continue the adventure through hell, just to reach her. The film's version, however, is sometimes strange, perhaps even creepy. In a way, this makes sense, because this Mary comes with some “occult” secrets. Her outer beauty is in total opposition to her inner beauty, like a slow-killing poison. If that's what the screenwriters wanted, then the direction is, at least theoretically, understandable. If not, then things didn't quite work out for them.

Pyramid Head and the other characters

The film gets a thumbs up for Pyramid Head. At least in terms of design, or costume, if you will, it's almost 1:1 with the character from the game. Very well made and just as imposing as we know him from Silent Hill 2. Unfortunately, he appears very few times, but at least the famous wardrobe scene is not missing, which is slightly adapted here. We also get a small reveal seemingly inspired by the Obi-Wan Kenobi series, when the Jedi master duels Darth Vader and we see the cracked mask of who was once Anakin Skywalker. There's another scene towards the end of the film where James pretty much hints at who Pyramid Head actually is.

The nurse ladies couldn't be missing, could they? Brookhaven Hospital is full of them, just like in the game. Here I have nothing to comment on – spot on. However, a big BUT (and not a wedding one) follows when it comes to the characters James meets in his adventure through Silent Hill. Eddie appears where you wouldn't expect him, probably so as not to unnecessarily prolong the film, and his impact is almost imperceptible. We only get a few timid hints that the world has gone crazy and that, lo and behold, there's ash in the town. No shit, Sherlock!

Young Laura also appears, but the transformation is… debatable. From the slightly strange but seemingly fearless girl who runs unhindered through the “rusty” corridors of the hospital in the game, we get an almost possessed version. All that was left was for her to turn her head 360 degrees and sprinkle James with some holy water. And let's not forget Angela; she's no longer the mysterious character we know from the game. The way she looks, she seems to be ripped straight out of a Scary Movie. Seriously?!

When the life game beats the film

Returning briefly to the general aspects of the film, something just doesn't quite connect. Christophe Gans, the director of Return to Silent Hill, does a kind of fan service by copying many scenes from the game. Undoubtedly, some of them are excellently adapted to the screen. However, problems arise when the film tries to gain its own personality and enters a zone of original creation. In short: when it follows the narrative thread from the game, it's spot on; when it comes up with inventions and script changes, things start to creak and become confusing.

I'll give you just a few examples, without making the mistake of telling you the film from beginning to end. The famous fog, which has since become a symbol of the Silent Hill series, doesn't exist here. It has been replaced with ash that settles over the town, an atmosphere that is more reminiscent of Stranger Things during the moments spent in The Upside Down. The explanation? You'll find out in the film. The town still looks dubious (in a good way), and the oppressive atmosphere is present, but the question remains: why was it necessary to “reinvent” the fog from the game, such an important and emblematic element?

Another example is the introduction of some kind of evil cult. I don't know if I should go into too much detail or let you discover it, in case the film piques your curiosity. I'll just tell you this: Mary has some blood ties to a secret cult, formed by some of the town's inhabitants. So far, everything sounds very Silent Hill. The problem arises when the film introduces this seemingly important narrative branch, takes you to a climax, and then simply leaves you hanging. Is it confusing? No problem. You draw your own conclusion, you're smart, dear viewer.

There would be other examples that seriously deviate from the game's narrative thread, but I don't want to prolong the text even further. Anyway, it's already longer than I would have liked.

Who is Return to Silent Hill for?

Good question. That's what I was thinking last night on my way home. In theory, a film that draws inspiration from another source, as is the case here, should be designed and optimised so that the consumer can understand the story without having read or played the original material. I played Silent Hill 2 Remake, but the friend I went to the cinema with didn't. Well, he left completely confused, and I was only half-confused, because I already knew the basic idea. For this reason alone, the film should lose at least 3–4 points from its final score.

In my case, what I knew from the game was already clear. What the director tried to add new, however, didn't really work. And that's frustrating, because some ideas weren't necessarily bad and, on paper, could have justified compressing a 6–8 hour story into a one-and-a-half-hour film. Obviously, that's only if they were told well. The conclusion? No matter how much you try to adapt a story as good and unique as Silent Hill 2, it seems you can't really. Is the limited time to blame? Perhaps a mini-series or a TV series, in the style of The Last of Us or Fallout, would have been a more inspired solution. I don't think we'll find out the answer anytime soon, considering how “successful” this attempt to make a Silent Hill film was.

Do I recommend the film? It's not necessarily a categorical “no”. I'd put it another way. If you're a Silent Hill fan, especially of the second game, and you want to consume more content from the universe, go see it. It's not the worst film I've ever seen. If, however, you're not a gamer, or psychological horror like Silent Hill 2 isn't your genre, but you're thinking a film might work, then I'd lean towards no. Don't waste your money. You risk forming a very bad opinion of what Silent Hill 2 actually is, believing that the game is also like that. If curiosity still gnaws at you, wait a little longer and watch it at home, from your sofa.

By the way, I didn't even bring up the rather weak special effects or other visual aspects, because the film's problems are much more fundamental. I would have liked Return to Silent Hill to be a good horror film that would confuse me. Instead, I only got ash on my boots and an adaptation that looks more like a fan-made project with a slightly bigger budget. Does it do the game justice? Not at all. Just as James lived with the hope that Mary was still alive, I too live with the hope that, at some point, some talented and, above all, passionate people will do justice and make an honest Silent Hill. Perhaps the solution was never to directly adapt the games to the big screen, but a new story, with Silent Hill DNA, just like Silent Hill f.

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Localised title: Silent Hill: Return to Hell
Release date: 23 January 2026
Running time: 1h 46m
Rating: +15 years
Cast: Jeremy Irvine, Hannah Anderson, Evie Templeton, Robert Nairne
Director: Christophe Gans
Distributor: Bloody Disgusting