Silent Hill

[XabbaRus]

Just finished watching the film and enjoyed it but trying to figure out the ending.

[SPOILER WARNING]

Is Rose and her daughter actually dead? Her husband at the end wakes up in the house in sublight and can't see his Wife and dughter even though they entered the house. My theory is that they died in the car accident at the beginning when Rose blacked out and this has been happening in the other world.

Anyone helpe me make sense of it?

[malkuth74]

I figured the Girl did not want to let them go. The thing I can't figure out is why can't she figure out she is still Inside?

Ah the way that woman Cop died was horrid. Gives me the chills just thinking about it.

[lesrae]

Warning - this thread contains spoilers. ;)

[jumpy]

Me and the missus just got this out on rental this evening... gonna watch it later; so far nothing I've read here has given anything away.
Also got 'Come and See' but because it's got subtitles she won't want to watch it :roll: -but then again she does have dyslexia :down:

[Dowly]

As a huge fan of Silent Hill games, I have to admit that I was pretty disappointed by the movie. I really wanted it to scare me like The Ring did when I saw it the first time. But the movie was missing lots of things that made the games so 'sick'. If I could go back in time and had a chace to talk to the director, I´d say to him that he needs to add more blood, chance the actors (especially the cop) and make the creatures more life like.

On the plus site, there was a scene from SH1 where the woman was running thru an alley and the camera panned just like in the game. Oh and ofcourse I liked the music in the beginning.

My scores are 6/10, with some more effort to the horror side of the movie this would´ve easily be one of my favs.

Or maybe it´s that I´ve seen so many horror movies that I´m coming immune to them.

[Godalmighty83]

goddammit spoiler warnings man!

[Godalmighty83]

SPOILERS


i give 8/10

director had enough balls to not shy away from the game.

not helped by the games complex storyline, the ending was grim i believe that rose is trapped in a darker reality by a possessed daughter.

yeah it was gory but thats not the point, the games main attraction is that as everything turns to hell around you its up to you to turn the next corner or enter the next room as the game does everything it can to screw you up mentally, in a movie you simply watch someone else make those decisions which is major part of the games tension gone.

a big plus point for the movie finishing with SH3's (the best game) opening music.


SH3 is the scariest game ive played, ever. makes resident evil 4 look like barbie horse adventures.

http://pp.kpnet.fi/jussila/misc2/ThePyramidHead.jpg

the movie pyramid head was given nowhere near as much depth that made 'him' the powerful entetity 'he' was in the games.


''They have come to witness the Beginning. The rebirth of Paradise, despoiled by mankind''

[AG124]

Spoiler Warning! Spoiler Warning! If I had that air raid siren from the movie/1st game I'd use it to warn of the spoilers here, but I don't so please adhere to the warning if you didn't see the movie yet.

There have been many theories put forth on Silent Hill Heaven and other forums - I will not comment on whether everyone in the film was actually dead or not because there is supporting evidence for both arguments. However, here is an argument that was put forward on Silent Hill Heaven recently (which drew bitter criticism from some). I will elaborate further with my own thoughts.

First, it is important to consider whether or not Alessa did actually have any evil within her - she may have been a good child who never harmed anyone but it seems that she did have some kind of powers at least (remember, in the hospital scene, when she was lying there burned, she appeared to have caused the flowers to die without touching them and hurt Lisa Garland somehow with her mind - yes,the Red Nurse was Lisa Garland). Christabella demands to know why Dahlia will not name Alessa's father, saying she has brought sin amongst the Christian Cult. Of course, this could refer to an illegitimate child as is usually interpreted, but she could also mean something else. On what, I can't explain myself for sure, but remember Alessa's role in SHI - although, the games are different of course. Maybe in the movie, she was brought into existence by a pagan ritual,or the father was someone with supernatural powers - I am just speculating.

Anyway, when Alessa was being burned alive, I noticed that the 'dark Alessa' said "They thought they knew how to cast out evil" - she doesn't deny that Alessa contained something that was evil, although she herself was "a good little girl." Maybe a suggestion that by burning an inocent child, the cult made the 'evil' (if that's what it was) worse instead of being cast out. I don't know what a good solution would have been if something inside of Alessa actually did need purification, but it seems that what was done to her was wrong under any circumstances.

In the hospital of course, the demon (a pagan god, the Devil, part of Alessa's subconscience, or something else) bonds with her in a pact to create the nightmare world in which the inhabitants (at least the cult) are trapped. It seems to me, that neither Alessa, with whatever powers she possessed, nor the demon were strong enough to create such a limbo on their own and it is here that this theory begins to fall into place. Maybe (and this is just theorizing) the demon needed Alessa's powers to create this world of evil and expand it, but as part of the pact (or just because Alessa controlled most of the powers of that world and controlled what actions would be taken) Alessa was to get revenge upon the cult first. Although we do see many of their mutilated bodies all over Silent Hill (particularly at Midwich Elementary School), most discovered that they could take refuge in their church - either the force or nature of their convictions, or their denial about their ultmate fate kept them safe within. If it actually was their faith, then that could prop up the theory that they were at least partially right about Alessa - something unholy was within her and needed to be purified (although they commited a terribly unholy act to try to cast it out instead),and at least the fact that they believed in God protected them. [Iceman might like that part of the theory...:cool:] It depends on how much Christianity you believe this film to possess - it is possible that this film has nothing to do with God and it is simply the unity and strength of their convictions which protects them within their common sanctuary.

Anyway, after about 32 years (it wasn't actually exactly 30, as is often believed, as the fire which destroyed Silent Hill was in November 1974, according to Officer Gucci) thing had to move quicker. Maybe the demon's plans had been delayed too long by Alessa's inability to get the cult members inside of the church. Thus, it would be necessary to create a vessel to allow the demon to enter the church and give Allessa the power to finish her revenge and finally be done with it. Sharon was created, either through...uh...reproduction with the demon (which was not actually a little girl, as that was merely one of its forms) or through some kind of ritual, as in the first game. One hole that was poked in this part of the theory was - how was the demon able to know that the baby that was left at Tolucca Orphanage (i.e. Sharon) would be taken in by a devoted and fiercely loyal mother who would not only make a suitable vessel/trojan horse (and no one even knows what the standards for that would be) but would also decide to go to the town in Sharon's nightmares? I don't have an answer.:down: But assuming all of this is actually valid, then the plan worked and Alessa was able to get CGI revenge upon the cult. Therefore, she would probably be more receptive to the demon's supposed plans to expand the evil universe which they had created. Thus, Rose served again as a vessel to expand the universe of Silent Hill outside of the town - the demon still needed her and thus would not let her go (remember Dahlia? "Only the Dark One opens and closes the door to Silent Hill."). Also, remember games II and especially IV (which I haven't played myself but already know the plot).

Of course, this is an unfounded theory which is more than likely wrong. As I said, some of this has been put forward before and was atracked by fans who seemed surprisingly upset and angry about it.:-? Usually, most people see is as a good vs. evil revenge story, with the demon as a character whose main interest is to help Alessa get satisfaction for what was done to her. Maybe this is correct - I don't know.

There are other more conventional theories, but the "everyone is dead" one goes like this. Everyone trapped in Silent Hill has acrtually died - the cult in the fire at the factory next to the Grand Hotel, Cybil Bennet in her motorcycle crash, and Rose when her Jeep left the road and hit some gravel. Anyone else from Silent Hill, Dahlia and the rapist janitor Colin for example, were killed when the fire spread to the coal mines underneath the town and created toxic fumes, smoke, and flash fires. Thus, they are trapped in Purgatory and cannot enter Hell until the Devil and Alessa send them there. Rose is still in the otherworld in the end because, well, she is dead. Although all of this is possible, there are holes in parts of this theory (some are mine and some are floating around the internet):
- There are no bodies to be found of the people that are supposingly dead.
- Rose's Jeep leaving the road barely qualifies as a fatal accident. The airbag isn't even set off, and Officer Gucci tells Chris that the police have found the Jeep Liberty and there is no signs that anyone was hurt at all.
- If the ash-filled Silent Hill is Christian Purgatory, then why is it only in one place and why does it only spread to part of the rest of the world when Rose takes it with her. And why aren't dead people from all over the world who are to go to purgatory ending up here instead of just one cult? And why was Purgatory created in 1974 with the help of a small child? Of course, it could be some kind of non-Christian alternate universe, so the 'dead' theory could revolve around that too.
- Why the hell did Uwe Boll think that he could, or would be allowed to, direct this film instead of Christopher Gans? Well, that actually has nothing to do with the theory but when I read that he had wanted to do this film I shuddered involuntarily. Although at least we would might have had the amusing sight of watching Michael Madsen stumble though his lines while (allegedly) loaded drunk again if Boll went with his earlier casts...

Anyway, I am not trying to be an authority or demand anyone listen to my boring ramblings. This is the kind of great, deep, and symbolic movie which should trigger this kind of discussion amongst interested fans.:up:

In case you are wondering, I too enjoyed the movie quite a bit...:p

[AG124]

Warning! Silent Hill 2 Game Spoilers!

As for Pyramid Head, he didn't really have any point in the movie but as a fan of the games, I'm sure Gans just had to put him in anyway. In SHII, he (Pyramid Head, not Gans:know:) is often thought to be a figment of James' imagination to symbolically punish him for killing his wife. That is true, but I would say he was a manifestation of James' guilt and not self-punishment and not just an imaginary figure - as real as anything else in the world of Silent Hill. Also, Maria was actually a demon which manifested itself as James' ideal image of Mary if she had been hot and not dying of a degrading disease - she wasn't just a imaginary figure either.

[kiwi_2005]

Yep the movie confused me, first time ive seen a SH movie so wasn't prepared for it, AG124 theory is good enough for me.:up: Ive only played one SH game and it was about a guy in this room - scared the bejesus out of me.:roll:

Going of topic here but anyone seen the Japenese versions of The Ring movies. The hollywood ones have better acting/sound shock treatment, but the japanese ones are the originals. Once i watched the japan versions of the Ring i understood the story - Dark Water being the latest. I think theirs a hollywood version of Dark Water coming out.

[Dowly]

I´ve seen tha Jap version of the first Ring (Ringu it was called IIRC), but I made the mistake that I had already seen The Ring so the Ringu was just a 'amateur version' for me.

As for the Dark Water (Hollywood), it´s already out. Been out for awhile now. Tho, I didnt like that either. What´s up with the little girls or little boys in the horror movies nowadays?! Getting a bit tired of seeing yet another movie with a little girl/boy.:down:

[Godalmighty83]

Warning! Silent Hill 2 Game Spoilers!

As for Pyramid Head, he didn't really have any point in the movie but as a fan of the games, I'm sure Gans just had to put him in anyway. In SHII, he (Pyramid Head, not Gans:know:) is often thought to be a figment of James' imagination.

where as sh3 makes suggestion that pyramid head is actually your characters bodyguard while your carrying the unborn god.

just a shame sh4 sucked

[AG124]

SHIV wasn't even supposed to be a Silent Hill game at all when it was first being conceived. It was changed a bit to fit the story line before release - it doesn't seem to have been as popular with SH fans either. I have never played it myself.

You know, there is supposidely a Silent Hill 5 game being planned right now - and I'm not talking about Silent Hill Origins for the PSP either. It is supposed to be more psychological, like Silent Hill 2.

[Godalmighty83]

It is supposed to be more psychological, like Silent Hill 2.

id best start saving up for the shrinks now....

'there after me!'
'who?'
'dead people in rabbit costumes!!!!!'

[Camaero]

I liked it. It was good seeing my old friends from the xbox version. Pyramid head rocks!

[AG124]

'there after me!'
'who?'
'dead people in rabbit costumes!!!!!'
:rotfl:

Even though I never played SHIV, I do get that reference.:D

[kiwi_2005]

I´ve seen tha Jap version of the first Ring (Ringu it was called IIRC), but I made the mistake that I had already seen The Ring so the Ringu was just a 'amateur version' for me.

As for the Dark Water (Hollywood), it´s already out. Been out for awhile now. Tho, I didnt like that either. What´s up with the little girls or little boys in the horror movies nowadays?! Getting a bit tired of seeing yet another movie with a little girl/boy.:down:
Because a little girl long black hair pale sickly skin evil eyes walking slowly towards it victim seems to scare the sh*t out of ppl :rotfl:The dark water japanese version is not really about a girl this time - shes in the story but its about the mother. After seeing this movie your think twice about having a bath;) Although the hollywood version would probably have more shock treatment to the system but the Japan versions tell it better.

Another cool movie called "Stay Alive" about a group of gamers that beta test a horror game, if they die in the game then they die a horrible death in the real world.

[Sica]

Alright, I have a question about this movie... What exactly made alessa un-pure? Was it that she didnt have a father? Or was it that she was molested by Colin (The janitor)?
I'm arguing with my mother about it, and I would really like to know.
(Hopefully it is because she didnt have a father, because that Is what I'm telling my mum what I got from it. :-? )

So yeah... If maybe you could either write it here, or send me and e-mail at Einstien_73@yahoo.com.

Thanks,

Sica

[baggygreen]

Yeh, i saw that with a close friend a while ago. Confusing as buggery, jumped straight online for a synopsis only to find a truckload of presumptions and so on. I think they're dead, hence the grey and cold. But, if they're in pergatory, what did the daughter and the mother do to make them impure - and the bike cop, she seemed only to have helped people!

:hmm:

[AG124]

I'm pretty sure it wasn't literally Christian purgatory. But anyway, I posted some of my thoughts on the movie (which is my favorite movie, BTW) earlier in this thread a long time ago (although they are probably wrong). There are many theories on what the movie (and the four games released so far) as actually communicating; a good place to visit is Silent Hill Heaven, if you are interested in reading some.

Actually, I think one or two of the dev team members of Silent Hill 1 (PS1 Game) stated that some elements of the game were left deliberately vague so that they could subconsciously interpreted by the player in the way that scared them the most.:hmm: Maybe Christopher Gans intended something similar in the movie, but I don't know.

BTW, the town was supposed to have been abandoned in "November, '74" but in a behind-the-scenes shot on some website, I am pretty sure I saw a brown 1976 or 1977 Chevy Nova abandoned on the side of the road.:cool: It is barely visible in the movie though, and only then in one shot.

Anyway, Christopher Gans has announced that there will be a sequel; maybe he will make his interpretation of the series more clear then.:huh:

http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/silent-hill/silent-hill-movie-sequel-in-the-works-224490.php

http://www.darkhorizons.com/news06/061226b.php

There are other, better announcements out there as well but I don't have time to post them right now.