Silent Hill: Revelation 3D

Silent Hill: Revelation 3D

• Starring Adelaide Clemens, Kit Harington, Sean Bean
• Directed by Michael J. Bassett
• Plot: After her father disappears, a young woman must face the alternate reality that has plagued her nightmares since childhood.

The first “Silent Hill” film succeeded at tone, but failed to really capture a cohesive storyline.  This latest incarnation suffers the same fate.

Sean Bean returns as Christopher Da Silva.   At the end of the first movie, we saw Sharon and her mother trapped in an alternate reality despite escaping Silent Hill.  Here we learn in a flashback that Sharon’s mother (again played by Radha Mitchell) figured out a way to get Sharon out; but could not escape herself, admonishing Christopher to keep her safe. 

They have been on the run ever since and are just setting up in a new town as Harry and Heather (Adelaide Clemens).  On her first day at a new school, Heather discovers she’s being followed.  She calls her dad for help, but he doesn’t show.  Heather ends up with a fellow new student Vincent (Kit Harington) and when she returns home, her father has been taken.  Written in blood is the message “Come to Silent Hill”.  Heather sets out to save her dad and to learn the mysteries of her past.

If you are a fan of the games and/or enjoyed the first film, then I can’t imagine any reason why you would not enjoy this second incarnation.  Despite having the same flaws, it also has the same strengths, including great atmosphere and special effects and a decent cast.

As a horror film, while there are indeed some disturbing images, most of the scares are the “gotcha” moments.  Writer/director Michael J. Bassett does an adequate job, but he has crafted a film that will probably play well to fans of the video games and not many others.