Return to Silent Hill: Lost in the fog, or a guiding light? (spoiler-free review)

While the survival horror genre of video games has spread to infect all manner of mediums, from novels and television series to toys, non-electronic games, and even clothes, fans of the genre frequently get a little twitchy when their favorite series comes to the silver screen. For every Resident Evil or Resident Evil: Apocalypse, there’s a Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City that can make even the most fanatical fan hesitate. Even when notable directors such as Zach Cregger announce they are bringing their excellence to a beloved franchise, fans inevitably wonder.

The same can be said for the “little sister” series of survival horror, Silent Hill. Like its predecessor, Resident Evil, the Konami-created series of video games has its own semi-sordid past of silver-screen adaptations. While previous films were considered flawed but fun gems, a lot has changed since they came out, so the recently released Return to Silent Hill was met with both anticipation and trepidation. Return is the latest Silent Hill film and the second directed by Christopher Gans, who directed the first film the series, Silent Hill (2006).

Announced on the heels of the remake of fan favorite Silent Hill 2, Return  is a fresh take on an adaptation of Silent Hill 2, and stars Jeremy Irvine as James Sunderland, an emotional wreck who receives a letter from his estranged girlfriend asking him to come find her in the mysterious, fog-haunted town of Silent Hill. In doing so, James is forced to face not only his inner demons, but external ones. Like the aforementioned hard-to-love Welcome to Raccoon City, Return is meant as a reboot to the previous series of Silent Hill adaptations, but does it become lost in the fog?

Return to Silent Hill- Courtesy of Cineverse

Return’s plot and pacing are classic psychological horror, with periods of heart-racing urgency and uncertain reflection. While the overall story feels familiar to fans of the series, Gans had added his own spin to have it cleave more closely into the previous films and the sinister secrets of Silent Hill. While a few minor loose ends might leave viewers wondering what was real and what was fog-formed illusion (and what Silent Hill story doesn’t leave us asking that) James’ dive into the darkness will be thrilling and disturbing in equal measure. Those familiar with the game will find it an enjoyable and fresh take on Silent Hill 2’s story, and while they might be able to guess at the next story beat or scene pulled straight from the game, there are enough differences that they’ll be pleasantly surprised without feeling like they’ve just watched their favorite character turned into a pale imitation.

Return’s characters are a strong point in how it adds its own charms to the familiar faces without losing their essence. The casting is spot on; while there were differences from the original characters, their spirit has been retained and, in some cases, embodied. While at first glance Jeremy Irvine’s take on the game’s iconic protagonist James Sunderland seems as different, and effective, as Avan Jogia’s take on Sunderland’s Resident Evil counterpart, Leon S. Kennedy. Irvine’s portrayal is perhaps one of the best parts of the film. Sunderland is turned into a tortured artist, rather than an architect, and watching his descent into potential madness and emotional turmoil is a treat. His style, expressions, and responses were perfect.

The same goes for Hannah Emily Anderson’s portrayal of Mary, James’ girlfriend- his wife in the games- who captivates and personifies both Mary, her mysterious and alluring doppelganger, Maria, and several other roles. In addition, Evie Templeton, of Wednesday fame, not only puts her own unique spin on Laura, a mysterious child juxtaposed amidst the hellish halls and streets of Silent Hill but also voiced the character in the remake of the source material in 2024. Beyond Anderson and Templeton’s embodiments of the characters, the other characters seem plucked from the game and brought to life, perhaps in unintentional ways. At certain points, the dialogue and acting felt a little off, which is something of a subtle nuance from both the original Silent Hill 2 and the remake, making Return even more fun for fans of the game, particularly with the stunning visuals of the film.

Still from Silent Hill 2- Courtesy of Games Press

Visually, Return retains the game’s strong visual cues and color but has its own spin on it which was gorgeous. The dismal, muted greys of Silent Hill shifting into the murky, mottled grime of the monster-haunted “Other World” and the vibrant, colorful flashbacks created a strong, consistent tone that drags the audience kicking and shrieking into Silent Hill. The monsters and settings not only matched the source material, but felt unique, especially when there were a few small throwbacks to the previous films. While some of the CGI did occasionally seem almost a little too much like a video game, overall, the film’s visuals felt crisp, especially when combined with the sound. The visuals had help in pulling the viewer into Silent Hill through the music, which was composed by legend Akira Yamaoka, the composer for the original games. The music is excellent, and when combined with the visuals makes Return linger in the mind and ears.

The movie has a strong plot, which feels both fresh and familiar, a good cast with strong acting, and a vibrantly violent visual style, which takes the source material’s strengths and adds Gans’ own passionate flair to create a fun film. While fans of the games will likely get extra enjoyment out of seeing their beloved game brought to stark, uncanny life, this film might not appeal to those looking for a good monster-splattering romp or a more action-packed fling. You won’t see Mary running around like Milla Jovovich’s Alice, and that’s in keeping with Silent Hill’s spirit.

Although it is often compared to Resident Evil, Silent Hill has always been more of a subtle, psychological hike where enemies are sometimes less monstrous than characters, and it’s left to the player, or in this case the viewer, to decide on their own interpretation. It’s not for everyone, but even if you don’t know Pyramid Head from Nemesis, Return is a classy, surprisingly deep and detailed diversion (and after watching it, you’ll know and fear Pyramid Head.) Overall, Return to Silent Hill is, well, a return to form for horror-game adaptation, which seems poised to have a good year with Iron Lung around the corner.

Return to Silent Hill is currently in theaters now