Silent Hill (film series) explained

Silent Hill
Language:English
Budget:Total (2 films):
$70 million
Gross:Total (2 films):
$156 million
Released:2006–present

Silent Hill is a psychological horror film series, based on the video game series of the same name by Konami.

Proposed by Christophe Gans, and adapted from the video game Silent Hill (1999), the film series began with the release of Silent Hill (2006). The film was followed by a sequel, (2012). In 2022, a third film titled Return to Silent Hill was officially announced, which will adapt the video game Silent Hill 2 (2001).

The series has grossed $156 million at the box office worldwide and has received generally negative reviews from critics.

Films

FilmU.S. release dateDirector(s)Screenwriter(s)Producer(s)Status
Original series
Silent HillApril 21, 2006Christophe GansRoger Avary
Christophe Gans
Nicolas Boukhrief
Samuel Hadida
Don Carmody
Released
October 26, 2012M. J. Bassett
Reboot[1] [2]
Return to Silent HillTBAChristophe GansChristophe Gans
Sandra Vo-Anh
Will Schneider
Victor HadidaFilming

Silent Hill (2006)

See main article: Silent Hill (film). During the filming of Brotherhood of the Wolf, director Christophe Gans first proposed the idea of directing of a Silent Hill film to producer Samuel Hadida, who reacted positively to the news. Several years later, Gans was awarded the rights to a film adaptation from Konami, having competed against Paramount Pictures, Sam Raimi, and Cruise/Wagner Productions, after he demonstrated his personal knowledge of the video game series.[3] Gans initially wished to adapt the second game in the series, but later decided against it, as it would prove "impossible to tell that story" without explanation, "So we decided to go back to the first one, because in the first game, we have the explanation of why Silent Hill became that strange zone."[3] [4]

Gans and Roger Avary then began working on the film's screenplay in 2004, and began principal photography in 2005. Radha Mitchell, Sean Bean, Laurie Holden, Jodelle Ferland, Deborah Kara Unger, and Alice Krige, among others, were cast into the film. Bean's character did not appear in the initial screenplay and was added by Gans later, due to the producer's concerns over a lack of male characters. The film was shot in Ontario, Canada, as well as sound stages, and was released to theaters in the U.S. on April 21, 2006.

Silent Hill: Revelation (2012)

See main article: Silent Hill: Revelation.

Following Gans' departure with the project in 2007, Lionsgate brought on director M. J. Bassett in 2010, and announced the title as Silent Hill: Revelation 3D.[5] The film featured several returning characters from its predecessor, and serves as a direct sequel to the first film, rather than as an adaptation of another game. However, the film does feature elements from the 2003 video game Silent Hill 3, such as the inclusion of character Heather Mason, as well as the entirety of the plot, minus the character Pyramid Head, who is from the game Silent Hill 2.

Silent Hill: Revelation was released theatrically in Canada on October 26, 2012.

Return to Silent Hill (TBA)

See main article: Return to Silent Hill. In October 2012, Bassett stated that if a sequel to Revelation was made, it would adapt stories from the graphic novels, rather than the video games.[6]

In January 2020, Christophe Gans stated during an interview that he was working on a new film in the series with Victor Hadida.[7] In June 2022, Gans stated that he was working on the film and expected it to be released in 2023.[8] [9]

On October 19, 2022, Konami officially announced that a new film was in development, titled Return to Silent Hill, with Gans returning to direct and Victor Hadida serving as a producer. The film will be based on the 2001 video game Silent Hill 2 and will feature the return of Pyramid Head.[10] [11] It will be written by Gans, Sandra Vo-Ahn, and Will Schneider.[12] In February 2023, Deadline reported that Return to Silent Hill had secured funding and would begin filming soon.[13] In March 2023, Deadline also reported that Jeremy Irvine and Hannah Emily Anderson were cast in the film's lead roles, with filming set to begin in April.[14]

Recurring cast and characters

CharacterOriginal seriesReboot
Silent Hill
Revelation

Silent Hill
Rose Da SilvaRadha Mitchell
Christopher "Chris" Da Silva
Sean Bean
Sharon Da Silva
Jodelle FerlandAdelaide Clemensrowspan="3"
Jodelle Ferland
Erin Pitt
Alessa GillespieJodelle FerlandErin Pittrowspan="2"
Lorry AyersJodelle Ferland
Dahlia GillespieDeborah Kara Unger
Pyramid HeadRoberto Campanellarowspan="2"
Lisa Garland
Emily Lineham
Cybill BennettLaurie Holdencolspan="2"
Christabella LaRoacheAlice Krige
Officer Thomas GucciKim Coatescolspan="2"
AnnaTanya Allencolspan="2"
Sister MargaretEve Crawford
EleanorNicky Guadagnicolspan="2"
AdamChris Brittoncolspan="2"
Vincent SmithKit Harington
Douglas Cartland
Leonard WolfMalcolm McDowell
Claudia Wolf
Carrie-Anne Moss
Travis GradyPeter Outerbridge
SukiHeather Marks
James SunderlandJeremy Irvine
MaryHannah Emily Anderson

Reception

Box office performance

FilmRevenueBudgetReferences
DomesticInternationalWorldwide
Silent Hill$46.98 million$53.6 million$100.6 million$50 million[15]
Silent Hill: Revelation$17.5 million$37.8 million$55.36 million$20 million[16]

Critical and public response

FilmRotten TomatoesMetacriticCinemaScore
Silent Hill31% (105 reviews)[17] 31 (21 reviews)[18] C
Silent Hill: Revelation8% (59 reviews)[19] 16 (14 reviews)[20] C

Home media

FilmFormatU.S. release dateDistributorNotes
Silent HillDVD, Blu-ray, UMDAugust 22, 2006[21]
Blu-rayJuly 9, 2019Scream FactoryRemastered two-disc collector's edition with new bonus features.[22]
Silent Hill: RevelationDVD, Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3DFeb 12, 2013Universal Studios Home Entertainment[23]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Silent Hill : Un reboot au cinéma par Christophe Gans (Le Pacte des Loups) pour 2023 ! .
  2. Web site: Silent Hill is getting a new movie to reboot the franchise . . October 19, 2022 .
  3. News: Douglas. Edward. Exclusive: Director Christophe Gans . 20 April 2006. Comingsoon.net. https://web.archive.org/web/20061016002858/http://comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=14165 . October 16, 2006 .
  4. News: Bettenhausen. Shane. Silent Hill Movie Interview: The Director's Cut. 23 February 2006. 1up.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20060308202111/http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=6605116&publicUserId=1002415. March 8, 2006.
  5. News: Silent Hill: Revelation announced as 3D movie. 2007. Sterling. James Stephanie. Destructoid.
  6. News: Silent Hill movie director would love to explore graphic novels, create new stories for next film. Crecente. Brian. 15 October 2012. Polygon.
  7. News: Fischer. Tyler. New Silent Hill Movie Announced. ComicBook.com. 31 January 2020.
  8. News: Zamora. Natalie. Everything we know about Return to Silent Hill (Director, synopsis, release year, and more). Hidden Remote. February 2023.
  9. News: Silent_Jay. Silent Hill : Un reboot au cinéma par Christophe Gans (Le Pacte des Loups) pour 2023 !. jeuxvideo.com. French. 7 June 2022.
  10. News: Phillips. Tom. Return to Silent Hill film detailed. Eurogamer. 19 October 2022.
  11. News: Girolamo. Dan. Return to Silent Hill officially announced by Konami. Digital Trends. 19 October 2022.
  12. News: Wiseman. Andreas. The Veterans & CAA Media Finance Launch Sales On Christophe Gans Horror 'Return To Silent Hill', Victor Hadida Producing Reboot — AFM. Deadline Hollywood. 4 November 2022.
  13. News: Wiseman. Andreas. Ashland Hill Backs Four Movies Including Horror Reboot 'Return To Silent Hill', Hires VP Of Investments: EFM. Deadline Hollywood. 15 February 2023.
  14. News: Wiseman. Andrea. Horror Reboot 'Return To Silent Hill' Will Star Jeremy Irvine & Hannah Emily Anderson; Plot Confirmed With Filming To Begin Next Month. Deadline Hollywood. 15 March 2023.
  15. Web site: Silent Hill - Box Office Mojo. Box Office Mojo. 19 October 2022.
  16. Web site: Silent Hill: Revelation - Box Office Mojo. Box Office Mojo. 19 October 2022.
  17. Web site: Silent Hill. Rotten Tomatoes. 19 October 2022.
  18. Web site: Silent Hill. Metacritic. 19 October 2022.
  19. Web site: Silent Hill: Revelation. Rotten Tomatoes. 19 October 2022.
  20. Web site: Silent Hill: Revelation 3D. Metacritic. 19 October 2022.
  21. News: Henkel. Guido. Silent Hill comes to your home in August. DVDReview. 3 July 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20221020044240/http://www.dvdreview.com/2006/07/silent-hill-comes-to-your-home-in-august/. 20 October 2022.
  22. News: Scream Factory: Silent Hill Collector's Edition Blu-ray. 29 May 2019. Blu-ray.com.
  23. News: Silent Hill: Revelation Blu-ray. December 12, 2012. Blu-ray.com.