Review by Toby Lattimore

Silent Hill: Revelation 3D (18)

This follow-on from the surprisingly successful Silent Hill (2006), which was based upon the computer game, opens with a brief recap and then we are introduced to the lead character Heather played by Adelaide Clemens, the daughter of the previous heroin, played by the excellent Radha Mitchell (Mitchell was nominated for the 2006 AFI International Awards as Best Actress for this appearance).

This newly discovered daughter, who looks similar but struggles to fill her mother’s shoes, is on the run with her father because the creatures of Silent Hill want her back to fulfil a prophecy, no surprises there. It is believed if the daughter is returned then the people of the town will be set free from their curse and their tormentor Alessa, also played by Clemens.

Having moved to a new town, father and daughter soon find that their world begins to distort and Clemens begins to see all kind of grizzly signs. Faces distort, the evil power reaches out for her and she witness strange behaviour in the people around. The director and writer, Michael J. Bassett, seems to focus in on flesh eating and in particular cannibalism, the horrific set pieces presented more for the 3D effect then to enrich the storyline. It is sad evidence of a plot which has one direction, and very little Scope.

There are a few unexpected appearances, which you might think could add some pedigree. Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork Orange) and Carrie-Anne Moss (The Matrix) appear as Leonard and Claudia Wolf, but both are poorly directed and merely distorted caricatures. The up and coming Game of Thrones actor Kit Harington also appears but does himself no favours, his chemistry with Clemens almost nonexistent.

The problem with Silent Hill is it relies too heavily on special effects. Some are grim and make you squirm but in this day and age it is something that we have all seen before, if you follow horror films. So whereas ten years ago these positives would have worked in favour of the film now they work against it. Yet the biggest shock is Sean Bean’s return as the father. He sports a terrible American accent and this air of fakery runs through the whole film which the inexperienced director never seems to get to grips with.

43/100

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