Introduction
I walked into Return to Silent Hill (2026) hoping I would feel that same level of dread and grand grotesque that I so lovingly endeared from the first Silent Hill. Same director, and he also had his hand in the writing, so I really hoped that original vibe stayed alive.
The world itself largely did stay alive, but not nearly as grand. Not nearly as terrifying as the first Silent Hill felt. This page is here to help you decide if it is worth your time.
Podcast Episode
If you want the full reaction and discussion you can listen to the episode below.
Is This Movie Worth Watching
Get some extra sleep instead. Wait till its streaming at best.
If you are a hardcore Silent Hill 2 game fan who wants to see that world on screen, there is possibly something here for you. There was a tremendous effort in making this film have the feel of a video game, and if that specific experience appeals to you, it might land differently.
If you are expecting something that stands on its own like the first Silent Hill, or you want to go in completely blind and enjoy the experience, this is not that movie. I do not think a person could go in without knowing the game or the previous film and totally enjoy the experience. It watches like a video game. You do not really need more than 22 inches to enjoy it. Get some sleep instead of going to the late showing.
Spoiler Stance
This review avoids major spoilers. I am not getting into specific plot beats or the ending.
What Worked
The sound. That was really where the tension was being built for me in this film. The sound of Pyramid Head dragging his massive sword, cracking concrete along the way. There was a moment I looked over my left shoulder because of the gurgling open face spitter that sounded like it was right next to me. Great sound design.
The camerawork stayed true to the video game vibe. Interesting POV and third person overhead shots that cut through a ceiling or doorway so you can keep a view of the action. There was one shot where it was such a tight perspective, background completely blown out, and it felt exactly how you see your character just after you cut a sharp corner in the game. The pacing also contributed to that video game feel, with cut scenes that move the story along the same way a game would.
The roach things made my hair stand up. That was a genuinely creepy moment.
What Did Not Work
The reveals just do not feel as grand as the first Silent Hill. The reveal of the spitter. The reveal of Pyramid Head. The reveal of the psycho shabby nurses. In the first film all of that felt way more tense, dreadful, just grander. It stuck with me far more than this ride around. In this one you get far more intimate with Pyramid Head lore than the prior film and it really does nothing to capitalize.
In terms of the horror aspects, it all felt pretty soft. Not much gore or grotesque. A couple creepy things here and there, but ultimately I felt kind of unfulfilled in terms of horror shock and thrill factor.
There was some missed opportunity with how impactful both the siren and game score are used. Those are really strong emotional triggers and I do not feel like my strings were tugged nearly as hard as they could have been. A far cry from the first.
This movie is all about grief. James is grieving and Silent Hill is the landscape he is traversing in hopes of relieving himself of this grief. It feels obvious to the audience what is going on early in the film, and that works when you end up tricking us in the end. But in this case, you knew what was going on pretty early with some obvious tell signs, and that kind of leaves you just waiting for them to get on with it.
Final Verdict
Go To Bed
It was a solid attempt at a sequel to a really great movie, and that is incredibly difficult to do. But there is possibly a more limited crowd that might really enjoy this film. Wait for VOD or streaming. It watches like a video game. You do not need more than 22 inches to enjoy it.
Join the Discussion
Tell me do you agree? I want to know if you have seen it. 669 AFTER 12, 669 238 3712. If you want to keep it going, share your thoughts, join the subreddit, or respond to the episode.