Silent Hill Discussion

[CIaude]

It literally JUST clicked in my head that Heather vomitted a live(?) fetus. WTF?

[Razumen]

SH2's water ending just said "Way to go! YOU SUCK" Striving to succeed only to fail is not something I enjoy paying $20-$50 for.

How trite.

Do you have no appreciation of art or masterful storytelling? What about appreciation of characterization?

You obviously have none if you didn't like Silent Hill 2 because James was a "pussy".

Kindly take your cultureless hands off my Silent Hill franchise, please.

Dude, The SH franchise belongs to you as much as the internet does to Gore, chill.

No, it belongs to me. The first name on my birth certificate reads "Konami".

So there.

So I guess we can blame SH4 on you too then, right?

It literally JUST clicked in my head that Heather vomitted a live(?) fetus. WTF?

'WTF' : the perfect three letters to end any sentence regarding the Silent Hill games

[RimFrost the Tourianist]

It literally JUST clicked in my head that Heather vomitted a live(?) fetus. WTF?

She just wanted to kill God.
Why ..i'd let her have my babies 8)

[CIaude]

But seriously... She vomitted a fetus! And then Claudia swallowed it. She fucking swallowed a live fetus! A bleeding spooky fetus no less! :dstrbd:

Anyway, yeah, I totally dig SH3. Especially the "Beam" Saber and pointless unlockable shirts. That's just seven different level's of awesome. I also liked Heather's character. She felt so much more vulnerable than Harry or James. And she vomitted a god damn fetus! I don't mean to spark another arguement with UE; but Harry and James got nothing on that.

Fetus... :dstrbd:

[Amaterasu]

But seriously... She vomitted a fetus! And then Claudia swallowed it. She fucking swallowed a live fetus! A bleeding spooky fetus no less! :dstrbd:

Anyway, yeah, I totally dig SH3. Especially the "Beam" Saber and pointless unlockable shirts. That's just seven different level's of awesome. I also liked Heather's character. She felt so much more vulnerable than Harry or James. And she vomitted a god damn fetus! I don't mean to spark another arguement with UE; but Harry and James got nothing on that.

Fetus... :dstrbd:

FETUS

[Razumen]

But seriously... She vomitted a fetus! And then Claudia swallowed it. She fucking swallowed a live fetus! A bleeding spooky fetus no less! :dstrbd:

Anyway, yeah, I totally dig SH3. Especially the "Beam" Saber and pointless unlockable shirts. That's just seven different level's of awesome. I also liked Heather's character. She felt so much more vulnerable than Harry or James. And she vomitted a god damn fetus! I don't mean to spark another arguement with UE; but Harry and James got nothing on that.

Fetus... :dstrbd:

FETUS

It's what's for dinner!















Sorry, couldn't help myself. :D

[Sentora]

A friend and I went looking for the movies that we read inspired Silent Hill lately. So far we've found Jacob's Ladder (Cool seeing it after all these years and being old enough to understand it) and Session 9 (where you can see quite a bit inspiration for James)

There was another movie though I've seen on a sig around here, where a woman looked just like Lisa from the first game being chased by a guy in a sheet? Anyone know the name of it, or any other movies that should be on the list?

[Sous_Bgob]

sweet baby jesus..Silent hill: The Pinball edition

[StarZander]

A friend and I went looking for the movies that we read inspired Silent Hill lately. So far we've found Jacob's Ladder (Cool seeing it after all these years and being old enough to understand it) and Session 9 (where you can see quite a bit inspiration for James)

There was another movie though I've seen on a sig around here, where a woman looked just like Lisa from the first game being chased by a guy in a sheet? Anyone know the name of it, or any other movies that should be on the list?

I saw Session 9 after getting the tip from ifirit. The references to James are pretty great, but what I liked the most whas the simple wheelchair that creeps the hell out of you. The same wheelchair that can be found in SH3. For those of you not fortunate enough to be able to watch this movie, I'll show you here:

http://www.kutsite.com/festival/bifff2002/session9.jpg

http://www.411images.com/images/games/screenshots/silenthill3_03.jpg


I always liked that scene from SH3.

God, these games are cosy.

[RazorOutlaw]

One of the many, many websites posted by Ifrit had a Lost Memories wherein the fellow scanned the images (it looked like it was from a book) and it showed the box art and description of all the movies that Silent Hill had borrowed from. Unfortunately it was all in Japanese.

And unfortunately there are some things that Ifrit posted that I now wish I had saved a link to, because now I'm thinking "Oh cool, I could use this to explain Silent Hill to my friends". It's kind of hard without a reference I can send them to.

[ifirit]

But seriously... She vomitted a fetus! And then Claudia swallowed it. She fucking swallowed a live fetus! A bleeding spooky fetus no less! :dstrbd:

Anyway, yeah, I totally dig SH3. Especially the "Beam" Saber and pointless unlockable shirts. That's just seven different level's of awesome. I also liked Heather's character. She felt so much more vulnerable than Harry or James. And she vomitted a god damn fetus! I don't mean to spark another arguement with UE; but Harry and James got nothing on that.

Fetus... :dstrbd:

I don't think you would've wanted that spoiled for you beforehand. So, please remember to mark your spoilers. Thank you.

One of the many, many websites posted by Ifrit had a Lost Memories wherein the fellow scanned the images (it looked like it was from a book) and it showed the box art and description of all the movies that Silent Hill had borrowed from. Unfortunately it was all in Japanese.

And unfortunately there are some things that Ifrit posted that I now wish I had saved a link to, because now I'm thinking "Oh cool, I could use this to explain Silent Hill to my friends". It's kind of hard without a reference I can send them to.

I'm fairly sure that you're looking for the photo gallery of scans (http://community.webshots.com/album/119740183SaVKHM) (don't forget to bookmark) from the Ushinawareta Kioku (Lost Memories) posted by James Mason. Although most of the section regarding the inspirational works: Materials for Solve and Inspirational Works, have English titles, you might appreciate a full and accurate translation provided by wallofdeath (http://www.silenthillforum.co.uk/forum/member.php?u=2577), The Silent Hill Chronicle (http://www.silenthillchronicle.net/). In addition to this, the staff at Translated Memories (http://www.translatedmemories.com) is working on reprinting the images from the Ushinawareta Kioku (http://translatedmemories.com/book.html) with an English translation. The reprintings look just as good as the originals, with little to no obvious traces that they are not originals.

Speaking of Translated Memories, in the news section (http://translatedmemories.com/news.html), you can find a short castlisting (http://translatedmemories.com/shmcastlgt.jpg) of the confirmed actors who will be appearing in the Silent Hill film. The photo has some publicity shots of the actors with their film cast status and probable character roles.

Will that it's time to do another...

Silent Hill Film Update:
As you may already know, Sony Pictures & Davis Films has official released a film still from the upcoming Silent Hill Film. Although many of you have seen it, can you explain what is going on the image? One probable explanation is provided by Silent Hill Resorts (http://www.silenthillresorts.com/), one of the lesser known SH forums. Through nausiatingly detailed examination, they have broken down the image and offer a interesting explanation into the film's story at that point. (Warning: Possible Film Spoilers)

Silent Hill Film Production Image - (The-MagicBox Mirror) (http://www.the-magicbox.com/0510/game051010a.shtml)
Silent Hill Resorts' Dissection of the SH Film Production Image (http://www.silenthillresorts.com/article.php/silenthillmoviedissect)

In addition to having already released a production image from the film, Sony Pictures is already setting up space for the film's official website. However, at this point the url simply redirects you to Sony Pictures' main page. It's unlikely that the link will be used for anything else than promoting the SH film. I'll make sure to let you guys know when the page officially opens.

Sony Pictures' Silent Hill Film Website (http://www.welcometosilenthill.com) (Not Yet Available)

Lastly, it has been confirmed that a Silent Hill Film trailer will NOT appear during the preview section for the remake of The Fog. Sony Pictures' theater affliates have verbally confirmed this rumor, but have yet to publish a written statement (and will likely not, since the trailer was a rumored appearance anyway). So, for those who go to see The Fog expecting to see an SH trailer, you'll be sadly disappointed.

The Next Silent Hill Graphic Novel:
It looks like IDW Publishing is at it again. According to many online comic-book distributors, Scott Ciencin is creating another series of graphic novels following the story of his original character: Christabella, a demonic child residing in Silent Hill. The series, entitled Dead Alive, also sees the return of artist Nick Stakal (Paint It Black & The Grinning Man) with cover art by Ted McKeever, Nick Stakal, Scott Keating and Steven Perkins. From the description given on the distributors' sites, I gather that this series will try to explain the origins of Christabella and why she become what she was in the Dying Inside series. Unfortunately, IDW Publishing has yet to release an official statement on it's website, but it appears that the News Section (http://www.idwpublishing.com/?path=news) hasn't been updated since May of last year.

Silent Hill: Dead Alive - BCB Comics (http://www.bcbcomics.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=11800)
Silent Hill: Dead Alive - Things from Another World (http://www.tfaw.com/comics/profile.html?cart=5294690906223693&sku=OCT053034E&onefound=T)
Silent Hill: Dead Alive - Forbidden-Planet (http://www.forbidden-planet.co.uk/acatalog/Silent_Hill__Dead_Alive__1.html)
Silent Hill: Dead Alive - Rupps Comics (http://www.ruppsworld.com/scripts/prodList.asp?idCategory=842)

Silent Hill: Dead Alive Description:
Imagine you are eight years old, undead and pure evil. Your plans to gain ultimate power in the mist-enshrouded haunted town of Silent Hill have left you defeated, a prisoner. Suddenly you are free. But this is what hell really is... because now you are alive and vulnerable * and you have competition. May the deadliest win. Writer Scott Ciencin and artist Nick Stakal team up once again to return to Silent Hill for this new five-part miniseries.

[sakura_luv_sasuke]

Ok, one day i was playing slient hill 2, you know, the really creepy one! I read about that thing...that happens in the bed...and i watched it! Yes, it's nasty, i can handle violence, but that...nope...
*Pukes in corner of the screen*
Sorry about that! I just needed to say that!

[hazardous]

Ok, one day i was playing slient hill 2, you know, the really creepy one! I read about that thing...that happens in the bed...and i watched it! Yes, it's nasty, i can handle violence, but that...nope...
*Pukes in corner of the screen*
Sorry about that! I just needed to say that!
Good God, please stop existing. Or at least lay off the bold and type like an intelligent individual. That nearly blinded me.

Oh yeah, this is GenDisc. LOL.

Now I remember why I hardly come here.

[RazorOutlaw]

Ok, one day i was playing slient hill 2, you know, the really creepy one! I read about that thing...that happens in the bed...and i watched it! Yes, it's nasty, i can handle violence, but that...nope...
*Pukes in corner of the screen*
Sorry about that! I just needed to say that!
What thing that happens in the bed? SPAWLERS:Mary's murder? James finding Maria's dead corpse? WHAT? WHAT?

[ifirit]

It's Friday, so it's time for another weekly update. Hmm... What to show today, what to show? I'll let you guys decide. What would you kiddies like to see?

A) Silent Hill 3 & 4 Piano Arrangements (Live with great production and good arrangement.)
B) Silent Hill 4: The Room Dialogue Clips
C) Complete Silent Hill 2 Chibi Download
D) North American Silent Hill 2, 3 & 4 Commercials
E) Lost Memories: Art and Music of Silent Hill Interactive DVD Preview (HTML version)
F) Silent Hill 4: The Room Speed Run Videos
G) Silent Hill 3 Fan Comic (Unusual art-style, but great reinterpretation of story.)
H) Siren Ripped Game Soundtrack
or
I) Incredibly controversial Silent Hill Fan Comic (I won't mention why it's controversial, unless it's requested, but despite that the comic is really well-written having both strong character development, psychological depth, suspenseful action and a great 3-D CG/painted art style.)

Or, I could treat you guys to some new SH theories I developed. Or, I could go back through some aspects of SH4: The Room highlighting and explaining certain sections of the story over again, hopefully opening up some new perspectives and conversation about it.

The choices are completely up to you guys. Let me know what you want to see. (Unfortunately, there are no further details about the Silent Hill Film or SH5. Sorry.)

EDIT: Come to think of it, if you want something from the film to chew on, consider this: Will Cybil live or die? (http://silenthillforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=21041) Also, would you like to see Lisa in this film (and should she die (or mutate, which ever you want to call it)?

[UnforgivingEdges]

I vote for the commercials. I've never seen any of them.


Also, in the new EGM, there's a blurb in there about the Silent Hill team creating a brand new horror franchise for the 360.

[CIaude]

I vote for the commercials. I've never seen any of them.


Also, in the new EGM, there's a blurb in there about the Silent Hill team creating a brand new horror franchise for the 360.


8O

[StarZander]

C) Complete Silent Hill 2 Chibi Download

Well, it's not really complete, since CSH2 hasn't been finished yet. She still hasn't drawn the ending.

[ifirit]

Yeah, it's been rumored since E3 of 2004 that Silent Hill was going to jump over to the Microsoft side in a completely different package. Akira Yamaoka himself alluded to it about six months ago, suggesting that the next Silent Hill title would not appear as part of the official Silent Hill franchise. Also, with Microsoft releasing the X-Box 360 as the first console, I think Konami wants to capitalize on the first launch bandwagon as much as they can.

The more I look into it, the more signs I see pointing to Team Silent not working on Silent Hill 5 directly. I have a feeling that without many of the key producers left on the team as in the first games, Konami is deciding to take the franchise in a new direction under a new title, especially when you consider that Takayoshi Sato (Electronic Arts), Keiichiro Toyama (Sony), Naoko Sato (Sony), Masahiro Ito (N/A), and Yukinori Ojima (N/A) have all left Team Silent. That just leaves Akira Yamaoka and Hiroyuki Owaku, who have been through the whole series, Masashi Tsuboyama (SH2 & SH4) and Suguru Murakoshi (SH2 - SH4) who have consistently stayed with the series. And I fear that Akira Yamaoka is about ready to jump ship after the next game.

Silent Hill Television Commercials (North America):
As requested, I will post links to the North American released television commercials for Silent Hill 2, 3 and 4: The Room. Please note that these are only available through Game Pressure (http://gameads.gamepressure.com), so download them, before they are gone. However, if you don't have the compatible players to view the ads, you can always stream them for free. Enjoy.

Silent Hill 2 - 45 sec TV Commercial (North America) (http://gameads.gamepressure.com/tv_game_commercial.asp?ID=1995)
Silent Hill 3 - 30 sec TV Commercial (North America) (http://gameads.gamepressure.com/tv_game_commercial.asp?ID=332)
Silent Hill 4: The Room - 30 sec TV Commercial (North America) (http://gameads.gamepressure.com/tv_game_commercial.asp?ID=1671)

Oh what the heck, I'll throw in the Konami Gamer's Day Announcement for SH4 as well.

Silent Hill 4: The Room - 12 sec Konami Gamer's Day Announcement (Japan) (http://gameads.gamepressure.com/tv_game_commercial.asp?ID=629)
----
If you guys want anything, let me know, okay?

EDIT:
C) Complete Silent Hill 2 Chibi Download
Well, it's not really complete, since CSH2 hasn't been finished yet. She still hasn't drawn the ending.
True, but I can post all 216 completed pages in compressed format (.rar, .zip if requested).

SH2 Chibi Compressed Files (for Dial-up Users):
Cover + Pages 1 - 20 (5.91MB) (http://rapidshare.de/files/6865080/Silent_Hill_2_Chibi_Pages_1_to_20.rar.html)
Pages 21 - 45 (6.66MB) (http://rapidshare.de/files/6865324/Silent_Hill_2_Chibi_Pages_21_to_45.rar.html)
Pages 46 - 75 (9.00MB) (http://rapidshare.de/files/6865567/Silent_Hill_2_Chibi_Pages_46_to_75.rar.html)
Pages 76 - 100 (8.01MB) (http://rapidshare.de/files/6865806/Silent_Hill_2_Chibi_Pages_76_to_100.rar.html)
Pages 101 - 155 (13.8MB) (http://rapidshare.de/files/6866293/Silent_Hill_2_Chibi_Pages_101_to_155.rar.html)
Pages 156 - 216 (10.1MB) (http://rapidshare.de/files/6866842/Silent_Hill_2_Chibi_Pages_156_to_216.rar.html)

SH2 Chibi Compressed Files (for Broadband Users):
Part 1 of SH2 Chibi (48.00MB) (http://rapidshare.de/files/6868336/Silent_Hill_2_Chibi_Part_1.rar.html)
Part 2 of SH2 Chibi (5.21MB) (http://rapidshare.de/files/6868772/Silent_Hill_2_Chibi_Part_2.rar.html) [Incomplete]

You can visit the Silent Hill Forum (http://silenthillforum.co.uk/forum/) for more info and updates on the topic (http://www.silenthillforum.co.uk/forum/showpost.php?p=283780&postcount=1873).

[RazorOutlaw]

If you guys want anything, let me know, okay?
Just tell me everything is going to be "OK" with the Silent Hill franchise. :(
I consider you a guru on Silent Hill, and although I'm asking you to tell me everything is going to be "OK" I know the answer is more than likely going to be "no".

And what can I say, the more I think about it the more I think that getting rid of SATO Works was the biggest mistake for the Silent Hill series. I think back to SH3, with it's cursory glances at the characters backgrounds, and SH4 with it's complete disconnection with the characters and I just feel upset inside.

Ah, well I'd rather have them jump ship now than to pump out another SH4 (not that the game was terrible, it just wasn't that good in my opinion).

Anyway, you posted a link once to a website that had a sound file of James [RAZOR SHUTTING THE HELL UP]. Yes, it's disturbing and somewhat morbid that I would want the file, but it did strike a chord in me. A curious chord that is. I tried looking for that link once, but with over 60 pages to look through, I could not find it again.

Care to help a brotha' out?

[ifirit]

If you guys want anything, let me know, okay?
Just tell me everything is going to be "OK" with the Silent Hill franchise.
I do keep my ear to the ground about this, but I really can't tell you anything concrete, since I can only speculate. First, remember that Konami is a business, with multiple endevours besides video games, though they remain grouded in entertainment. The Konami Corporation listens very closely to Japanese consumers (as Konami believes they make up the majority of their sales), but Konami is also looking to expand in the worldwide market, so it will also be listening to consumers in North America and Europe, and to a lesser extent Australia, if they know that they can make a profit on the product. Silent Hill 3 was created in response to fan concerns that the first game was not explained and that a true sequel was needed to bring closure to the story (although, I think you can understand the majority of things from the first game). Konami, trusting Team Silent to create a great project, allowed SH3 to be made, because of the numberous awards won by the original Silent Hill and by the huge profits earned by Silent Hill 2. (Critical acclaim + strong profits = more sequels. Yay, bogus math!)

As a result of 1) lack of corporate pressure, because this was made due to fan response, and 2) strong profits between 2002 and 2003, Silent Hill 3 was given the time and resources to create a great game (despite certain remarks). Silent Hill 3 became another financial success, so Konami executives, thinking they were on a roll with the franchise (as executives tend to think this way), began adding pressure on Team Silent to produce a game another game for the current generation of consoles. Not to mention, pressure from the media due to Donna Burke's big mouth didn't help much in keeping things quite. However, Team Silent, thinking ahead to the next generation of consoles, had already begun working on what would be the next Silent Hill game (SH4 for next-gen), refining their artistic technique, creating background story and sub-characters, and toying around with extra playables, believing that they had time until the next-gen consoles came out before having to release any specifics of their work. Akira Yamaoka had told executives that progress was being made for the next Silent Hill, showing off the refined artistic style in previews, but did not expect to hear their response: "Release another Silent Hill game before the next generation of consoles."

Having to scramble to get the work done, and with only the smaller staff that is used for early production, Akira Yamaoka (then Executive Producer for SH4) had to just grab something off the shelf and try to make it as clean a project as possible. What they grabbed was the extra story content for the actual game, not the base story itself. (Think of it as if they had turned "Born from a Wish" into its own game, while not releasing Silent Hill 2 at all. It would have sucked, because there wouldn't have been a context for Maria's story, not to mention the complete lack of James' story.) This would become Silent Hill 4: The Room. Team Silent was happy with what they chose, but that was because they understood the context, where the story was coming from, but as a player, we were not treated to this context, so the story was weak and, if not poorly-developed, poorly-executed in its context. (It's lack of context was evident in the amount of supplemental materials released after the game, due to gaps in the story itself.) As a result, the game was financially unsuccessful and branded by gamers for Konami's corporate money-grubbing. Adding insult to injury, Capcom (Konami's horror genre rival) released Resident Evil 4 for the GameCube, attracting more gamers to its revamped style and gameplay, making Capcom appear ahead of the curve.

This financial failure also came at a bad time in Konami's corporate year, because they had just suffered their third quarter of poor sales in games, in general. As a result, the developers had to really think about how they were going to get that profit margin back. Konami, which has always had a conservative standpoint on business, decided to not risk another flop before the next-generation of consoles. So, Konami officially discontinued the Silent Hill games for this generation. (I've still not re-obtained the official reports on this, but I suspect they've been locked away from public view.)

This brings us back to the main question, "what will happen to the Silent Hill series?"

If Konami is really willing to move the production team away from Silent Hill to a new franchise based on the same premise, then Silent Hill as a video game series will likely not see any more sequels. However, if the rumors of Konami moving the franchise away from Silent Hill are just rumors, Konami will still go on to produce Silent Hill titles, having the next game be a great piece of work (I suspect), since it will be given the proper amount of time and resources needed to produce a financial success. Konami has learned it's lesson, for now. Either way, Team Silent will continue to create masterful pieces of multimedia art for Konami whether or not with the title "Silent Hill." And, as long as there are smart people who want to create games as art at Konami, Silent Hill will continue to exist.

Personally, as long as Hiroyuki Owaku and Masashi Tsuboyama are still working on the story, I really don't worry about the other details, just yet.

And what can I say, the more I think about it the more I think that getting rid of SATO Works was the biggest mistake for the Silent Hill series.
Absolutely, I hope that Takayoshi Sato gets to head up a project sometime at EA, because you know that that game will rock. In the meantime, I'm going to try to check out "GoldenEye: Rogue Agent."

Anyway, you posted a link once to a website that had a sound file of James smothering Mary. (Please watch your spoilers)
I tried looking for that link once, but with over 60 pages to look through, I could not find it again.
That was a cookie (http://www.ocremix.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=762990#762990) for Sentora. You're not stealing other people's cookies now, are you?

Anyway, I'm going to try to create a complilation of links from the thread for my personal documentation. I've saved all my posts so far, but I don't really have them sorted out. If I feel like it, I may ask Night10194 to add an EDIT with the links to his first post.

EDIT: I know this is really last minute, but if you haven't carved your pumpkin yet, you might want to try using a Red Pyramid Thing Pumpkin Stencil (http://img453.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pyramidheadjstencilsmall6nr.jpg). If anyone has any other halloween stencils, feel free to post them.

[RazorOutlaw]

That was a cookie (http://www.ocremix.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=762990#762990) for Sentora. You're not stealing other people's cookies now, are you?
I'm a very greedy person. I try not to be, but uh...mm I never thought of checking Dust Fungus' website, but then it was also down yesterday.

Anyway, it's nice to hear your thoughts on what's going to happen to Silent Hill. While you said it's not concrete, it doesn't seem as bad as I had originally thought. Lord knows, I couldn't live without Silent Hill to keep me company.

[mintman]

Woo! Pictures of the movie on Yahoo. I'm pretty sure these haven't been posted here yet.

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808718754/photo/stills

[UnforgivingEdges]

Woo! Pictures of the movie on Yahoo. I'm pretty sure these haven't been posted here yet.

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808718754/photo/stills

I give this (http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hv&id=1808718754&cf=pg&photoid=594538&intl=us) a resounding YES.

[I-n-j-i-n]

I want to see a mannequin humping the pavement in the movie.

[StarZander]

Woo! Pictures of the movie on Yahoo. I'm pretty sure these haven't been posted here yet.

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808718754/photo/stills

I give this (http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hv&id=1808718754&cf=pg&photoid=594538&intl=us) a resounding YES.

Am I the only one who thinks this (http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hv&id=1808718754&cf=pg&photoid=594548&intl=us) looks really lame? The arms, I mean. They look... plastic. Although, in an interview I read, they were supposed to make them platic and/or rubbery, just like they are in the game. Like, shiny. I'm very sceptical to this.

[McCorvic]

Can anyone direct me to a list of sorts for movies that "inspired" SH games in some way.

I saw the movie Repulsion (1965) by Roman Polanski this week-end for the first time in a very long time and I couldn't help but think of Silent Hill 4 the whole time.

Woo! Pictures of the movie on Yahoo. I'm pretty sure these haven't been posted here yet.

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808718754/photo/stills

I give this (http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hv&id=1808718754&cf=pg&photoid=594538&intl=us) a resounding YES.

Am I the only one who thinks this (http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hv&id=1808718754&cf=pg&photoid=594548&intl=us) looks really lame? The arms, I mean. They look... plastic. Although, in an interview I read, they were supposed to make them platic and/or rubbery, just like they are in the game. Like, shiny. I'm very sceptical to this.

Eh, I don't think to much of it. I've learned that movie stills usually only give a rough idea of what the actual scene will look like on the screen. The arms in question might very well look better when moving or seen in context.

[UnforgivingEdges]

Can anyone direct me to a list of sorts for movies that "inspired" SH games in some way.

I saw the movie Repulsion (1965) by Roman Polanski this week-end for the first time in a very long time and I couldn't help but think of Silent Hill 4 the whole time.

Session 9, Jacob's Ladder to name a couple. I hear Stay, even though it's recent, is pretty Silent Hill-esque.


Eh, I don't think to much of it. I've learned that movie stills usually only give a rough idea of what the actual scene will look like on the screen. The arms in question might very well look better when moving or seen in context.

I'm inclined to think that the arms will look better in motion.

[BocoDragon]

Session 9, Jacob's Ladder to name a couple. I hear Stay, even though it's recent, is pretty Silent Hill-esque.

Jacob's Ladder is very important to mention, since I'm of the opinion that the Silent Hill series is more or less based off it, in the way that RE can trace its origins to Romero's Dead movies.

The confused, disoriented protagonist who finds himself in a subjective and disturbing version of reality (and with a James Sunderland jacket to boot). Strange, freaky monsters who follow him, and who may or may not be torturing him for his personal sins. It's pretty much Silent Hill the movie (though with less actual confrontation with the monsters, as its not a videogame).

Hell, the subway in Silent Hill 3 is based off the area of the New York subway that the protagonist is in at the beginning of JL.

[UnforgivingEdges]

Session 9, Jacob's Ladder to name a couple. I hear Stay, even though it's recent, is pretty Silent Hill-esque.

Jacob's Ladder is very important to mention, since I'm of the opinion that the Silent Hill series is more or less based off it, in the way that RE can trace its origins to Romero's Dead movies.

The confused, disoriented protagonist who finds himself in a subjective and disturbing version of reality (and with a James Sunderland jacket to boot). Strange, freaky monsters who follow him, and who may or may not be torturing him for his personal sins. It's pretty much Silent Hill the movie (though with less actual confrontation with the monsters, as its not a videogame).

Hell, the subway in Silent Hill 3 is based off the area of the New York subway that the protagonist is in at the beginning of JL.

That movie is awesome. Some really creepy stuff in it. The only thing I didn't really like was how they beat you over the head with the symbolism at the end. I understood the metaphor, and then they basically explained it to me like I was a 2 year old.

Overall good movie though.

[RazorOutlaw]

That's funny, because the original ending was down right mortifying.

[ifirit]

Usually, for film and book references from the Silent Hill games, I let Eccles handle it. But, since he hasn't said anything yet, I'll make a short list.

Film References/Inspirations:
Green = reference
Blue = inspiration
Bold = Greatly influenced
Orange = Eccles' citation

Silent Hill:
Jacob's Ladder by Adrian Lyne
Lost Highway by David Lynch
Twin Peaks by David Lynch
Village of the Damned
Event Horizon
Phantoms by Dean R. Koontz
The Exorcist (Eccles)
Exorcist 3 by William Peter Blatty
The Shining by Stephen King (Eccles)
12 Monkeys by Terry Gilliam
Little Shop of Horrors
Pet Sematary by Stephen King
Lolita by Stanley Kubrick
Full Metal Jacket by Stanley Kubrick
Santa Sangre by Alejandro Jodorowsky
Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin
Psycho by Alfred Hitchcock
Carrie by Stephen King
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark with Harrison Ford
Alien with Segorne Weaver
Mars Attacks
Natural Born Killers by Oliver Stone (Writing credit to Quinton Tarantino)
Wizard of OZ with Judy Garland (Eccles)

Silent Hill 2:
Jacob's Ladder by Adrian Lyne
Lolita by Stanley Kubrick
Betty Blue (Integral Version)
Blue Velvet by David Lynch
A Clockwork Orange by Stanley Kubrick
Alice by Jan Svankmajer
Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris

Silent Hill 3:
Jacob's Ladder by Adrian Lyne
Santa Sangre by Alejandro Jodorowsky
A Clockwork Orange by Stanley Kubrick
Session 9 by USA films, with David Karusso
X-Files with David Duchovny & Gillian Anderson (Eccles)

Silent Hill 4: The Room:
Jacob's Ladder by Adrian Lyne
Eraserhead by David Lynch
Dune by David Lynch
Twin Peaks by David Lynch (Eccles)
"Pi" by Darren Aronofsky [Film Website] (http://www.pithemovie.com/)
Frighteners by Peter Jackson, with Michael J. Fox (Eccles)
Rear Window by Alfred Hitchcock

Miscelaneous:
El Topo by Alejandro Jodorowsky
Holy Mountain by Alejandro Jodorowsky
The Cell by Tarsem Singh
Gokumontou by Kon Ichikawa
Complete Volumen by Chris Cunningham

There are several more, but these are the ones I can remember off the top of my head. You'll notice that the ones from Silent Hill (1) outnumber those from the other games. The reason is that the first game did a good job of documenting the referenced and influenced films in the game, by having a picture or name cited. The other games try to avoid royalty fees by simply referencing a specific moment or image from a film. So, it is very possible that some references have not yet been discovered in the sequels.

Also, if you notice what appear to be book references in my list, what you should remember is that the film versions of these books are referenced either instead of or along with the novels. Happy viewing.

EDIT: Peacer (http://forums.rateofinjury.com/index.php?c=5) has released the teaser trailer (http://noescape.rateofinjury.com/trailer5_download.htm) for the last chapter of Silent Hill: No Escape. The final chapter of the mini-series should be released sometime around Thanksgiving (Nov. 28). Peacer is considering also releasing a documentary of sorts that lists the references from the story and also details and explains various aspects of his story and thinking. If he plans on releasing this "Making of Silent Hill: No Escape," we should expect it sometime after the release of Part 6.

EDIT 2:
Woo! Pictures of the movie on Yahoo. I'm pretty sure these haven't been posted here yet.

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808718754/photo/stills
After seeing those clips, I'm convinced more than ever that the Silent Hill film will be good. Personally, if the arms in the picture turn out to be anything like the ones in the Siren 2 trailer (http://www.playstation.jp/scej/title/siren2/), then you won't really notice the plastic look. Also, make sure to keep an eye on Silent Hill Resorts (http://www.silenthillresorts.com/), because they will be doing another dissection of the production stills before too long. It seems this site will be spending all its resources covering the Silent Hill Film, as they are also hosting mirrors for all the official images released so far. So check there for new updates, but make sure to check around the forums (http://silenthillforum.co.uk/forum/forumdisplay.php?s=898bb5a4381eee20c76af36d2f56d2c 2&f=102), too.

EDIT 3: Added Eccles' references to the list. Thanks again, Andy.

It took me a while to remember Frighteners since it's been so long since I've seen it. I remembered that I hated dark comedy of that nature, but I still managed to watch the film to its end. I think I did so, because I was intrigued by the visions Michael J. Fox's character could see. The numbers carved into what would be the next victim's body was so awesome to me at the time, that I couldn't help but watch. Now, I want to watch it again, so I can see those references again.

As far as Lewis Carroll is concerned, I already mentioned Alice. Jan Svankmajer's animatronic works are masterpieces; they are weird and dark and surrealistic, but display so much character in his puppets that you also feel a strange sense of wonder. If you watch Alice, you'll notice a familiar SH2 puzzle in the film. The Brothers Quay (http://cbg15.tripod.com/quay.htm), Svankmajer's successors, carry on his style and also make many references to his work. You may recognize some of their pieces from either the Canadian Metropolitan Arts videos that "edutained" people about the arts in the early 1990's or from their work on the music videos for the band His Name is Alive for the song "Are We Still Married?" (aka "Still Nache II") also in the early 1990's.

Oh! Here's an interesting story about one of Bob's appearances in the Twin Peaks series. The sets used for the show were originally from real places in the town of Twin Peaks. One scene which was shot in a log cabin, had space so tight that one of the set workers could be seen in the reflection of a mirror in the shot. He was ducking down under the bed, to try to stay out of the way. Unfortunately for him, the production team saw him and stopped the scene, but fortunately for us, David Lynch decided to keep it as part of the scene and even altered it so that the character saw him too, one of the more bizzare moments in the series. This eventually lead to adding Bob to the list of characters in the second season.

[Eccles]

Don't forget David Lynch's "Twin peaks"...Bob the serial killer served as the basis for Walter Sullivan

http://www.tpbrewingco.com/wares/ccards/Card58Front.jpg
Rawr!


Other things...
Silent Hill 1 has a poster for The Exorcist on the side of the wall of one of the night club (El Encanté)

SH1 also has REDRUM scrawled on a garage wall. Also the Jim Beam whiskey logo.

SH1 also references the Wizard of Oz twice. The three keys are Scarecrow, Lion and Woodman...and Lisa Garlands surname is, on admission of the character creation team, referencing Judy Garland.

And don't forget John Wyndhams book "The Midwich Cuckoos" and South Park, possibly...that could be a coincidental name, however.
---
Offhand I can recall SH2 referencing Lewis Carroll and and Ruth Rendell in street names.

I can't name any specific books, but Brookhaven is supposed to be a real FBI lab. Several stories have been based off it, though...as I say, I can't name any specifically.
---
SH3 doesnt have many that haven't already been done. I've heard some people suggest the X-Files has been referenced in the cigarette you find smoking in the apartment block.
---
SH4 references the 4 ring films. (those who have played the game will know what I mean).

It also references a Peter Jackson film: Frighteners. This happens in the way the ghosts push their way through the walls.

[RazorOutlaw]

http://www.myspace.com/akirayamaoka1 o.O

Ah, nevermind it's just a profile dedicated to his music.

[DarkPoinko]

Don't forget also that a lot of the street names in Silent Hill appear to be references to authors as well, i.e. Sagan, Chrichton , Koontz, etc. Those aren't exactly inspiried to the actual story or SIlent Hill, but references nonetheless.

[leokef]

Session 9, Jacob's Ladder to name a couple. I hear Stay, even though it's recent, is pretty Silent Hill-esque.

Jacob's Ladder is very important to mention, since I'm of the opinion that the Silent Hill series is more or less based off it, in the way that RE can trace its origins to Romero's Dead movies.

The confused, disoriented protagonist who finds himself in a subjective and disturbing version of reality (and with a James Sunderland jacket to boot). Strange, freaky monsters who follow him, and who may or may not be torturing him for his personal sins. It's pretty much Silent Hill the movie (though with less actual confrontation with the monsters, as its not a videogame).

Hell, the subway in Silent Hill 3 is based off the area of the New York subway that the protagonist is in at the beginning of JL.

That movie is awesome. Some really creepy stuff in it. The only thing I didn't really like was how they beat you over the head with the symbolism at the end. I understood the metaphor, and then they basically explained it to me like I was a 2 year old.

Overall good movie though.

Yeah, Jacob's Ladder is the only film I can recall that really hits upon the same atmosphere and themes of Silent Hill. I always think of the scene wherein Jacob is sent for X-rays and the hospital gradually turns into a nightmare world, quite in the same manner of Dark Silent Hill. The insane people, grating, a fan, the box the shaking-head man is in, and especially the soundtrack which suddenly fills with ominous clangs and mechanical noises. And the fact that it's a hospital, after all. And the symbolism of the broken bicycle at the start of the sequence... sheesh, the whole Silent Hill series could trace its roots to those five minutes of film.

Man, I'm watching that film and returning to Silent Hill 3 tonight.

[BocoDragon]

I always think of the scene wherein Jacob is sent for X-rays and the hospital gradually turns into a nightmare world, quite in the same manner of Dark Silent Hill. The insane people, grating, a fan, the box the shaking-head man is in, and especially the soundtrack which suddenly fills with ominous clangs and mechanical noises. And the fact that it's a hospital, after all. And the symbolism of the broken bicycle at the start of the sequence... sheesh, the whole Silent Hill series could trace its roots to those five minutes of film.

Exactly what I thought as I watched it. This is where Silent Hill came from. Cheers!

[ifirit]

Well, it's update day, so I'm going to post a few things that have caught my attention while viewing the Silent Hill Forum (http://www.silenthillforum.co.uk/forum/).

Silent Hill - Avant Garde Film Project:
A new site project (http://www.silenthillforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=20834) has begun on the Silent Hill Forum, by one of the newer members, tbt204 (http://www.silenthillforum.co.uk/forum/member.php?u=8497), aka Bradley Thomas. Bradley is new to Silent Hill community and hasn't developed a reputation yet, but his energetic and enthusiatic ideas, along with his creation of a few other (http://www.silenthillforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=20804) projects (http://www.silenthillforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=20893), are quickly earning him a place among the SH communities' top creators of fan art and media.

Anyway, the purpose of the project is to create a compositional film using animators from the Silent Hill Forum community to tell another SH-inspired story, similarly to Silent Hill: No Escape. Each animator will create a section of the story, using whatever type of animation they are good at, be it cartoon-based animation, CG animation, animatronic animation, etc. The project aims to combine the best of what the fans have to offer and is exactly the kind of project that I have been waiting to appear in the community. The project will be structured very much like OCR's site projects, as it will coordinated by a project manager who will review audition pieces from forum members to decide to add to the project. Each member, once choosen, will be assigned a scene to work on and will be given complete artistic control of the scene, but must inform the manager of his/her intentions. In addition to that, Peacer has already confirmed he will be contributing to the project, once No Escape is completed. I've also decided to throw my hat into the ring and will be putting together an audition piece to submit to the project. So keep you eye out for that in about a month's time.

I really want to encourage as many people as possible to audition for a part in this project as it is one of the few major projects that involve this level of fan contribution. (I'm so excited and nervous about my audition. Come be excited and nervous with me.)

Silent Hill Avant Garde Film Project - Thread and Details (http://www.silenthillforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=20834)

Silent Hill Film Update:
Again, this really isn't an update, but just something that is trying to document the film's progression completely.

Production Stills - Set #2:
As was recently posted, more production stills have been released from the film's post-production status. Two new mirrors have been set up to host these images and report to fans some information regarding them. IGN (http://www.ign.com/) and movie-fever.com (http://www.movie-fever.com/index.php/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/) are hosting mirrors for the gallery of images. I would suggest checking out IGN's gallery, if you have already looked at the stills before, because they have large, higher resolution images posted that show off some greater detail than in the ones (http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808718754/photo/stills) posted by Yahoo Movies (http://movies.yahoo.com/).

Silent Hill Film Production Stills #2 - IGN Mirror (http://media.filmforce.ign.com/media/480/480114/imgs_1.html) (with Larger Images)
Silent Hill Film Prodcution Stills #2 - Movie-Fever Mirror (http://www.movie-fever.com/index.php/content/view/971/46/)

Interview with Director Christophe Gans:
In other news, Christophe Gans has completed his first, which I presume will be many, press interview about the Silent Hill Film. The interview was given by french magazine Écran Fantastique, which unfortunately was only printed in French. Although Boblecon1096 (http://www.silenthillforum.co.uk/forum/member.php?u=8143) has provided an English translation, I'm hoping that someone else could offer some insight into whether the translation is accurate. Warning: Possible Film Spoilers

Christophe Gans' Interview with Écran Fantastique - Magazine Scan (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/boblecon2/interviewgans15nu.jpg)
Christophe Gans' Interview with Écran Fantastique - Rough English Translation & Thread (http://www.silenthillforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=21208)

Post Production Team Seeks Film References from Fans, Reveals Additional Details about the Film:
On another note, one of the artist working on post-production computer-generated cinematics, belonging to the production company, C.O.R.E. Digital Productions (http://www.coredp.com/credits/default.asp?sh=nav02) (registered at SHForum as moomoo (http://www.silenthillforum.co.uk/forum/member.php?u=8531)) sought out fan input for referencing the windmills used in the first game. His comment was that the director was unhappy with the initial designs, asking for something that looked closer to the ones in the original game. It is incredible how involved Christophe Gans is with this film, that he is not only looking over specific details such as the look of the background, but also his own knowledge of the game itself. You can tell that he has played the game more than once. Anyway, the fan response was great and it shows that even as fans, you can still have some influence in the film's production. However, what he said that I found most interesting was that as of October 16, 2005, filming for the Silent Hill film was still going on. The animator, Mahmoud, said that they had completed shooting the middle section of the film, but were then in the process of shooting the opening and ending sequences. Hmmm..... (Finney Alley scene? Multiple endings, anyone?) You can read more in the thread listed below.

Also, C.O.R.E. Digital Productions is the CG-production who worked on such films as: Saw 2, Resident Evil 2: Apocalypse, Blade II, X-Men, Mimic, Spawn, Johnny Mnemonic and Cube (http://www.cubethemovie.com/) (one of my favorite films).

VFX Production Animator Seeks Fan Help - Thread and Documentation (http://www.silenthillforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=20821)

EDIT: Sorry, I didn't realize how late it had gotten yesterday. Anyway, to continue where I left off.

[RazorOutlaw]

What would you kiddies like to see?

G) Silent Hill 3 Fan Comic (Unusual art-style, but great reinterpretation of story.)
H) Siren Ripped Game Soundtrack
or
I) Incredibly controversial Silent Hill Fan Comic (I won't mention why it's controversial, unless it's requested, but despite that the comic is really well-written having both strong character development, psychological depth, suspenseful action and a great 3-D CG/painted art style.)


I missed this post entirely, so I chopped it down to the three options that appealed to me (especially since no one elsed asked). I'll take them all, if you're willing. :-P

Ah, and I hope you don't mind if I prod for more information (you're gracious enough as it is providing updates) but SH5 is using a story developed by Sato, correct? Have you heard anything more on that?

Last I heard, any word on the story is that it was about an inmate in an asylum recounting his story via flashbacks after he had visited Silent Hill...

[Jenga]

Check out Somethingawful. Lowtax wrote a decently funny article poking fun at Silent Hill.

[Eccles]

I'm all for controversial comics. Gimme.

[Jenga]

I'm all for controversial comics. Gimme.Me too. PM please.

[ifirit]

Woah! [/Keanu Reeves impression] I didn't expect this much of a response. Well, since it's what the people want, here we go:

Silent Hill "Bridge of Thread":
While looking around DeviantArt.com (http://www.deviantart.com/) for Silent Hill inspired fanart, I came across an item (http://silent-hill-comics.deviantart.com/journal/5865550/) that seemed to have a large response to, but didn't really know what was going on. Like wading through a crowd of people to see what the commotion was about, I stumbled across this fan graphic novel.

I wasn't really aware as to what I was getting myself into, but please be warned: This comic contains shounen-ai (boy and boy relationship). Yes, that's right, a gay main character in an original Silent Hill comic. Call me naive, but I didn't really put it together until about page 7 how serious the warning was. Considering this, I decided not to let other people know about this material, because 1) it made me uncomfortable (causing me to skip to about page 15 and then to page 26 and then to page 47), and 2) people might not be open enough to take a gay character seriously. After I thought about it for a little bit, I realize that despite the taboos, the comic actually gave an honest portrail of a regular guy dealing with a lot of personal issues, and that is the kind of basis for a story worth looking at. I just hope people here will also come to the same conclusion and not rag on me or the author for his/her work.

Silent Hill: Bridge of Thread was created by chaobell (http://chaobell.deviantart.com/) and can be downloaded off the website, which includes character bios, monster images and some extra downloadables. Right now, you can download the first 59 pages (including the cover) on the site. Please note that the comic has been up since July, but the site will be moving shortly, once the author can set up the website to a more permanent location. In the meantime, I'll post a little description of the comic's story.

The story deals with David Garnett, who after going out on a night on the town in Old Silent Hill with his friend Eric McKinney, is confronted by an unfamiliar person threatening him about his friend. Managing to escape the confrontation, he is forced to follow the attacker's trail only to discover something shocking. The story then shifts to the next morning where he recalls the events of the night before and goes out to deal with his hangover, only to find the town deserted as a morning fog covers the streets...

Silent Hill: Bridge of Thread - Main Site (http://www.io.com/~holychao/)
Silent Hill: Bridge of Thread - News Updates (http://www.livejournal.com/users/sh_bridge/)

Silent Hill 3 Fan Comic:
Although I had known about this comic a little longer than I had about "Bridge of Thread," I also found it while looking for Silent Hill fanart. This nameless graphic novel, created by aeon-of-sorrow (http://aeon-of-sorrow.deviantart.com/), reinterprets the story from the game to express with greater detail the character development behind Heather, while also throwing in a few new twists and turns to keep the story fresh. Granted the artwork isn't very impressive (you might even critize it for being horrible compared to other comics), I find that the story more than makes up for the artwork which I find to have a strong foundation in camera angles and overall shot layout.

Check it out for yourself, but don't expect Heather to get it on with any of the girls. If you want that, prevs, you can find it here (http://www.silenthillforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?s=e626d325539b56b7a3da5ee561c0774d&t=18808).

Silent Hill 3 (Fan Comic) - Main Page (http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/22573376/) (Check the author's comments for links to additional pages.)
Silent Hill 3 (Fan Comic) - SHF Thread & Updates (http://www.silenthillforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=13381)

Siren Ripped Soundtrack:
I was looking for some information on the game to see if Sony had released an official soundtrack for this game (which they haven't), and came across some information on a ripped game soundtrack. Following the trail, it lead me to the back door of Macabre Productions (http://www.macabre-productions.com), website for John Anthony Mathewson (creator and re-arranger for the Broken Notes Soundtracks and the Silent Hill Fan Album). Some people just don't lock their back doors, and allow people like me to sift through their websites.

Anyway, the ripped version of this soundtrack has not been officially released and I'm sure if John Anthony finds out about the leak, he'll likely close it down. Besides, not many people actually played Siren enough to enjoy the music (mostly ambience) or to even want to download the soundtrack. But, remember to only download the soundtrack if you OWN a copy of Siren (or Forbidden Siren in Europe). The soundtrack itself is divided into two discs, containing the first 11 tracks on the first disc and the second 11 on the proceeding disc.

Personally, I loved the game and very much enjoy the soundtrack because of it's combination of traditional and experimental forms of ambience. From the use of plucked violin strings to beats on washpans to constant sounds like rain, the music creates a dark and hard to navigate environment that matches the game's imagery perfectly. Besides, the two credit themes make it an obvious download in my book.

Siren Ripped Game Soundtrack - Macabre Productions Directory Page (http://www.macabre-productions.com/siren/)

Enjoy!
-----
As far as the story for Silent Hill 5, that premise is simply rumored to be the main story of the game. As I said before that information was reportedly given exclusively to Silent Hill Heaven (http://www.silenthillheaven.com/Site/Main/main.php) (no longer functioning as a site) by a member of Konami's Press Staff, which was later reprinted on Silent Hill Genesis (http://www.frozentears.net/matter/genesis/). The information is second hand information given by a source that was not clearly cited and without evidence that the person was even involved with the project. So, don't get too attached to it.

If you're looking for information on your own, try checking through the main (http://www.silenthillforum.co.uk/forum/) Silent (http://www.black-helix.com/) Hill (http://www.bitter-season.net/claw/) forums (http://silenthillforum.com/). If you guys need anything else, I'll be in the Matrix.

[RazorOutlaw]

First off, Ifrit, you rock.

Second, I was listening to the Siren soundtrack and something caught my ear. On the track entitled "Cowering From Sight, As The Evil Approaches" at 1:35, pay attention very closely.

Listen to it now...do you recognize it?

The sound you hear in the background is the foghorn from SH3. It's the very same sound! Whether they're following the same tune, or notes, I don't know. I'm not a musician. But anybody whose listened to the SH soundtracks should recognize the foghorn sound at the 1 minute and 35 second mark.

[ifirit]

Warning: Siren & Silent Hill 1 Spoilers
The sound you hear in the background is the foghorn from SH3. It's the very same sound! Whether they're following the same tune, or notes, I don't know. I'm not a musician. But anybody whose listened to the SH soundtracks should recognize the foghorn sound at the 1 minute and 35 second mark.
Actually, if you played the game (to the full ending), you know that 1) Siren is the Japanese version of Silent Hill, 2) that siren appears very time you are near the "sea of red water" (the boarder to the two worlds) and 3) not only was the siren from the Silent Hill series reused, but the director (and a great deal of the production staff) for Siren was also involved with the production of the original Silent Hill game. For those who made these connections, you know that the Siren series is the "cousin that looks just like Laura Palmer" of the Silent Hill series.

To those who only played the game casually, or only to the end of Kyoya's loop, you may not see the connection between Siren and Silent Hill. To sum up the entire game of Siren, it involves "a woman who is trying to resurrect an alien god through a religious ceremony using an adolecent girl who has strange powers. The ceremony, however, is interrupted and the town in which it takes place is thrust into an alternate dimension that looks exactly like the real world except decayed and ruined, but is inhabited by strange monsters. Eventually, the main character confronts the woman, who until the end you believed was helping you, only to have to kill the alien god which has been resurrected."

EDIT: Weekly Update (Edit Style)

Silent Hill - "Making of" Videos:
In case you haven't checked recently, Dustfungus has uploaded the "Making of Silent Hill 2" and "Making of Silent Hill 3" videos on his website (http://shm.dustfungo.com). These files are presented in .wmv format and have dimensions 320 x 240. The files are fairly large, being 123MB and 96MB respectively, so make sure to save them (and back them up on disk) so that you don't abuse his bandwidth.

For those who may not know that these "Making of" videos are, they are documentaries of the production of the second and third games. The videos contain interviews and commentaries from the creators along with never-before-seen behind-the-scenes images and material. These are definite collection items to have for any Silent Hill fan.

Despite what you may hear from other sources, these videos are not found on the "Art of Silent Hill" nor the "Lost Memories: Art and Music of Silent Hill" DVDs. The "Making of Silent Hill 2" video was originally on the bonus DVD included with the PAL (Europe and Austrailia) version of the game, entitled Silent Hill 2: Special Version. The bonus DVD also featured some additional publicity and prodcution materials exclusive at the time. On the other hand, the "Making of Silent Hill 3" video was only release on the additional DVD included in the British magazine "Playstation World" (Issue #43). The DVD includes other videos and demos for the magazine, but the documentary film was not released in any other format, making this video a very rare item.

Although Dustfungus is not the only person to host these videos before, this is the first time a reliable website has hosted both files for public viewing.

"Making of Silent Hill 2" - .WMV Video (Dustfungus Mirror) (http://shm.dustfungo.com/sh2movies.htm)
"Making of Silent Hill 2" - Transcript and FAQ (GameFAQs.com Mirror) (http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/recognition/4185.html)
"Making of Silent Hill 3" - .WMV Video (Dustfungus Mirror) (http://shm.dustfungo.com/sh3movies.htm)
"Making of Silent Hill 3" - Transcript and FAQ (GameFAQs.com Mirror) (http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/recognition/36522.html)

Silent Hill 4 - "Making of" Videos?:
Another reason I wanted to bring up this topic was that I wanted to see if anyone knew about (or preferably recorded) the Silent Hill 4: The Room "Making of" videos. There were a total of 5 ~1-minute videos (http://www.konami.co.jp/ja/tv/special/backno.html) (scroll to bottom) that contained interviews and commentaries on the production of the game, its soundtrack and the bonus story "Impenetrible Rain of Yoshikawa." I had mentioned them before the release of Silent Hill 4: The Room in several updates, but the files were only streamed video from Konami's mainframe and were deleted after the game's release. I had linked up the streams on my website, and saved the .asx files (but that hardly does anyone any good).

I'm just hoping that I made enough noise about them that someone else saw or recorded these videos for others to see. If not, we'll just have to add this to the other lost memories from Silent Hill. Let me know if you hear anything.

Until I can find anymore information on the Making of Silent Hill 4: The Room Videos, I'll just provide links to official Konami Announcements and News on the game. Below are the still active links to the news reports featuring material from Silent Hill 4: The Room and its production. Please, please try to find a way to save them off the Konami server.

Konami Announcement of SH4 OST & Kyodan + Interview with Teisui Ichiryusai - Broadband (http://www.konami.co.jp/ja/tv/news/tyo/2004/0324_300k.asx)
Konami Announcement of SH4 OST & Kyodan + Interview with Teisui Ichiryusai - 56k (http://www.konami.co.jp/ja/tv/news/tyo/2004/0324_64k.asx)
Konami at E3 2004 - Broadband (http://www.konami.co.jp/ja/tv/news/0502/br.asx)
Konami at E3 2004 - 56k (http://www.konami.co.jp/ja/tv/news/0502/na.asx)
Stage Performance of SH4 Kyodan with Teisui Ichiryusai - Broadband (http://www.konami.co.jp/ja/tv/news/tyo/2004/0603_300k.asx)
Stage Performance of SH4 Kyodan with Teisui Ichiryusai - 56k (http://www.konami.co.jp/ja/tv/news/tyo/2004/0603_64k.asx)
Silent Hill 4: The Room Hits Stores in Japan - Broadband (http://www.konami.co.jp/ja/tv/news/0511/br.asx)
Silent Hill 4: The Room Hits Stores in Japan - 56k (http://www.konami.co.jp/ja/tv/news/0511/na.asx)
Konami Interview with Executive Producer Akira Yamaoka - Broadband (http://www.konami.co.jp/ja/tv/news/tyo/2004/0621_300k.asx)
Konami Interview with Executive Producer Akira Yamaoka - 56k (http://www.konami.co.jp/ja/tv/news/tyo/2004/0621_64k.asx)
Akira Yamaoka Speaks Silent Hill at Game Developer's Conference - Broadband (http://www.konami.co.jp/ja/tv/news/0629/br.asx)
Akira Yamaoka Speaks Silent Hill at Game Developer's Conference - 56k (http://www.konami.co.jp/ja/tv/news/0629/na.asx)
Akira Yamaoka Branches Out - Broadband (http://www.konami.co.jp/ja/tv/news/0726/br.asx)
Akira Yamaoka Branches Out - 56k (http://www.konami.co.jp/ja/tv/news/0726/na.asx)

I personally like the first and third videos, because Teisui Ichiryusai is considered a national treasure in Japan, but mostly because I want to find a translation of the SH4 Kyodan "Impenetrable Rain of Yoshiwara" and the Special Chapter that came with the deluxe package in Japan.

EDIT 2: How about some more SH goodness in EDIT form.

Silent Hill Film Update:
According to IMDb (http://imdb.com/rg/nav-home/navbar/), a new synopsis has appeared on the internet about the upcoming film. Although seemingly derived from the initial film synopsis, it explains with greater detail the premise of the film and its story. You can read more about it below. Be careful though, because the original film synopsis is still listed on the IMDb website. (Warning: Possible Film Spoilers)

Silent Hill Plot Summary - Revised Version (http://imdb.com/title/tt0384537/plotsummary)

"Living a life of hell, little Sharon is terribly sick. Always muttering the town of Silent Hill, Virginia under her breath, her parents, Christopher and Rose, are worried she might be delusional. How does she know about that terrible, murderous town, just miles away?

After Sharon tries to sneak out of the house to go to the town, Rose, not wanting to accept her daughter's illness decides to kill two birds with one stone by going to Silent Hill. This will end her daughter's protesting and bring a light to the end of this dark tunnel. There is rumored to be a faith healer there. Maybe, by some supernatural factors, the mysterious healer will put a stop to the suffering the family is facing. Sneaking out with her sick daughter in her arms, she leaves for the nearly abandoned village. There is a car crash, Sharon is missing, and Rose is left alone in a dark, foggy world haunted by murky shadows and grotesque creatures.

Joined by a cop named Cybil, who has been sent by Christopher to bring her and Sharon back, they look desperately for the little girl in the eerie town, and try to find out the haunting history of the just about empty, remote village. They learn that the Silent hill is no longer ran by people, but a Demon brought to life by an ancient occult, and that remaining villagers, all on different planes of existence, are forever trapped in torment that symbolizes their own fears, failings, and past regrets. Will they unravel the truth about this monstrous place? Or will the darkness controlled by an uncontrollable demon eat them alive."

[Nulion]

Very nice movies, all of them were awful interesting. I'd never known that Making of SH3 video existed, hehe.

About that "Inescapable Rain in Yoshiwara", do you know why that was even slipped in there? I could never understand why, or from what perspective that whole thing was being read even. I'm imagining Henry's perspective, but then I wouldn't know why or what for. Guess a lot of that is unknown till somebody translates it.

Also....I'm proabably going to sound like an idiot, but who is Teisui Ichiryusai? He did seem pretty important, and he isn't exactly the type of guy I'd expect to show up in anything SH-related.

Ah well, very great stuff, I really enjoyed the movies :)

[Parjay]

Some people just don't lock their back doors, and allow people like me to sift through their websites.

Anyway, the ripped version of this soundtrack has not been officially released and I'm sure if John Anthony finds out about the leak, he'll likely close it down.

Now why the freaking hell would I close it down? :) It was created and put there for Siren fans. It isn't actually a backdoor as such, I just never got around to building a page for it, heh. Same deal for my SH1 and 2 complete rips.

[ifirit]

Warning: Silent Hill 1 & 3 Spoilers

Very nice movies, all of them were awful interesting. I'd never known that Making of SH3 video existed, hehe.
Not many people did, since it was only released in Great Britain, again from Playstation World Magazine. What I think people should find most interesting about the documentary is that in the opening you hear a sound effect that was editted out of the final version of the game. This sound was the baby's cry as Heather leaves the area; it's what makes her turn around. Although, it doesn't explictly say why that sound was editted out of the game, I suspect that the creator's didn't want to leave the ending unresolved. I also suspect that they didn't want to have to create another sequel to explain what happens to the baby. However, I believe that the reason why it was included in the first place was that it followed logically from the first game, as being part of the cycle of reincarnation of the god and it's mother. I think I've already explained my theory on this before, but if need be I can discuss it further.

About that "Inescapable Rain in Yoshiwara", do you know why that was even slipped in there? I could never understand why, or from what perspective that whole thing was being read even. I'm imagining Henry's perspective, but then I wouldn't know why or what for. Guess a lot of that is unknown till somebody translates it.
If you've ever studied Japanese language and/or Japanese folklore, you'll know that the word "kyodan" translates into the word for "storytelling." And, that is exactly what the second disc in the soundtrack (Japanese) is, a story. From what I have gathered from rough translations and word of mouth, the story follows a man, Yoshiwara, who is haunted by the ghost (thus, the tie to Silent Hill 4) of his dead wife (thus, the tie to the Silent Hill series). Each chapter (track) follows one month (as the names of each track mean; they are also the names of the 12 notes used in traditional Buddist chants) of the life of Yoshiwara during a year. I don't know any more particulars, but after listening to it myself, I don't think the story as a happy ending. There are people from the Silent Hill Forum (http://www.silenthillforum.co.uk/forum/) that are working on a translation, but the kyodan is spoken in an ancient dialect of Japanese, which only the older generations of Japanese people can speak.

Also....I'm proabably going to sound like an idiot, but who is Teisui Ichiryusai? He did seem pretty important, and he isn't exactly the type of guy I'd expect to show up in anything SH-related.
Teisui Ichiryusai is the only living master of the ancient art of Japanese storytelling today, which is only passed on orally, never written. He is considered to be living history and thus the nation has honored him by naming him a national treasure (every strange for a person to be named such). As such people must respect him as Americans would respect a national landmark or the Europeans a historical building.

As far as his connection to Silent Hill, Akira Yamaoka wanted to create a ghost story to add to the soundtrack, told in the same manner as some series have, as a drama. Some anime series will create dramas written for live performance at parks or public shows to raise attention and awareness to the show or just to have fun. Akira Yamaoka though, doesn't just do things, he likes to do them big (characteristic of his ambition). So, he worked out a deal between Konami and Teisui Ichiryusai to perform his drama in the style of a kyodan. From what I have heard, apparently both sides were very eager to work with each other and the deal came together in a matter of weeks. Having a master of storytelling read the tale, you can only imagine how great the ghost story was to hear for the Japanese people. Thus, once you realize the backstory and intentions in the kyodan, you realize that there really couldn't have been anyone better for the project.

Now why the freaking hell would I close it down? :D It was created and put there for Siren fans. It isn't actually a backdoor as such, I just never got around to building a page for it, heh. Same deal for my SH1 and 2 complete rips.
Wow, it's Parjay! Let me be the first to welcome you to OCR. I have to tell you how much I appreciate your work on so much of the audio rips and fan soundtracks that you've put together over the years. The Broken Notes and Intermission albums are phenomenal. (For those who may not know, Parjay is the forum name of John Anthony Mathewson, co-creator and musician for the Broken Notes and Intermission albums.)

Anyway, as far as the Siren album is concerned, I wanted to be careful of what I posted, because some webmasters don't like having unlinked items from their websites posted on forums or chatrooms. Although, I had suspected that it was released or soon to be released at the time I posted it. But, I appreciate your generousity in allowing us to hear the music.

By the way, what's new in you neighborhood? Working on any new projects that you might like to share with the community? I know you're still working on Broken Notes: Sanatorium, but how's that project coming along?

[Nulion]

Whew, Broken Notes? I'm always checking up on that, extremely wonderful job you guys have done over there, best of luck in the future :)

And ifrit, couldn't have asked for a better reply :) I'm thinking when we finally have Inescapable Rain in Yoshiwara translated, it won't make entirely too much sense to us. Does a kyodan have a form, similar to a haiku?

Either way, I can't imagine how captivating some of those stories can get, especially told from a living legend like Ichiryusai-san. (Ugh, I tell ya there's a lot of times I wish I was born in Japan 8O )

[ifirit]

I'm thinking when we finally have Inescapable Rain in Yoshiwara translated, it won't make entirely too much sense to us. Does a kyodan have a form, similar to a haiku?
I really can't say whether or not the kyodan follows a pattern of verse such as haiku, but there is definite rhythm to the way that it is told. I've not looked too much into the topic for a while and very little about the traditions and characteristics of Japanese storytelling are available in English, but I'll try to find something for you.

As far as being able to translate the Kyodan into English, the translator has been working dilligently to provide an accurate translation, but associates the process as if you were to take the works of Shakespear and put it into modern English and then translate that into another language. Here you try.

"This is now the winter of our discontent."

[Parjay]

Warning: Silent Hill 1 & 3 SpoilersI think people should find most interesting about the documentary is that in the opening you hear a sound effect that was editted out of the final version of the game. This sound was the baby's cry as Heather leaves the area; it's what makes her turn around.

That's interesting, because when I wrote that transcription over at gamefaqs, I took that sound effect as being added by the documentary production team to accent the theme of the show; as they do hint throughout the documentary as to the true identity of the main character.

By the way, what's new in you neighborhood? Working on any new projects that you might like to share with the community? I know you're still working on Broken Notes: Sanatorium, but how's that project coming along?

Well, working on Sanatorium mostly. We're trying lots of differnet things in this one. Plus, it will be alot longer, we're already looking at a minimum of 3 discs, but it may go longer (!).

I'm writing, producing and sound designing a full length original SH audio drama that the team will score, which will take up a disc by itself. So it's great fun to work on (just like the previous albums).

On other projects, I'm working on new content for my site, mastering my music into Dolby Digital 5.1 ac3 files.

Oh, and making SH inspired machinima with that new game "The Movies". It's fun :)

[Nulion]

Thanks a ton for looking up that info for me, even though honestly I was only curious :)

Also wanted to post this - it was in another post here, but then again it deserves to be in this one too.

http://www.play-symphony.com/

It's that PLAY! symphony thing that's supposed to be making a very large tour sometime during the next year or so, and the symphony will be playing musical tracks from Silent Hill as part of the presentation :)

[ifirit]

It sounds like fun, but they're either going to play Not Tomorrow, True or Promise (Reprise), the three most over-used tracks from the games. Also, the producers of PLAY! may probably pick them because they are the three easiest songs to transcribe to orchestra, which I feel would hardly lend to adding arrangement to the songs.

[Eccles]

I play silent hill too much. Y'all may be aware of American Edit (http://www.americanedit.net/)...track 1 uses the radio wailing from SH1 that plays when you fight the final boss. It's sad that I notice this.

[mecca]

http://www.play-symphony.com/


zomg torrentplz

[Parjay]

It sounds like fun, but they're either going to play Not Tomorrow, True or Promise (Reprise), the three most over-used tracks from the games. Also, the producers of PLAY! may probably pick them because they are the three easiest songs to transcribe to orchestra, which I feel would hardly lend to adding arrangement to the songs.

Man, I'd love if they did a live stage version of an industrial theme! I can see it now: metal drums, old misc factory parts that barley work, and some guy running around throwing and clanking pipes.

[BocoDragon]

So Siren is a sister title to SH, huh? Is it worth tracking down, or is the game lame and the SH connection merely trivial?

[Parjay]

Siren is great. But there isn't any SH connections beyond same director, the siren sound etc. etc.

[ifirit]

I wanted to take the opportunity right now to let you guys know that some major changes have occurred at Konami's headquarters that will affect every aspect of the company including items involved with Silent Hill.

Konami Corporation Restructures it's Subsidiaries:
Over the last two years, Konami has been merging all of it subsidiaries together to form the Konami Group of Companies. It's goal was to help synchronize the corporation in order to allow it to expand in the global market. Thus, the Konami branches for gaming, toys, books, online materials, and other media will now be solely produced by a single company. This means that Konami Computer Entertainment of Tokyo, Inc. (KCET), Konami Computer Entertainment of Japan, Inc., (KCEJ) and Konami Computer Entertainment Studios, Inc. (KCES) have all combined into a single company operating under the Konami Corporation. The subsidiary company will now be called Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. (KDE). Also, Konami Computer Entertainment of America, Inc., Konami Computer Entertainment of Europe, Inc. and Konami Computer Entertainment of Asia, Inc. have all merged together under a single subsidiary of Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. Each division will retain its location, but will now operate in synch with Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Inc. Also, and most importantly, the headquarters for Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Inc. are now based in Los Angeles, California, USA. KDE also recently completed building a manufacturing facility in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA which will significantly improved Konami's production and distribution capabilities.

This is very exciting news to fans in the United States of America, because the US will now be the focus of Konami's game development and distribution. So, when it comes to information on new releases, fans in the US will be able to receive it first. This is very exciting news indeed! In addition, all news released about Konami and it's products will now be released in English, no translation needed. (Woo-hoo!) You see, Konami is looking to increase it's brand awareness not only in the US, but globally. So, Konami wants to try to establish the kind of market that encourages consumption of its products the way it is able to in Japan. Considering the gaming world, this is a huge step into bringing the gaming world into the mainstream. Konami hopes to make gaming as universal as watching television or going to the movies. It is looking to not only remove the stigma of gaming, but to make every age group as excited about its products as the younger generation.

What this translates to, for Silent Hill fans, is a more direct access to future Silent Hill products and merchandise in the US. (The resulting trickle-effect will allow fans in other regions access to these products as well.) That means the US will now have access to some of the really cool and rare items that have previously been exclusive to Japan. Therefore, I cannot stress the importance of next year's Konami Gamer's Day (2006). Usually held in January in San Fransico, California (last year at the Sony Metreon (http://www.metreon.com/) entertainment complex), this event is used to inform the public of any and all games Konami plans to release for that year. Therefore, if we're going to hear any new information about Silent Hill 5, you will definitely want to be at that event. And since Konami's gaming division is now headquartered in Los Angeles, chances are that it will be held there. Besides, with so many new games and sequels coming out for the next generation of consoles, you'll want to be there anyway, i.e. Metal Gear Solid 4, Rumble Roses XX, DanceDanceRevolution, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, etc. Also, since Konami has also bought out Hudson Soft Co., Ltd., new titles and sequels from their lineup of games could be expected as well.

SO GO TO KONAMI'S GAMER'S DAY 2006 TO GET COOL FREE STUFF! (In case you do plan to go to KGD2006, make sure to stop by San Bruno located directly across from the San Fransico International Airport [seriously, as soon as you get out of the airport parking lot, you're in San Bruno]. Try to see if you can get a coffee at Never Too Latte.)

Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. - Main Website (http://www.konami.com/gs/)
Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. - Corporate History (http://www.konami-usa.com/index.html)
Konami's Regional Corporate Structure (http://www.konami.co.jp/en/corporate/region/index.html)
Konami Press Releases - Konami to Merge with Subsidiaries (http://www.konami.co.jp/press/2004/12/044/r.16.12.16-e.html)
Konami Press Releases - Announcement of Group Restructuring (http://www.konami.co.jp/press/2005/11/041/r.17.11.07-e.html)
Konami Press Releases - Konami Opens New Gaming Production Facility in Las Vegas (http://www.konami.co.jp/press/2005/06/022/r.17.06.10-e.html)
Konami Press Releases - Konami will accept a third party allotment of new shares of Hudson (http://www.konami.co.jp/press/2005/04/012/r.17.04.11-e.html)
Konami Press Releases - Konami Establishes New Computer & Video Games Operation Based in Los Angeles, California (http://www.konami.com/gs/press/konami101303.html)
Konami News Release - Konami's Silent Hill 4: The Room Ships Nationwide (http://www.konami.com/gs/newsarticle.php?id=527) (Not really anything new, but I like the way it states the Series Information at the bottom.)

Silent Hill 4 Kyodan - "Impenetrable Rain of Yoshiwara (Special Chapter)":
We recently talked about the special drama (kyodan) disc that came with the Silent Hill 4: The Room soundtrack. As you know, it's a ghost story told by Teisui Ichiryusai, but released only in Japan was a special chapter of the kyodan. Bundled with the game and soundtrack, the Silent Hill 4: The Room Bundled Edition featured additional promotional items such as an exclusive poster and additonal disc containing the kyodan "Special Chapter." I had been looking for a copy for almost a year now, and stumbled across it on a Russian website, Hometown (http://www.asylum.hometown.ru/index.html).

I don't know if the "Special Chapter" is an epilogue or additional story from the original 12 track story, or if it is merely a promotional item taking selections from the kyodan to promote the soundtrack, but it is something that is not featured on either parts of the soundtrack. Get this rare item before it becomes another "lost memory."

Hometown's Silent Hill 4 Music Page - Impenetrable Rain of Yoshiwara (Special Chapter) (http://www.hometown.ru/sh4ost.html) (Scroll down past the official soundtracks to access the "Special Chapter" mp3.)
Impenetrable Rain of Yoshiwara (Special Chapter) - MegaUpload Mirror (http://www.megaupload.com/?d=0DW8D5AD) (I provided a temporary mirror in case Hometown's site becomes unavailable.)

Silent Hill Remixes - More Fan Remixes:
I was looking into something different, but came across some really cool fan remixes of the music from the Silent Hill series. I couldn't believe how many good ones I found that people just don't know about. (Plus, I didn't realized how popular Silent Hill was in Russia.) So, rather than bore you with the details of how I discovered these, let's just get into the mixes, shall we?

Tears of Mankind:
This (http://www.realmusic.ru/tears/) Russian-based, Gothic Metal band has officially released a few albums online. Their instrumentation is phenominal, although the vocals are somewhat irregular. (Think Cookie Monster (http://pbskids.org/sesame/letter/) singing in a Death Metal band. :?) Don't let that mislead you since the vocals work, but at the same time sound odd. You just have to listen to it to understand what I mean. (Personally, I would have preferred a better singer, but it doesn't really detract from the music overall.) Over the last few years, they've released several Gothic Metal remixes from Silent Hill, some good, some okay and some very good.

Tears of Mankind - Tender Sugar (Gothic Metal) (http://www.realmusic.ru/songs/100433/)
Tears of Mankind - Theme of Laura (Gothic Metal) (http://www.realmusic.ru/songs/87470/) (Recommended)
Tears of Mankind - Please Love Me (Gothic Metal) (http://www.realmusic.ru/songs/73291/) (Highly Recommended)
Tears of Mankind - Room of Angel (Gothic Metal) (http://www.realmusic.ru/songs/81670/)
Tears of Mankind - Promise (Gothic Metal) (http://www.realmusic.ru/songs/83987/)
Tears of Mankind - Way Through A Fog (The Ode to The Silent Hill) (http://www.realmusic.ru/songs/129450/)

Silent Hill Underground:
While looking for additional music created by Silent Hill fans, I came across another Russian website dedicated to Silent Hill. In the fanwork section titled Underground (http://www.psxzone.opalnet.pl/Podstrony/Silent_Hill/index-c.html), the music section contains a 72-track album of Silent Hill inspired music created by Lukasz Brzostek, in the same vein as Broken Notes (http://www.macabre-productions.com/brokennotes/) or the Silent Hill Fan Soundtrack (http://www.brokennotes.com/productions/productions.html). The music has the same dark ambient tones as most other original fanworks, but I somehow feel that this album is much closer to capturing the essence of Akira Yamaoka's works than anyone else has.

Silent Hill Underground - Fan Soundtrack (http://www.psxzone.opalnet.pl/Podstrony/Silent_Hill/under_data/muzyka.htm) by Lukasz Brzostek

DJ Sadan:
From Siberia, Russia, DJ Sadan (http://www.realmusic.ru/djsadan/) is a fairly newcomer to the Silent Hill scene and has not been known to visit the Silent Hill Forum (http://www.silenthillforum.co.uk/forum/) on occasion, but is very much into the European Drum 'n Bass scene. This is one of his tributes to Akira Yamaoka. (You can also check out his music in the SH fan film The Peephole (http://www.silenthillforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=20920) , as he is confirmed to compose the score.) This song simply adds a drum loop and some additional synths/pads over the original melody of the Theme of Laura (Reprise), but what I find interesting is that it works really well. (Hey, if the Chrono Trigger Mixtape can be popular in its fanbase, this can, too.)

DJ Sadan - Theme of Laura(Sadan dnb mix) (http://www.realmusic.ru/songs/94107/)

Comatron:
This Germany-based, DnB producer has actually been published on CD in the European DnB scene and carries a lot of credibility among DJ's in Europe, so I was surprised to see that he also created a few Silent Hill fan remixes. I wasn't a hardcore DnB listener before listening to this, so I was skeptical of this after listening to DJ Sadan's mix. However, once I finished listening to this track, I couldn't help but to try to find a download of his remix and his other releases.

Comatron - Silent Hill (Remedy Recordings Mix) (http://www.dnbforum.com/dubplates.php?searchfield=artist&searchterm=Comatron#result) (Remix of True & Promise [Reprise]) [b]Requires Real Player to Stream
Comatron - Secret Place (Link posted once I find a site that actually works)

bluetrain:
Hailing from Victoria, Australia, bluetrain (http://www.silenthillforum.co.uk/forum/member.php?u=8767) is a member of the Silent Hill Forum (http://www.silenthillforum.co.uk/forum/) and new to the Silent Hill Remixing Community. However, he has definitely placed himself on my map with his mix, Promise [Absconder Mix], a trance remix of Promise from SH2. I recommend that you check this out at the very least. (I especially like the end, where Mary keeps repeating "You promised.")

bluetrain - Promise [Absconder Mix] (http://www.silenthillforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=21538)

I'm very glad, and surprised, to have found these mixes and I hope you guys enjoy them as well. It's just too bad that there aren't any Americans on this list.

Man, I'd love if they did a live stage version of an industrial theme! I can see it now: metal drums, old misc factory parts that barley work, and some guy running around throwing and clanking pipes.
I was listening over the complete soundtrack from Silent Hill, and the song I would love to hear performed live is the music from the sewer that connects the Resort Area to the Amusement Park (Listed as "Sinking Horses" on Dustfungus' Complete Soundtrack (http://www.shm.dustfungo.com/sh1cs.htm), "Flesh and Blood" on Koebi's Complete Soundtrack (http://www.silenceisbroken.com/soundofsilence/sh1_completesoundtrack_.html) and "Permeable" on yours (http://www.macabre-productions.com/Complete/Silent%20Hill%20-%20Complete/).) That song plays increasingly scarier and scarier as you listen to it. And, I think that a live performance would simply act to increase the tension and anxiety, especially if they added the sound effects of Clawfingers bursting through the metal grating in a 3-D sound system (or ideally, with live performers that would enter the hall during the performance to scare the audience). :twisted: Fun times.

EDIT:
Silent Hill Film Update:
Bloody-Disgusting.com (http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/) has just posted some new production stills from the upcoming film and announced that the official film website www.welcometosilenthill.com (http://www.welcometosilenthill.com) will open on Monday, December 5, 2005. A contest is scheduled to be underway on Opening Day for the best poster to promote the Silent Hill film. So, get your photoshops ready and start making some posters.

Bloody-Disgusting Article - Exclusive Pics from 'Silent Hill' + Make Your Own Poster (http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/index.php?Show=5336&Template=newsfull)
Silent Hill Production Stills #3 - Livejournal Mirror (http://photobucket.com/albums/v118/nekokikichan/) (nekokikichan (http://www.livejournal.com/users/nekokikichan85/) from the Silent Hill Forum has graciously provided a mirror for the new set of images from the upcoming film. Thank you.)

I don't want to get your hopes up, but it's possible that a trailer (or teaser trailer) might be available for viewing once the site opens.

[UnforgivingEdges]

Silent Hill Underground:
While looking for additional music created by Silent Hill fans, I came across another Russian website dedicated to Silent Hill. In the fanwork section titled Underground (http://www.psxzone.opalnet.pl/Podstrony/Silent_Hill/index-c.html), the music section contains a 72-track album of Silent Hill inspired music created by Lukasz Brzostek, in the same vein as Broken Notes (http://www.macabre-productions.com/brokennotes/) or the Silent Hill Fan Soundtrack (http://www.brokennotes.com/productions/productions.html). The music has the same dark ambient ambient tones as most other original fanworks, but I somehow feel that this album is much closer to capturing the essence of Akira Yamaoka's works than anyone else has.

Owns. My. Face.

[ifirit]

I've added a couple of mirrors up in my previous post, just in case any of the main links don't work. Enjoy.

[StarZander]

I've added a couple of mirrors up in my previous post, just in case any of the main links don't work. Enjoy.

Sorry to get off-topic now, but...

I need you to get on MSN, as soon as possible. There is something I want to show you.

[ifirit]

I need you to get on MSN, as soon as possible. There is something I want to show you. I'm online right now.

[Eccles]

Ive got ten bucks says it's penis related.

[Sous_Bgob]

I wanted to take the opportunity right now to let you guys know that some major changes have occurred at Konami's headquarters that will affect every aspect of the company including items involved with Silent Hill.

Konami Corporation Restructures it's Subsidiaries:
Over the last two years, Konami has been merging all of it subsidiaries together to form the Konami Group of Companies. It's goal was to help synchronize the corporation in order to allow it to expand in the global market. Thus, the Konami branches for gaming, toys, books, online materials, and other media will now be solely produced by a single company. This means that Konami Computer Entertainment of Tokyo, Inc. (KCET), Konami Computer Entertainment of Japan, Inc., (KCEJ) and Konami Computer Entertainment Studios, Inc. (KCES) have all combined into a single company operating under the Konami Corporation. The subsidiary company will now be called Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. (KDE). Also, Konami Computer Entertainment of America, Inc., Konami Computer Entertainment of Europe, Inc. and Konami Computer Entertainment of Asia, Inc. have all merged together under a single subsidiary of Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. Each division will retain its location, but will now operate in synch with Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Inc. Also, and most importantly, the headquarters for Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Inc. are now based in Los Angeles, California, USA. KDE also recently completed building a manufacturing facility in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA which will significantly improved Konami's production and distribution capabilities.

This is very exciting news to fans in the United States of America, because the US will now be the focus of Konami's game development and distribution. So, when it comes to information on new releases, fans in the US will be able to receive it first. This is very exciting news indeed! In addition, all news released about Konami and it's products will now be released in English, no translation needed. (Woo-hoo!) You see, Konami is looking to increase it's brand awareness not only in the US, but globally. So, Konami wants to try to establish the kind of market that encourages consumption of its products the way it is able to in Japan. Considering the gaming world, this is a huge step into bringing the gaming world into the mainstream. Konami hopes to make gaming as universal as watching television or going to the movies. It is looking to not only remove the stigma of gaming, but to make every age group as excited about its products as the younger generation.

What this translates to, for Silent Hill fans, is a more direct access to future Silent Hill products and merchandise in the US. (The resulting trickle-effect will allow fans in other regions access to these products as well.) That means the US will now have access to some of the really cool and rare items that have previously been exclusive to Japan. Therefore, I cannot stress the importance of next year's Konami Gamer's Day (2006). Usually held in January in San Fransico, California (last year at the Sony Metreon (http://www.metreon.com/) entertainment complex), this event is used to inform the public of any and all games Konami plans to release for that year. Therefore, if we're going to hear any new information about Silent Hill 5, you will definitely want to be at that event. And since Konami's gaming division is now headquartered in Los Angeles, chances are that it will be held there. Besides, with so many new games and sequels coming out for the next generation of consoles, you'll want to be there anyway, i.e. Metal Gear Solid 4, Rumble Roses XX, DanceDanceRevolution, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, etc. Also, since Konami has also bought out Hudson Soft Co., Ltd., new titles and sequels from their lineup of games could be expected as well.

SO GO TO KONAMI'S GAMER'S DAY 2006 TO GET COOL FREE STUFF! (In case you do plan to go to KGD2006, make sure to stop by San Bruno located directly across from the San Fransico International Airport [seriously, as soon as you get out of the airport parking lot, you're in San Bruno]. Try to see if you can get a coffee at Never Too Latte.)

Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. - Main Website (http://www.konami.com/gs/)
Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. - Corporate History (http://www.konami-usa.com/index.html)
Konami's Regional Corporate Structure (http://www.konami.co.jp/en/corporate/region/index.html)
Konami Press Releases - Konami to Merge with Subsidiaries (http://www.konami.co.jp/press/2004/12/044/r.16.12.16-e.html)
Konami Press Releases - Announcement of Group Restructuring (http://www.konami.co.jp/press/2005/11/041/r.17.11.07-e.html)
Konami Press Releases - Konami Opens New Gaming Production Facility in Las Vegas (http://www.konami.co.jp/press/2005/06/022/r.17.06.10-e.html)
Konami Press Releases - Konami will accept a third party allotment of new shares of Hudson (http://www.konami.co.jp/press/2005/04/012/r.17.04.11-e.html)
Konami Press Releases - Konami Establishes New Computer & Video Games Operation Based in Los Angeles, California (http://www.konami.com/gs/press/konami101303.html)
Konami News Release - Konami's Silent Hill 4: The Room Ships Nationwide (http://www.konami.com/gs/newsarticle.php?id=527) (Not really anything new, but I like the way it states the Series Information at the bottom.)

Silent Hill 4 Kyodan - "Impenetrable Rain of Yoshiwara (Special Chapter)":
We recently talked about the special drama (kyodan) disc that came with the Silent Hill 4: The Room soundtrack. As you know, it's a ghost story told by Teisui Ichiryusai, but released only in Japan was a special chapter of the kyodan. Bundled with the game and soundtrack, the Silent Hill 4: The Room Bundled Edition featured additional promotional items such as an exclusive poster and additonal disc containing the kyodan "Special Chapter." I had been looking for a copy for almost a year now, and stumbled across it on a Russian website, Hometown (http://www.asylum.hometown.ru/index.html).

I don't know if the "Special Chapter" is an epilogue or additional story from the original 12 track story, or if it is merely a promotional item taking selections from the kyodan to promote the soundtrack, but it is something that is not featured on either parts of the soundtrack. Get this rare item before it becomes another "lost memory."

Hometown's Silent Hill 4 Music Page - Impenetrable Rain of Yoshiwara (Special Chapter) (http://www.hometown.ru/sh4ost.html) (Scroll down past the official soundtracks to access the "Special Chapter" mp3.)
Impenetrable Rain of Yoshiwara (Special Chapter) - MegaUpload Mirror (http://www.megaupload.com/?d=0DW8D5AD) (I provided a temporary mirror in case Hometown's site becomes unavailable.)

Silent Hill Remixes - More Fan Remixes:
I was looking into something different, but came across some really cool fan remixes of the music from the Silent Hill series. I couldn't believe how many good ones I found that people just don't know about. (Plus, I didn't realized how popular Silent Hill was in Russia.) So, rather than bore you with the details of how I discovered these, let's just get into the mixes, shall we?

Tears of Mankind:
This (http://www.realmusic.ru/tears/) Russian-based, Gothic Metal band has officially released a few albums online. Their instrumentation is phenominal, although the vocals are somewhat irregular. (Think Cookie Monster (http://pbskids.org/sesame/letter/) singing in a Death Metal band. :?) Don't let that mislead you since the vocals work, but at the same time sound odd. You just have to listen to it to understand what I mean. (Personally, I would have preferred a better singer, but it doesn't really detract from the music overall.) Over the last few years, they've released several Gothic Metal remixes from Silent Hill, some good, some okay and some very good.

Tears of Mankind - Tender Sugar (Gothic Metal) (http://www.realmusic.ru/songs/100433/)
Tears of Mankind - Theme of Laura (Gothic Metal) (http://www.realmusic.ru/songs/87470/) (Recommended)
Tears of Mankind - Please Love Me (Gothic Metal) (http://www.realmusic.ru/songs/73291/) (Highly Recommended)
Tears of Mankind - Room of Angel (Gothic Metal) (http://www.realmusic.ru/songs/81670/)
Tears of Mankind - Promise (Gothic Metal) (http://www.realmusic.ru/songs/83987/)
Tears of Mankind - Way Through A Fog (The Ode to The Silent Hill) (http://www.realmusic.ru/songs/129450/)

Silent Hill Underground:
While looking for additional music created by Silent Hill fans, I came across another Russian website dedicated to Silent Hill. In the fanwork section titled Underground (http://www.psxzone.opalnet.pl/Podstrony/Silent_Hill/index-c.html), the music section contains a 72-track album of Silent Hill inspired music created by Lukasz Brzostek, in the same vein as Broken Notes (http://www.macabre-productions.com/brokennotes/) or the Silent Hill Fan Soundtrack (http://www.brokennotes.com/productions/productions.html). The music has the same dark ambient tones as most other original fanworks, but I somehow feel that this album is much closer to capturing the essence of Akira Yamaoka's works than anyone else has.

Silent Hill Underground - Fan Soundtrack (http://www.psxzone.opalnet.pl/Podstrony/Silent_Hill/under_data/muzyka.htm) by Lukasz Brzostek

DJ Sadan:
From Siberia, Russia, DJ Sadan (http://www.realmusic.ru/djsadan/) is a fairly newcomer to the Silent Hill scene and has not been known to visit the Silent Hill Forum (http://www.silenthillforum.co.uk/forum/) on occasion, but is very much into the European Drum 'n Bass scene. This is one of his tributes to Akira Yamaoka. (You can also check out his music in the SH fan film The Peephole (http://www.silenthillforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=20920) , as he is confirmed to compose the score.) This song simply adds a drum loop and some additional synths/pads over the original melody of the Theme of Laura (Reprise), but what I find interesting is that it works really well. (Hey, if the Chrono Trigger Mixtape can be popular in its fanbase, this can, too.)

DJ Sadan - Theme of Laura(Sadan dnb mix) (http://www.realmusic.ru/songs/94107/)

Comatron:
This Germany-based, DnB producer has actually been published on CD in the European DnB scene and carries a lot of credibility among DJ's in Europe, so I was surprised to see that he also created a few Silent Hill fan remixes. I wasn't a hardcore DnB listener before listening to this, so I was skeptical of this after listening to DJ Sadan's mix. However, once I finished listening to this track, I couldn't help but to try to find a download of his remix and his other releases.

Comatron - Silent Hill (Remedy Recordings Mix) (http://www.dnbforum.com/dubplates.php?searchfield=artist&searchterm=Comatron#result) (Remix of True & Promise [Reprise]) [b]Requires Real Player to Stream
Comatron - Secret Place (Link posted once I find a site that actually works)

bluetrain:
Hailing from Victoria, Australia, bluetrain (http://www.silenthillforum.co.uk/forum/member.php?u=8767) is a member of the Silent Hill Forum (http://www.silenthillforum.co.uk/forum/) and new to the Silent Hill Remixing Community. However, he has definitely placed himself on my map with his mix, Promise [Absconder Mix], a trance remix of Promise from SH2. I recommend that you check this out at the very least. (I especially like the end, where Mary keeps repeating "You promised.")

bluetrain - Promise [Absconder Mix] (http://www.silenthillforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=21538)

I'm very glad, and surprised, to have found these mixes and I hope you guys enjoy them as well. It's just too bad that there aren't any Americans on this list.

Man, I'd love if they did a live stage version of an industrial theme! I can see it now: metal drums, old misc factory parts that barley work, and some guy running around throwing and clanking pipes.
I was listening over the complete soundtrack from Silent Hill, and the song I would love to hear performed live is the music from the sewer that connects the Resort Area to the Amusement Park (Listed as "Sinking Horses" on Dustfungus' Complete Soundtrack (http://www.shm.dustfungo.com/sh1cs.htm), "Flesh and Blood" on Koebi's Complete Soundtrack (http://www.silenceisbroken.com/soundofsilence/sh1_completesoundtrack_.html) and "Permeable" on yours (http://www.macabre-productions.com/Complete/Silent%20Hill%20-%20Complete/).) That song plays increasingly scarier and scarier as you listen to it. And, I think that a live performance would simply act to increase the tension and anxiety, especially if they added the sound effects of Clawfingers bursting through the metal grating in a 3-D sound system (or ideally, with live performers that would enter the hall during the performance to scare the audience). :twisted: Fun times.

EDIT:
Silent Hill Film Update:
Bloody-Disgusting.com (http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/) has just posted some new production stills from the upcoming film and announced that the official film website www.welcometosilenthill.com (http://www.welcometosilenthill.com) will open on Monday, December 5, 2005. A contest is scheduled to be underway on Opening Day for the best poster to promote the Silent Hill film. So, get your photoshops ready and start making some posters.

Bloody-Disgusting Article - Exclusive Pics from 'Silent Hill' + Make Your Own Poster (http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/index.php?Show=5336&Template=newsfull)
Silent Hill Production Stills #3 - Livejournal Mirror (http://photobucket.com/albums/v118/nekokikichan/) (nekokikichan (http://www.livejournal.com/users/nekokikichan85/) from the Silent Hill Forum has graciously provided a mirror for the new set of images from the upcoming film. Thank you.)

I don't want to get your hopes up, but it's possible that a trailer (or teaser trailer) might be available for viewing once the site opens.


tl:dr

[ifirit]

Silent Hill Film Update:
As was reported by bloody-disgusting.com (http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/), the official website is having a contest for the best fan poster to promote the Silent Hill Film. Well, the contest has been extended to other sites by promoting some exclusivity. The Horror Channel (http://www.horrorchannel.com/) has been given exclusive production photos for use in the Silent Hill film Poster Contest. Make sure to get these images, too.

The Horror Channel - Exclusive Silent Hill Pics for the Poster! (http://www.horrorchannel.com/dread/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=3872)

On a personal note, I was surprised that they made Dahlia more primal and savage in these pictures (which I assume is supposed to represent her image from the game, when Harry meets her), because Dahlia wasn't that unhygenic in the game. I feel like there is a lack of consistency in this, since Dahlia isn't actually crazy as people say she is (i.e. Lisa's mention of Dahlia [and even then raises doubts about the rumor, since the Lisa we see in SH1 isn't the real Lisa]); she's cryptic and that only gives the "perspection" of crazy to those you don't understand what that person is refering to. So, by showing Dahlia as an uncredible character in appearance, I feel like she is an uncredible person in the story, even though logically I know she isn't. That part really disappoints me.

However, I like Dahlia's appearance in her funeral dress, because that is much closer to the way she would have dressed in the game and because it helps to make her character more acceptable as being in charge of the creation of Alessa, which according to Silent Hill 4: The Room suggests that she achieves high status within the cult of Silent Hill after Alessa's second birth, i.e. Cheryl. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy the pictures and make sure to check out the official website (http://www.welcometosilenthill.com/) on Monday.

[Jenga]

Ugh...the Tears of Mankind covers would be excellent if it weren't for the singing.

[Nulion]

...Wow, that Tears of Mankind Room of Angel song was *really* good...Struck a chord with me, but the cookie monster vocals of the others were a shame.

Those movie pictures are sweet o.o Seeing that body strung up on the fence, a la Silent Hill 1, was just great - it looks SO much like the original, even if it does have kind of a fakey look to it. Count me as impressed I suppose :)

EDIT:

I just read somewhere what I personally may think is even more reasonable....The woman in the funeral veil is probably Dahlia. But as for the ragged, filthy woman, that might be Cristabella. (At least according to IMDb, which I know is a very shaky resource) But it would make more sense considering that the two women look so different from one another.

...But then, I have no idea who Cristabella is, or what she'd be doing in this movie in the first place. All I know about her is that she appeared in the Silent Hill: Dying Inside comics, right?

[mecca]

http://www.realmusic.ru/songs/94107/

FTW!

I love DnB mixes of silent hill music..any more recommendations?

[Eccles]

Ive got a couple of MP3's that might warrant posting if only for their "Oh, that's kinda quaint" charms.

The first is Laura reciting a prayer (If I should die before I wake...)

The second is Mary reading her last letter to Laura (My dearest Laura, I'm leaving this letter with Rachel...)

The third is the audio that was going to be on the videotape that James watches in his room.

As soon as I can get them uploaded (my new PC doesnt like my FTP software) then I'll post them.

[ifirit]

I just read somewhere what I personally may think is even more reasonable....The woman in the funeral veil is probably Dahlia. But as for the ragged, filthy woman, that might be Cristabella. (At least according to IMDb, which I know is a very shaky resource) But it would make more sense considering that the two women look so different from one another.

...But then, I have no idea who Cristabella is, or what she'd be doing in this movie in the first place. All I know about her is that she appeared in the Silent Hill: Dying Inside comics, right?
Christabella is a 7-year-old girl that has black hair, wears a white dress (much like the ones worn during the Catholic ritual of First Communion), and swears way too much. That screenshot is clearly not a seven-year-old girl, so when you implied that, I said, "what the hell!?" (You can clearly see the insult to my intellect.) Besides, the story around Christabella and Dying Inside is not very closely related to the main story of Silent Hill.

I'm very disappointed in the Dying Inside series, partly by fault of Scott Ciencin, who seems to understand very little about the mythos of Silent Hill (at least anything related outside of SH2), and partly on Konami, who used programmers as the consultants for IDW rather than the producers, directors, or script writers (if you're gonna write a Silent Hill story you need to consult with Hiroyuki Owaku first). Also, that series not only misunderstands the games, it even references them incorrectly. ("Cheryl is gun-toting survivalist/cheerleader," my ass. Midwich has a gymnasium? Since when? And since when do the monsters from The Suffering cross-over to Silent Hill? Whatley? Could it be that you just misspelled "Walter?")

Great, now I'm in a bad mood.

Ive got a couple of MP3's that might warrant posting if only for their "Oh, that's kinda quaint" charms.

The first is Laura reciting a prayer (If I should die before I wake...)

The second is Mary reading her last letter to Laura (My dearest Laura, I'm leaving this letter with Rachel...)

The third is the audio that was going to be on the videotape that James watches in his room.

As soon as I can get them uploaded (my new PC doesnt like my FTP software) then I'll post them.
These have been posted here before and are still available on Silent Hill Media (http://shm.dustfungo.com/sh2voice.htm).

[Eccles]

Yeah, well...your mom's available at Silent Hill Media.

[Nulion]

I apologize, I meant no insult at all :) It's really just me thinking out loud - that, and I'd never read the comics, so could never have known she was only a little girl. But based on what you mentioned and all those glaring flaws with the comic, I don't think I'll be spending my money on them.

[ifirit]

http://www.realmusic.ru/songs/94107/

FTW!

I love DnB mixes of silent hill music..any more recommendations?
Silent Hill Remix: The Lesser Fan Remixes:
Well, I checked around again to see if I could find any good mixes around, and the result? No. But, I did find some interesting ones to consider. Take a listen. You'll at least get a small kick out of the way people have been attempting a rearrangement of Yamaoka's works.

cj. Rynio
Well, surprise, surprise, I found another dnb remix created by a Russian fan. This mix was created by cj. Rynio (http://cjrynio.mp3.wp.pl/) (weird name) who seems to have just started getting into the remixing scene, but does have a good grasp on the basics (and even a few tricks). Needless to say, his mix titled simply Silent Hill 4 remix remixes the main theme "Room of Angel" and turns it into a very unusual up-tempo, high-pitched DnB mix that might work better as the beat for a hip-hop piece than a DnB one. However, in it's defense, the way that the piece develops is fun and ultimately pays off in the end, making you wish the overall piece was better elaborated upon than it is. You'll notice that the lead doesn't have the same timbre as Mary Elizabeth McGlynn (Melissa Williamson), and I find that the person who is singing in this piece to have a very lovely voice, making me wish I could hear the undistorted version.

cj. Rynio - Silent Hill 4 Remix (http://mp3.wp.pl/p/strefa/artysta/33880,utwor,123580.html) (DnB remix of Room of Angel)

Talan & slipper:
This one really caught my ear after listening to it, because 1) it's a rap mix (gangsta rap to be exact) of Sickness Unto Foolish Death (and some Lost Carol) from Silent Hill 3 and 2) because I love the timbre of a deep, male Russian accent ("In Russia, song remixes you!"). Talan & slipper (http://music.lib.ru/p/pozicija/alb0.shtml) have really brought the flow and flava to the Silent Hill remixes in the same way DJ Crono did for his ReMixes (http://www.ocremix.org/remixer/djcrono/). You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll develop an overwhelming sense of love/hate for Europeans who rap.

Talan & slipper - Крик души (silent hill mix) (http://mp3.music.lib.ru/mp3/p/pozicija/pozicija-krik_dushi_silent__hill_mix-2.mp3) (Recommended for fun)

Pronounced "krik dushi (silent hill mix)"

Mythril Nazgul:
WH-UT?! How did this one slip through the cracks? By request, Mythril (http://www.ocremix.org/remixer/mythrilnazgul/) Nazgul (http://www.mythrilnazgul.com/) created a faux ReMix of Lost Carol in the style of an FFmusic Dj (http://www.ocremix.org/remixer/ffmusicdj/) trance piece. I wouldn't call it a joke mix exactly, because it was trying to experiment with the timbre, style and harmony of the original piece, but none-the-less it still isn't anything to write home about.

"Lost Carol" - Silent Hill 3 trance request (http://www.ocremix.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=70697) (Thread where song was requested)
Mythril Nazgul - Lost Carol (I made a mix Mix) (http://www.mythrilnazgul.com/SH3-Joke.mp3)

Soviet:
I'm not sure what to write here, because I basically came across only the link to the song with no description or information that explains anything behind the work. Well, the only things I can say about these two derivative works are that they take a very interesting idea and totally screw it up. These songs remix the Theme of Laura in acoustic rock with original vocals and melody. What really breaks this mix is the sound quality and lack of proper editing/mixing. (Be careful as if you listen to this too loudly, it clips like crazy.) Had the group taken the time to sit down with a sound editor and give the tracks the attention they deserved, this could have been incredibly awesome. So, with that said, enjoy the bastardization.

Soviet - The Silent Hill (featuring Charlene O Donnel) (http://mp3.meefo.com/download.php?id=725)
Soviet - The Silent Hill (featuring Charlene O Donnel) [Megaupload Mirror] (http://www.megaupload.com/?d=3ZFV5T45)
Soviet - The Silent Hill (featuring Steph Kewell) (http://mp3.mp3.meefo.com/download.php?id=726) (Steph Kewell is the vocalist for Twilight's Kiss)
Soviet - The Silent Hill (featuring Steph Kewell) [Megaupload Mirror] (http://www.megaupload.com/?d=PM4PZRJP)

mono lo-fi minimal:
mono lo-fi minimal (http://www.i-bands.net/audiovault/bands/566/about.php), aka johnno k, hails from eastern Malaysia an is working on a tribute to Silent Hill in the form of remixing its works in an experimental rock/ambient hybrid. He has only released three tracks so far (and made only one downloadable), so there isn't a whole lot to listen to. The concept is nice, but again, this fails to really show anything of real value in terms of arrangement. Still cool to check out.

mono lo-fi minimal - A Silent Tribute (W.I.P) (http://www.i-bands.net/audiovault/bands/566/music.php) (scroll down some to view the Silent Hill material)

The Shade:
Last up is a remix of the original Silent Hill theme Silent Hill, inappropriately mislabeled as Hometown (yeah!). The Shade (http://www.ourmedia.org/user/27998) offers us a solo, heavy-metal guitar version of the theme with back-up by minimalistic drums. Had K.Praz (http://www.ocremix.org/remixer/kpraslowicz/) not released his White Claudia Rock (http://www.ocremix.org/remix/OCR00385/) a very long time ago, which I believe is much better, I'd be more inclined to give this better spotlight. But, anyway...check out his Hitman 2: Silent Assassin (http://www.ourmedia.org/node/28320) arrangement if you'd like to hear a heavy-metal guitar mix of that game's music.

The Shade - Hometown (Solo Electric Guitar) (http://www.ourmedia.org/node/28516)

I hope you've enjoyed seeing the weaker side of the Silent Hill remixing community. Let's hope these guys work on their mixes and try to improve them more. Later.

EDIT: I know the music from Silent Hill 2 is way over used for remixes, but why not a few more, eh?

Deek Beeker, et. al. & Case Closed:
Primative Features (http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pageartist.cfm?bandID=90693), is joined by some friends, Deek Beeker, Los Tha Don, Death Threats and Forearm Fracture, for a little Silent Hill hip-hop action. They take the music from Theme of Laura (Reprise) and give it a little rap remix. Be prepared for mad rhymes and ill lyrics as they attempt to take Silent Hill to the streets. (Unfortunately, there is not an option to download this track.)

Primative Features - Silent Hill (http://www.soundclick.com/bands/songInfo.cfm?bandID=90693&songID=870903) - (Requires SoundClick Account)

GeeVious:
Electronica junkie, GeeVious (http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pageartist.cfm?bandID=59517), has been making music and video game remixes for quite some time and has developed a very unique style of his own. He takes us on a very strange electronic journey through the inner workings of True. I was almost not going to put this in the Lesser Fan Remixes section, because of the amount of arrangement that this piece utilizes, but it's sound production is not the best that it could be, which gives me greater doubts than reassurances. Still cool to listen to. (I love how it transforms the main melody into the "dial-tone" motif from the telephone call scene in SH1 that so many fans include in their works. Tres cool.)

GeeVious - "Silent Hill 2 - True (GVS's Nintindud RmX)" (http://www.soundclick.com/bands/songInfo.cfm?bandID=59517&songID=1416957) - (Requires SoundClick Account)

If you guys find any cool mixes, or want to plug your own, please do. I love to hear arrangements from the Silent Hill series.

[Z-Saber]

The Soviet links don't work.

[ifirit]

Mirrors uploaded, links fixed.

You're welcome.

EDIT: Part 6 (http://noescape.rateofinjury.com/) (A Side) of Silent Hill: No Escape is online. I'll post about it later.

[The Instrument of GAWD]

I don't think you guys mentioned it, but I found a mix (well not really) of Room of Angel by Knick Knack (Ya know, the girl that did Chibi Silent Hill 2 comic?).

All it really is, is her playing the piano and singing. But the thing is, she sings very well. Aside from that, she put in radio static, for added SH effect I guess.

If anyone's interest, I'll pass it to Ifirit to host it (since I have nowhere to put it).

[mecca]

Jesus..I love this stuff.


I used to really enjoy upbeat and airy DnB...LTJ Bukem / High Contrast etc, but this dark and moody sound is compelling..definitely prefer theme of laura tbh, but this is fantastic music.

I'd like to hear some more, if you know of any.

[Eccles]

So I've been wondering whether or not I should pick up my stories again (or rather, start over on my stories since everything I had written for them seems to have vanished...not even searching the word cache reveals anything!)

I've got ideas for four or five, but nothing solid...so I think I'd be best if I take these ideas and condense them into one, maybe two stories.

As it stands there are three problems that I face...
1) Silent Hill is a predetermined cityscape. I can't say "Hey, there's a starbucks now" or whatever, because there quite clearly isn't. I was thinking of rectifying this by taking one of my own fictional towns and setting them there...but this would mean I'd need to write my own back-story, which I can't really do since most of the stuff I'd planned was based on the idea of a house burning down, a little girl dying, said girl taking revenge...y'know, Silent Hill fanfiction-y stuff.

2) I really don't have anything resembling faith in my story-writing ability. In my mind the scripts for my cartoon are pretty good, but that's because I can do whatever I want (I've sent the scripts for episodes 1, 2 and 3 to people and they thought they were great). When it comes to stories I just...lack confidence. I could probably get round this by using an assumed name on a writing group or something.

3) Writing my scripts is taking up a lot of time...I'm not getting very much done on them as it is (I've been writing since February and even though I've got pieces of scripts for ~50 episodes only two are totally finished) and distracting myself with something else would probably just get me frustrated.

I dunno. Words of advice and encouragement and help and not-STFUECKELZ would be welcome.

[RoboPanda]

www.welcometosilenthill.com (http://www.welcometosilenthill.com) will open on Monday, December 5, 2005.

Where's my burrito? Where's my burrito?

[UnforgivingEdges]

www.welcometosilenthill.com (http://www.welcometosilenthill.com) will open on Monday, December 5, 2005.

Where's my burrito? Where's my burrito?

I hope it isn't in Silent Hill. That's an awful place to lose a burrito.

[mecca]

www.welcometosilenthill.com (http://www.welcometosilenthill.com) will open on Monday, December 5, 2005.

Where's my burrito? Where's my burrito?

I hope it isn't in Silent Hill. That's an awful place to lose a burrito.

:lol:

Cheers for the lolz, even if it only takes away the sadness at the site not being launched only for a minute :(

[Israfel]

It's launched now, btw.

[RazorOutlaw]

Mirrors uploaded, links fixed.

You're welcome.

EDIT: Part 6 (http://noescape.rateofinjury.com/) (A Side) of Silent Hill: No Escape is online. I'll post about it later.
Thanks. It's been a while since I've posted here, so it's nice to come back and see that you're still plugging away, providing us lazy bums with something to look at.

[Eccles]

So I have been doing some discussion...ing...and have come to a pretty nifty conclusion. I've taken allthe stories I have ideas for and condensed them into one story.

I wont be submitting the stuff in this thread...but I'll see if I can find some writing sites to submit to. If you find me and post some here then I'll let you know...Think of it as an excuse to do more reading ;)

[Monobrow]

:)

Just want to say that I'm getting more and more excited about the movie.

[Jenga]

This might even be a good videogame movie. I have faith in this.

[ifirit]

www.welcometosilenthill.com (http://www.welcometosilenthill.com) will open on Monday, December 5, 2005.

Where's my burrito? Where's my burrito?
I tried to access the site today, but for some reason, I couldn't get anything to appear, except for a little button for the volume (and a secret button for registering on the website). Possibly something to do with the requirement for Flashplayer 8. I'll try to figure it out later.

However, Silent Hill Resorts (http://www.silenthillresorts.com/index.php) (remember them?) has recorded the flash introduction from the site and placed it on their website for downloading. Although not an official trailer as, I suspect, many people wanted, but it does make a nice teaser for the film. Anyway, to read more, check out their page and forums.

Silent Hill Resorts - "Silent Hill Movie 'Trailer'" (http://www.silenthillresorts.com/article.php/silenthilltrailer)
Silent Hill Film - "Teaser" (.mp4 file) [Megauploads Mirror] (http://www.megaupload.com/?d=5U9NCGBO)
Silent Hill Film - "Teaser" (.wmv file) [Megauploads Mirror] (http://www.megaupload.com/?d=WW8Q4T37)

Make sure that your players are as up too date as possible, because I've been having trouble viewing the teasers on older versions of Quicktime and Windows Media Player. If you guys have any other questions, let me know.

Also, I've been reading some of the non-Silent Hill-related forums about their thoughts on the upcoming film and of what I hear, many people (and gamers) have heard of the Silent Hill series, never played them, and are boardering on whether or not to go see it. This isn't simply isolated cases, this has occurred at 95+% of the forums I visited that had mentions of the Silent Hill film. So, make sure this film becomes successful by encouraging as many people to go see the film as possible. (But, be warned that by doing so, you will be aiding in creating masses of n00bs to the Silent Hill communities. So, my suggestion would be to follow Saotome's advise [Yea, Boogiepop Phantom!]: "Don't tell everyone at first, tell only those who can keep a secret, those people who hold darkness in their heart.") Seriously though, tell anyone you think would appreciate the film and encourage anyone who is "sitting on the fence" to go see it.

EDIT:So I have been doing some discussion...ing...and have come to a pretty nifty conclusion. I've taken allthe stories I have ideas for and condensed them into one story.

I wont be submitting the stuff in this thread...but I'll see if I can find some writing sites to submit to. If you find me and post some here then I'll let you know...Think of it as an excuse to do more reading ;)
I was going to suggest that you take that route in creating a script, but it's important to remember a few things. Try to simplify items that need extensive amounts of explanation. Make sure to add descriptions of scenes and settings that can be used to voice things the characters would not say in context, but are things that the characters are aware of. (i.e. The imagery of the Red Pyramid Thing and it actions, along with the painting "Misty Day: remains of the Judgement," etc., which are used to convey James' sense of want for self-punishment, though he doesn't say as much.) To put it in other words, metaphors, man, metaphors.

Establish personal relationships between your characters through repeated encounters, excluding parents and married people, for which readers can make the assumption that a relationship has already been established. (Although, this hardly need be said). Even if a previous relationship has been establish before the story takes place, don't just state that X person knows Y person and then, attempt to explain the relationship or state it in the dialogue, i.e. "You know, ever since we met in the army two years ago, while I was drafted and you weren't, I knew we'd become friends" (Ugh). Leave the encounter for the audience to decifer for themselves whether or not the two know each other. And in doing so, let the characters act naturally, say if a confrontation is occuring, skip formalities and go straight into the argument, i.e. Douglas and Claudia's conversation in the amusement park - "What is it now?" "You lied to me...." Please note that there is a slight exception in my example, because the dialogue was simply reaffirming an statement that Douglas made earlier, which the player may have forgotten or doubted, "I was just hired to find you, that's all" & "I hired you to find the girl."

The relationships that you establish should be dependent on the previous encounters, i.e. James' shock, concern and hasitation toward Angela when meeting her in the Blue Creek apartments since she acted differently in the cemetary & his resulting attempts to sway her away from suicide, none of which he was not entirely serious about anyway, since he was more afraid than concerned. The feelings and perspections that the characters' have toward each other should carry over to the next conversation. And, first impressions are lasting impressions, meaning that what you say about a person when they are first introduced are often the things that will stay with the audience throughout the story.

Most importantly, a script is not a game. So, think differently about spacing, timing and obstacles. A transition in media means a transition in presentation. So, you wouldn't need to say, Harry goes to Midwich Elementary, kills two monsters before finding the puzzle about the clock tower, so he finds the bottle of acid and pours it on the hand, all the while killing two more monsters and avoiding one.... Simply because, it's time-consuming, mis-representative of the series, and ultimately a waste of the readers' time. Instead focus on the goal or end result you want to accomplish. Harry enters the elementary school, apprehensive about the increasing darkness and silence of the surroundings. As he steps into the hallway, erie, unearthly sounds emminate from further away, echoing down the corridor. He leans back against the wall, quietly praying to himself for the safety of his only daughter. Collecting his nerve, he leans forward and opens the door at across the hall, wandering deeper into the darkness. Notice how it continually re-establish the mood and atmosphere of the game, while furthering the plot. Also, notice that I made sure to keep the character's mind focused on what he is seeking. Desires are huge factors in what motivates a character to do or not do something. Always keep in mind what a character wants, both the ultimate desires and the immediate ones.

And pretty much if you do that, the stories should be easier to write, require great amount of audience participation and, most importantly, remain loyal to the series. Good luck.

Oh, by the way, here's a couple of Silent Hill fan fictions that I particularly liked.
FanFiction.Net - "again" by Riona (http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2308934/1/)
FanFiction.Net - "Room 302 of the Past" by innocent passerby (http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2310374/1/)

[Jenga]

Ifrit did you see the Pyramid Head stills from the trailer in SHResort? Looks neat.

[ifirit]

I still don't think the Red Pyramid Thing should be represented in this film, but it's presentation justifies it somewhat to myself. Also, because I don't think it will make another big-screen appearance. (Is it slinging a body around?)

Anyway, I suspect, based on the interviews with Sean Bean, that Christopher is suppose to incorporate James' story, while Rose incorporates Harry's. Who knows?

Besides, check out their gallery with lots and lots of new photos.

EDIT: Is that (http://www.silenthillresorts.com/gallery/file/Movie%20Stills/silenthill26.jpg) (Dun, dun duuuuuun) Lisa?

[UnforgivingEdges]

This film is beginning to send my pants a-twitter.

[CIaude]

Guess I'm going to have to replace the sig I just made.

EDIT: Yes that means I'm very giddy.

[ifirit]

Guess I'm going to have to replace the sig I just made.
Ah, what better way to do that than with a Silent Hill 3 Animated GIF (http://www.pimp-productions.com/gallery/sp_index.php?dir=./games/Silent-Hill-3).

[UnforgivingEdges]

Guess I'm going to have to replace the sig I just made.
Ah, what better way to do that than with a Silent Hill 3 Animated GIF (http://www.pimp-productions.com/gallery/sp_index.php?dir=./games/Silent-Hill-3).

I wish there were more Valtiel ones...

[StarZander]

Ifrit did you see the Pyramid Head stills from the trailer in SHResort? Looks neat.

Could someone send me this pic somehow? I can't access SHResort for some reason, and it's driving me crazy.

[Eccles]

I second that

[King Dedede]

I second that
Come back to UnMod.

Please.

[Z-Saber]

The trailer looked good and all, but I was more excited that they used music from the games.

[Jenga]

I wouldn't be surprised if the characters turned out to be family members of James and Harry.

[ifirit]

Ifrit did you see the Pyramid Head stills from the trailer in SHResort? Looks neat.

Could someone send me this pic somehow? I can't access SHResort for some reason, and it's driving me crazy.
Okay, I've downloaded, zipped and uploaded all the image files from the website introduction (courtesy of Silent Hill Resorts). I'll post the mirrors below as well as links to the complete breakdown of the introduction as dissected by the staff at Silent Hill Resorts.

Silent Hill Resorts - Monster Images (.zip) [Megaupload Mirror] (http://www.megaupload.com/?d=IRE455QS)
Silent Hill Resorts - Red Pyramid Thing Images (.zip) [Megaupload Mirror] (http://www.megaupload.com/?d=LDHOQE39)
Silent Hill Resorts - Additional Film Production Images (.zip) [Megaupload Mirror] (http://www.megaupload.com/?d=237RTQLC)
Silent Hill Resorts - Additional Film Stills (.zip) [Megaupload Mirror] (http://www.megaupload.com/?d=VYSCMOXF)

Please note that I kept the original file names for the stills of the Red Pyramid Thing, but that they are labeled inappropriately. In addition, the images labeled as the patient demon, also mislabeled (should be Lying Figure), might not actually be the Lying Figure, because it could be the Manniquin. Anyway, I made a mistake though, since I forgot to include two photos in the additional production images zip file. I'll just post them on my site in the images section. (EDIT: Actually, I'm too lazy to do it, so I'm just going to point you to the source (http://www.chud.com/index.php?type=news&id=5269) for those two images. Thanks to Chud.com (http://www.chud.com/).)

The staff at SHR also slowed down and broke up each part of the trailer, so that you could clearly see what each section was displaying. (Personally, with exception to the Red Pyramid Thing video, I really didn't need to have it all broken down.)

Silent Hill Resorts - Complete Breakdown Videos (http://www.silenthillresorts.com/article.php/trailerbitsandpieces)
Silent Hill Resorts - Complete Breakdown Videos (.wmv/.zip) [Megaupload Mirror] (http://www.megaupload.com/?d=CKUOO6PI)
Silent Hill Resorts - Complete Breakdown Videos (.mp4/.zip) [Mageupload Mirror] (http://www.megaupload.com/?d=KRBR9GPN)

If you all are still having problems with the files, either update your viewers and/or complete a Windows or Macintosh update. Otherwise, I can't help you.

The trailer looked good and all, but I was more excited that they used music from the games.
If you haven't been paying attention, please read very carefully: Akira Yamaoka is confirmed as the musical director for the film and is going to compose all new music to fit this media. Yes, that means you won't have to wait until Silent Hill 5 to hear more of Akira Yamaoka's work. The music you heard in the introduction was simply a montage of Yamaoka's works that were simply substitutes until the first real trailer, which will more likely contain the new, original music.

No information has been posted so far about the film's official soundtrack, but I suspect, like many film soundtracks, you will be able to purchase it at any major music store after its release.

EDIT2: Dude, did you guys know that there is a Robbie costume available in OZ (http://www.konami.jp/oz/)? I just saw it in the "tentou tr" trailer (http://www.konami.jp/gs/game/oz/dl.htm), appears at 8'37" (complete with rusty, steel pipe in hand). Man, I wish Konami would release that game in the US, because it looks like an awesome game anyway.

[RazorOutlaw]

SPOILERS, BE ADVISED
Also, they're marked!
I still don't think the Red Pyramid Thing should be represented in this film, but it's presentation justifies it somewhat to myself. Also, because I don't think it will make another big-screen appearance. (Is it slinging a body around?)

That appears to be a rather big point of contention for many Silent Hill fans. Should PH be in the movie? Isn't PH a figment of James imagination, a manifestation of his wnat for guilt? Is PH merely limited to James? If so, how can PH be a figment of James imagination if the creature is part of the town's history?

I've been reading a lot of back and forth between fans on a MySpace Group Forum dedicated to Silent Hill. Being a part of that group myself, I got to weigh in on a few discussions. A few posters point out that Avery/Gans replied once to an irate SH fan. They said that "PH is from the town's history, therefore he can be in the movie."

The fan in question was saying that PH was tied directly to James, and therefore couldn't be in the movie. Some posters felt that Avery/Gans had the final say, and that they were right. Maybe they are. But that's a big maybe.

A few posters are saying that PH is an intrinsic part of the own, ala Samael. They're basing this on the fact that Pyramid Head looks like the executioners from the town's past. But that's kind of wrong, don't you think? If I dressed up as the Easter Bunny, does that make me a part of the Holiday's Origins or am I just some off-shoot and a product of events before my time?

I guess that's what bothers me the most. It's not so much that Avery/Gans can't use PH in another context in the movie, becaus they can if the movie has nothing to do with the games. Rather, what bothers me is that fans have so many misconceptions about the creature.

Pyramid Head is merely a manifestion of James subconcious, his memory of the town's past and his want for guilt combined to create that creature. So while yes you could see pictures of executioners running around and looking like PH, that does not mean another guilty/lost soul that shows up Silent Hill will see them too.

Now to go completely in another direction...Ifrit have you ever read any of the criticisms leveled at Silent Hill: No Escape? I engaged in a few discussions, but it quickly became an all against one situation. Most of the SH fans I "conversed" with didn't like the movie, regardless of all of the work put into it. They were bothered more by the technical aspects, including the way Peacer gave several homages to the Silent Hill games. They called them rip-offs, saying things like "Oh he took that straight out of the first game" or "The Spawn character is a rip off of PH" or, my favorite, "WTF IS SPAWN DOING IN THE MOVIE!?!!?!?!?!?"

Suffice to say, I was already too tired to argue those points with them. I have no confidence in myself anyway...

EDIT:

Also, ifrit, did you ever take a creative writing course? Your advice to Eccles is very sound. Characters should be revealed via dialogue and actions, i.e. showing not telling. I'd love to take the creative writing course I'm in again (or even take Creative Writing 2), but it's not being offered next semester.

Sad. :(

[UnforgivingEdges]

^

I think the SH movie is supposed to be more along the lines of an interpretation of the games, rather than actual canon to the series.

[I-n-j-i-n]

I hear that the Pyramid Head in the SH movie will be 9 feet tall. Sounds good to me.

[ifirit]

Warning: Possible Film Spoilers & Silent Hill 1, 2, 3 Spoilers

That appears to be a rather big point of contention for many Silent Hill fans. Should PH be in the movie? Isn't PH a figment of James imagination, a manifestation of his wnat for guilt? Is PH merely limited to James? If so, how can PH be a figment of James imagination if the creature is part of the town's history?
The biggest misconceptions about the Red Pyramid Thing are that it is 1) a solitary being, 2) unique in its appearance and 3) that it is simply manifeasted through the imagination of whoever perceives it. So, to help clear these misconceptions, let's take a look at each one.

First, let's look at the misconception that the Red Pyramid Thing is a solitary being. First off, there are two of them in the latter portion of the Lakeview Hotel. Second, the Red Pyramid Thing is a manifeasted being, such that it depends partly upon who calls the creature forth. Therefore, it, like all the other monsters, can appear multiple times or in groups. The thing you have to understand is that the creature is not a character or a person with a sense of individuality, so each time the monster appears (focusing right now solely within the context of the second game), it may actually be a different monster, but have the same form. However, that is simply through the perception of the individual that helps manifeast the creature. But, then it raises a few other questions, such as the question of how then does Maria see the Red Pyramid Thing, whose perspective is unique and is it possible to transpose a perspective, thus transposing the perception?

Truthfully, those questions are the ones you have to ask yourself, becasuse depending on what you believe, you would be inclined to suggest that what one sees it the way that it appears to all others. So, if you believed that since Maria could see the monster (operating under the one theory that Maria is a real person), you'd likely to believe that the form of the Red Pyramid Thing would appear as so to others, even those without the same perspective as James. However, if you were to say that what Maria saw was simply a monster and that it's form appeared differently than the form James saw, you'd probably say that the form of the Red Pyramid Thing was unique to the perspective of the viewer. But then, what would be the true form of the creature, if the monster could be perceived by others, but without consistent appearance? The answer seems to lie in your philosophy of perception.

A few posters point out that Avery/Gans replied once to an irate SH fan. They said that "PH is from the town's history, therefore he can be in the movie."
Second, we'll consider the misconception that the creature's appearance is unique. As is stated both by the second game, the Ushinawareta Kioku (Book of Lost Memories) and the creators, the appearance of the Red Pyramid Thing is derivative of the clothing worn by the executioners of the old Toluca Prison. And, since the form is derivative of a common subject of the town's history, it is not only possible, but likely that the form will manifeast itself into other people's subconcious. However, in order for the person to create the exact mental image of the Red Pyramid Thing, they would need to be in the exact same mind set as James. Thus, it becomes a question of whether or not it is possible to form the same mind set as another. Most philosophies suggest that this is not possible, but considering that the power of the town not only has the power to manifeast one's mind's inner workings, but that occassionally it can also allow people to experience the same type of situations as another, clearly shown in the scene with Angela and James in the stairwell of the Lakeview Hotel (i.e. "You see it too?"). James experiences the heat and visual torture of having the surroundings engulfed in flames. Granted this just goes back to the previous question of is the way one person sees something they way all people see it, since the way the room looks to him may not be exactly what Angela sees, though possibly similar. Thus, perceptions and experiences can be shared by other people in Silent Hill. It's simply a matter of putting together the right circumstances for such to occur. In otherwords, a person in almost exactly the same situation as James could most likely see a Red Pyramid Thing.

Simply put, when one's mental images are placed in world before you, the nature of the world around you changes.

The fan in question was saying that PH was tied directly to James, and therefore couldn't be in the movie. Some posters felt that Avery/Gans had the final say, and that they were right. Maybe they are. But that's a big maybe.
The third and last misconception is that the manifeastations that appear in the town of Silent Hill are simply influenced by a person's mental state and images. This is a huge misconception, because it would suggest that the power of calling forth manifeastations lies within the person solely, which it is not. The power to call forth the manifeastations, whether it be a monster, environment, or even other people, belongs principly to the power of the town. However, in a few rare cases, there are people who can bring forth manifeastations without the power of the town, but that's another discussion entirely. As is somewhat implied by the Ushinawareta Kioku, the power of the town draws people with guilt and pain in their hearts to Silent Hill in order to sustain its power, in return, it uses its power to bring the manifeastations to life in order to expose the person further to their guilt.

In the case of Silent Hill 2, Vatiel is called upon to act as the channel in which the manifeastations for James appear. Vatiel responds to James' wish to be punished for his crime and assumes the role of the punisher, which is combined with James' perception and the town's power to create the form of the Red Pyramid Thing. But, it's really not that simple, since there are multiple factors involved in why the Red Pyramid Thing appears the way it does, each depending on the philosphy of whoever is considering the subject. Though, there is one thing that is certain, Vatiel is connected to the appearance of the Red Pyramid Thing. His level of contribution to the form and its actions is yours to decide.

A few posters are saying that PH is an intrinsic part of the town, ala Samael. They're basing this on the fact that Pyramid Head looks like the executioners from the town's past. But that's kind of wrong, don't you think? If I dressed up as the Easter Bunny, does that make me a part of the Holiday's Origins or am I just some off-shoot and a product of events before my time?
The truth is that they were both right and both wrong. The Red Pyramid Thing is not intrinsic to the town, but that the image of the executioners is deeply engrained in the town's history and the presense of Vatiel is a part to the power of the town. So, the appearance of the Red Pyramid Thing could be manifeasted by others, fit the conditions are meet for its appearance. If Avary & Gans had considered the elements that make up the Red Pyramid Thing's appearance and adhered to those elements, I can't really object to the presense of it in the film, but if it's simply being used as an iconic figure in the series, then I highly question their understanding of the series.

I guess that's what bothers me the most. It's not so much that Avery/Gans can't use PH in another context in the movie, becaus they can if the movie has nothing to do with the games. Rather, what bothers me is that fans have so many misconceptions about the creature.
In any case, I try not to argue about it too much, because I know that a large portion of Silent Hill's fanbase is centered around the Red Pyramid Thing's presence in the second game and that they would all burst into tears or flames if poor ol' PH didn't make it into the movie.

Pyramid Head is merely a manifestion of James subconcious, his memory of the town's past and his want for guilt combined to create that creature. So while yes you could see pictures of executioners running around and looking like PH, that does not mean another guilty/lost soul that shows up Silent Hill will see them too.
You were fairly close in your thinking, you just need to include the power of the town and Vatiel into your idea. But, most importantly, you need to remember the question of perception, since the games leave so much ambiguity around when concerning the subject.

Now to go completely in another direction...Ifrit have you ever read any of the criticisms leveled at Silent Hill: No Escape? I engaged in a few discussions, but it quickly became an all against one situation. Most of the SH fans I "conversed" with didn't like the movie, regardless of all of the work put into it. They were bothered more by the technical aspects, including the way Peacer gave several homages to the Silent Hill games. They called them rip-offs, saying things like "Oh he took that straight out of the first game" or "The Spawn character is a rip off of PH" or, my favorite, "WTF IS SPAWN DOING IN THE MOVIE!?!!?!?!?!?"

Suffice to say, I was already too tired to argue those points with them. I have no confidence in myself anyway...
Your community seems to be fairly set in their thinking and unwilling to think for themselves. Besides, if they can't realize that art is not what one creates with one's tools, but that it's how one creates with one's tools, and that looking into how much work it is for a single person to churn out such well-thought-out pieces of art, you'd be a fool to disregard it simply on aesthetic qualities. (Although, I did have a couple of "Peacer, you copycat" moments in the series since they seemed more than just obvious homages. Putting my reactions aside, I can understand his justification for including them the way he did, since they also apply to Michael's story.)

Anyways, if you want to read a little of my thoughts on the subject, go to the No Escape forums and read what I've posted, though it's not as much as I would like. Furthermore, make sure to check out the boards after Part 6 (Side B) is released because I'll be posting more theories and opinions there when I have the whole picture.

EDIT: Also, ifrit, did you ever take a creative writing course? Your advice to Eccles is very sound. Characters should be revealed via dialogue and actions, i.e. showing not telling. I'd love to take the creative writing course I'm in again (or even take Creative Writing 2), but it's not being offered next semester.

Sad. :(
I have only taken one English class in my four years of college and am actually better oriented towards math and science than I am writing. I consider writing (or creative writing) as just a hobby of mine.

^

I think the SH movie is supposed to be more along the lines of an interpretation of the games, rather than actual canon to the series.
Yes, it's true that the film will act as a form of interpretation of the game (I am really pleasantly surprised at Gans' insites on the Rose/Harry character relationship and in a small way feel that that is the right direction to go), but there is a difference between using poetic license and just providing fan-service. Avary's responses seem to be oriented towards "because it operates under a certain logic, it can apply to my logic." Being that just because it could appear in another situation, it is completely up to poetic license to use it for one's own purposes. But, I can't speculate entirely on the reason's for Avary's defence since I don't know the context in which the Red Pyramid Thing appears, so I will give him the benefit of the doubt.

EDIT: By the way, I found the old Silent Hill 3 website (www.sh2003.com) still online. It seems that despite abandoning the old url, Konami did not put the entire site to waste. Check it out again, or if not, for the first time. You'll notice that the outside links in the Flash are outdated and that some new content has been added since it's launch. (Now if only if could find the old Flash version of Silent Hill 4's website [www.sh2004.com].)

Silent Hill 3 - The Official Website [New Location] (http://www.konami.jp/gs/game/sh2003)

[the_nihilist]

I'm surprised no one has commented on this:

http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/silenthill/postercontest/assets/c_D04_178R.jpg

Also, hi Lisa!

http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/silenthill/postercontest/assets/D56_144R.jpg

[Eccles]

I have only taken one English class in my four years of college and am actually better oriented towards math and science than I am writing. I consider writing (or creative writing) as just a hobby of mine.Though I get the feeling he'll chuck it in given the pile of story notes I sent him yesterday ;)

[Z-Saber]

The trailer looked good and all, but I was more excited that they used music from the games.
If you haven't been paying attention, please read very carefully: Akira Yamaoka is confirmed as the musical director for the film and is going to compose all new music to fit this media. Yes, that means you won't have to wait until Silent Hill 5 to hear more of Akira Yamaoka's work. The music you heard in the introduction was simply a montage of Yamaoka's works that were simply substitutes until the first real trailer, which will more likely contain the new, original music.
I actually was aware of that, but it was still exciting to hear Yamaoka work in the trailer, even if it isn't original.

[BocoDragon]

By the way, just in case no one has done it yet, I declare this thread the official Silent Hill disccussion of the entire internet.

Just watched the trailer. I think it's already official: this is the first genuine film "adaptation" of a videogame. Unless there is something horribly off in the movie itself, it looks incredibly faithful to the concept of SH (and lets face it, that "concept" is more to the core of what SH is about than any plotline or character in particular)

Because it is so faithful to the games, It also may not be for everyone. I have a feeling the SH fans, such as those who lurk n this thread, will find much to enjoy. Depending on its quality, it could either be something that will draw new fans in..... or be for fans of this style of story only. We will see.

Now, will it end with a Melissa Williason tune? :D

[ifirit]

I'm surprised no one has commented on this: Please use smaller pictures next time and don't direct link them from the website; it wastes bandwidth and slows down people with 56k connections.

Anyways, if looked through all the photos, you'll see that is not the only time those suits appear. It appears that they have significance to the story, but it is not revealed what. Besides, they're just protective rubber suits, though rather anique'd, used to protect the wearers from chemicals or other biohazardous materials (no, this is not an RE reference) that they are using, which doesn't seem out of place, as you are implying, since the build looks rather run-down anyway.

Also, hi Lisa! I already referenced that photo before and nobody said anything about. Who knows how this is going to play out, but I can't forsee it going well. ("Stay by me, Rose. I'm so scared I can't stand it. Please.")

Besides, Eccles will probably be pissed that Thesaly Lerner's tender, dramatic voice won't be used for Lisa.

I have only taken one English class in my four years of college and am actually better oriented towards math and science than I am writing. I consider writing (or creative writing) as just a hobby of mine.Though I get the feeling he'll chuck it in given the pile of story notes I sent him yesterday ;) Reading through your story wasn't hard, I finished it and the poem in a rather short amount of time. What I find over-whelming, is the amount of crap I have to write to fix all your inconsistencies, misconceptions, and the rest of the junk that doesn't adhere to the Silent Hill series. I've already written three pages on the matter and I haven't even gotten to Gabrielle yet! (You know if I'm spending a lot of time on this, that there is something worth writing about.)

I think I'm just going to chunk it and send you a section back at a time, since it's taking way too long to get all my thoughts written at once.

Unless there is something horribly off in the movie itself, it looks incredibly faithful to the concept of SH (and lets face it, that "concept" is more to the core of what SH is about than any plotline or character in particular) There is a difference between the "concept" of the games, as you put it, and the visual appearance of the games. Thus far, the film has been very faithful to the visual appearance of the games, most particularly, the trailers used for the games and the featured shorts (Fukuro, Ki-no-ko, et. al.). The concept of the games are the plotlines and characters in the games. Without proper attention to these two things, you get things like Dying Inside, which is very faithful the visual appearance of the games, but is greatly lacking in capturing the "concept" of Silent Hill.

In addition, the visual concept is not what is at the core of the Silent Hill series, but is what is so characteristic about it. The real "core" of Silent Hill is the concept of human interaction in the context of love and desire, which results in the raise of dark images and visuals when there are things that complicate our reception of love and our fulfilment of desire.

[flipsideshooze]

i didn't read through some of the last posts because i;m too excited to, so if this is a repeat, sorry

but toward the end of that trailer, when they show the silent hill sign... anyone notice it has an "in theaters......" text at the top?!?!?!?! it looks like 6/21/06 to me... but my copy is too grainy to be sure...

anyone else see this?!

[CIaude]

i didn't read through some of the last posts because i;m too excited to, so if this is a repeat, sorry

but toward the end of that trailer, when they show the silent hill sign... anyone notice it has an "in theaters......" text at the top?!?!?!?! it looks like 6/21/06 to me... but my copy is too grainy to be sure...

anyone else see this?!

I thought it said 4/21/06

[ifirit]

i didn't read through some of the last posts because i;m too excited to, so if this is a repeat, sorry

but toward the end of that trailer, when they show the silent hill sign... anyone notice it has an "in theaters......" text at the top?!?!?!?! it looks like 6/21/06 to me... but my copy is too grainy to be sure...

anyone else see this?!

I thought it said 4/21/06Yes, the film officially releases in the US on April 21, 2006.

[BocoDragon]

In addition, the visual concept is not what is at the core of the Silent Hill series, but is what is so characteristic about it. The real "core" of Silent Hill is the concept of human interaction in the context of love and desire, which results in the raise of dark images and visuals when there are things that complicate our reception of love and our fulfilment of desire.

I think you are right to have your interpretation, but it is only one of many (and seems to apply to SH2 alone). It would also be right to say that Silent Hill is simply a story about people with personal issues lost in a nightmarish town.

You think I am talking about the "look", but I am talking about the style, and the style of SH is SH.

But yes, a good film adaption will have metaphorical expressions of humanity like your "love and desire". I just don't think it has to be that metaphor necessarily. How about "parental loss"? (yeah I suppose that's love too)

[Eccles]

Besides, Eccles will probably be pissed that Thesaly Lerner's tender, dramatic voice won't be used for Lisa.Damn right. To be fair, though, when you see Thesally Lerner it's pretty easy to see why they won't be scripting her as Lisa. 'cause...y'know, they look nothing like one another. Also she's more suited to doing kids shows...if you look up the voice acting clips on her site it's all like "HEY KIDS! WOW, CRAZY THINGS! WHEEE!" and Lisa doesn't even get a look-in. I suppose this is why the crew went for her: yes she has a soft, gentle voice, but so do lots of other actresses...a kids show voice would be virtually unknown in the gaming world.

What I find over-whelming, is the amount of crap I have to write to fix all your inconsistencies, misconceptions, and the rest of the junk that doesn't adhere to the Silent Hill series.umm...did I not make it clear that I wasn't going for a Silent Hill thing? 'cause if I didnt, I meant to. Writing it as a silent hill story would greatly restrict what I had to work with and piss off people when I took it in my own direction (as your post shows).

The stuff I sent you wasn't a "What do you think of this as a Silent Hill tale" deal, but more of a "What do you think of this as a story in general" thing.

So...I dunno, you wanna read it through again or something? Hopefully you get this before you go on your loooong rant about how its nothing like a game I'm not trying to copy ;)

[StarZander]

Ok, here are some good news, and some bad news, about the movie:

First the bad news... It seems that Akira Yamaoka no longer will be making the score for the movie, but instead the task will be handed over to Jeff Danna, who made the music for Resident Evil: Apocalypse. He might use some music from the game, but nothing original for the film will be made by Akira Yamaoka, it seems.

Source: http://www.musicfromthemovies.com/article.asp?ID=589



Then we have the good news. Someone has made the flash teaser trailer into a .wmv file, and cleared it up alot, so this is a very nice treat for all of you who have had problems with the site, but also for those who've just seen the flash version. Alot of new and yummy details in here. Enjoy.

ftp://ftp.futurenet.co.uk/pub/cvg/sh_movie_teaser.wmv

[Eccles]

I said it on MSN and I'll say it hyah...

They could have gotten a worse composer, some of the stuff Danna has been involved with has been pretty good. 8MM, for example.

He's good with the moody music, so you can count on him not using a stupid techno soundtrack.

[Razumen]

First the bad news... It seems that Akira Yamaoka no longer will be making the score for the movie, but instead the task will be handed over to Jeff Danna, who made the music for Resident Evil: Apocalypse. He might use some music from the game, but nothing original for the film will be made by Akira Yamaoka, it seems.

CRAP!

Sorry, but I was really looking forward to it.

[Nulion]

Hehe...I just heard about this Jeff Danna story myself, and it was a huge disappointment - but as usual it was people on the net twisting the truth without actually knowing it...

Someone had sent an e-mail to Mr. Danna just recently, and here is the mail and response:


_____


> Hi Jeff,
>
> I have a brief question.
>
> I'm guessing that Silent Hill fans have probably
> bombarded your email account with expletive-filled
> rants and some have probably threatened your life.
> I'll try to be a little bit nicer.
>
> Ok, my question is simply if it's true that you're
> scoring Silent Hill, and if so, what is the extent of
> your inclusion? Are you doing the whole movie,
> collaborating with Akira Yamaoka? What's going on?
>
> It's been a big issue with SH fans because Akira's
> music is so vital an element in the games that a
> Silent Hill movie without his sound is almost destined
> to fail. I liked your RE: Apocalypse score, but this
> Silent Hill movie really needs Yamaoka.
>
> Thanks for your time,
>
> - Andrew


_____
And here's the reply



Hi Andrew , actually no one has sent me anything yet. There wouldn't
really be any point to anyone cussing at me anyway , since a composer
must follow his director's orders , [ just like everyone else on the
film ] , no matter how he feels or anyone else feels.
In this film , the score is based completely on Akira's music ,
I'm
just there to help with some of the timing/dramatic/scene-to-scene
issues , that make a film score a very different thing than a video
game
score. It's going to sound just like the game , so if you are a fan of
Akira's music , you will be very happy with it.

Thanks for your interest,
JD

_____

So we can relax, Akira is still doing the score :) Danna's just going to be helping him out, which isn't bad. That one site up there apparently took Danna's involvement to mean that he was doing the entire thing, which isn't true. Thank. God.

[RazorOutlaw]

Well he said the score (I would assume Jeff mean's his own score) is based on Akira's work. He didn't mention Akira doing the score at all in his reply, or am I just not reading between the lines?

[Nulion]

He said "I'm just there to help with some of the timing\dramatic\scene-to-scene issues, that make a film score a very different thing from a video game score"

Soo...that sounds heavily to me like all he's doing is supervising, while Yamaoka does the actual work on the score.

:)

[StarZander]

There is a new website out, that has dubbed itself as the official fansite for the Silent Hill movie. It just launched, so there's not much there yet, but soon it will be filled with alll the info on the movie that's ever been released. Links to all the interviews, the teaser in .wmv and .mov formats, and many other things will be available. The teaser is already there. Check it out.

http://www.silenthill-movie.net/

[CIaude]

I started playing the original Silent Hill not so long ago, and I just wanted to say I like it so far... A lot.
kthnx

[ifirit]

Ok, here are some good news, and some bad news, about the movie:

First the bad news... It seems that Akira Yamaoka no longer will be making the score for the movie, but instead the task will be handed over to Jeff Danna, who made the music for Resident Evil: Apocalypse. He might use some music from the game, but nothing original for the film will be made by Akira Yamaoka, it seems.

Source: http://www.musicfromthemovies.com/article.asp?ID=589
It's not very surprising about this since Franco-Canadian Productions also produced Resident Evil and RE2: Apocalyse with the same producer as the SH film, Sam Hadida, who by the way is producing the next RE film, After Life. (*Jibblies*)

This is one of the darker secrets about the SH film that I haven't brought light to earlier since I knew that it would not only bring up the whole Resident Evil vs Silent Hill argument, which is ridiculus to begin with, and because without a teaser/trailer/visual proof, people would begin doubting the capabilities of Franco-Canadian Productions to make a proper film adaptation of a game series. Hopefully, people will just see that it was improper writer/director selection that made fans so angry.

He said "I'm just there to help with some of the timing\dramatic\scene-to-scene issues, that make a film score a very different thing from a video game score"

Soo...that sounds heavily to me like all he's doing is supervising, while Yamaoka does the actual work on the score.

:)
My worst fear about this film is that Gans tries to make this too literal an adaptation of the first game and actually calls for the exact music from the first game to be mixed for film score. It would seem like huge waste not use Aquila Jama O'ka's talents in the film for a custom soundtrack.

[CIaude]

SNAP! I'm stuck in the hospital in Silent Hill 1. I just finished the colored tiles puzzle and now I don't know where to go. I've grabbed the disinfecting alchol and the lighter but now I can't figure out what to do. I've checked every room on every floor 3 times over. The only thing that I can come up with is that it has something to do with that "Grim Reaper's List" and the slate board on the other end of the hall. Can anyone point me in the right direction? PLEASE? :(

[Eccles]

Sending you a PM!

[CIaude]

Thanks buddy!

[Eccles]

Know what's sad? I knew that off the top of my head ;_;

If only they held competitions for this kinda crap ;)

[ifirit]

Silent Hill Film Update:
Improved Teaser:
Since the release of the official website (http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/silenthill/), which released a film teaser as the site's flash introduction, the site now offers visitors the option to view the teaser in .mov format (Quicktime (http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/)). (For those who can access the flash intro, simply click to view again and the Quicktime intro will play instead.) Also, the site has been cleaned up slightly to provide optimal window size and clearity, which includes the teaser. For those with keen senses, you'll notice that the trailer has some slight editting changes since it was first offered. Most noticable of the changes is the picture and sound quality, but you'll also notice some slight cue and directional changes as well. One benefit to having the improved picture quality is that now you can see some items that were not quite as noticeable the first time around. Enjoy.

Official Silent Hill Film Site - Quicktime Teaser (http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/silenthill/site/trailer.html) (Direct access for those who can't get the flash intro to work.)
Silent Hill Film - Quicktime Teaser [MegaUpload Mirror] (http://www.megaupload.com/?d=ELH1A3SK)

Morbid Obsession's Journey to Silent Hill:
The editors from Morbid Obsession (http://morbid-obsession.com/) took a trip to the film set and took some photos of the modified streets of Brantford, Ontario (old news, but bare with me for a moment). Yet, they managed to record some places and images that were not shown in any of the official or unofficial film set photos. Their description of the filming process doesn't reveal too much, but still makes me feel excited by reading it. Anyway, the reason why I am posting this now, is for two reasons: 1) for completion of documentation of the film's progress and 2) to let you guys knows that an exclusive interview with Jeff Danna will be posted there shortly (presumably before the end of December). So, keep your eyes out for that.

Morbid Obsession - Journey to Silent Hill Film Set (http://www.morbid-obsession.com/ed-silenthillmovie.htm)

Rule of Rose:
I'm not sure if anyone has already seen this, but Sony Computer Entertainment is developing a horror game called "Rule of Rose." The only real information I have to go on this are that it will be on the Playstation 2 (released January 19, 2006) and that the two trailers were released in Japan, which suggests a Japan only release, but still worth viewing. Actually, this trailer is a must see for fans of horror-gaming, since it captures so much of the demensia of creepy characters and situations. Details make the man.

I suspect that the game will follow the older, blonde woman who appears to be either a caretaker or teacher to the group of young girls. She appears to be plagued by continuous threats in a surreal setting of 1930's Europe. Based on the appearance and actions of this presumable main character, I think the gameplay will be similar to that of Clock Tower 3, where the character cannot actively fight against her attackers and must resort to hide-and-evade tactics (not my favorite style of gameplay, but not unbareable). However, what makes me most excited are the FMVs of the supporting characters who are as disfunctional and disturbing as they are realistic-looking.

Rule of Rose - Official Playstation Website (http://www.playstation.jp/scej/title/ror/)
GameSpy.com - Rule of Rose - Japanese Trailer #2 (http://media.ps2.gamespy.com/media/772/772135/vids_1.html) (Stream, Option to Download)
GameTrailer.com - Rule of Rose - Japanese Trailer #2 (http://www.gametrailers.com/gamepage.php?id=2271) (Stream, Option to Download)
GamesRadar.com - Rule of Rose - Japanese Trailer #2 (http://www.gamesradar.com/downloads/default.asp?pagetypeid=2&articleid=38244&subsectionid=1625) (Download Only)
GameSpot.com - Rule of Rose - Japanese Trailer #1 & #2 (http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/action/ruleofrose/) (Stream, Option to Download with Free Registration)
Rule of Rose - Japanese Trailer #1 [MegaUpload Mirror] (http://www.megaupload.com/?d=2BD35E9A) (.zip / .wmv / 6.55MB)
Rule of Rose - Japanese Trailer #2 [MegaUpload Mirror] (http://www.megaupload.com/?d=715H9U5J) (.zip / .wmv / 19.19MB)

[CIaude]

Those pix of the Silent Hill set are awesome. I'm giddy!

[RazorOutlaw]

Dear Forum,

Part 6b and 6c of Silent Hill: No Escape are avaliable for your viewing pleasure.

Love,

Raz

P.S. Not sure how to work URL tags to my advantage. http://noescape.rateofinjury.com/part6_download.htm[/url]

[Nulion]

Also got a little tidbit to add...

Friend just sent me a link to a really, really excellent remix of Room of Angel, called "Room of Angel (Carl B Remix)"

Room of Angel (Carl B Remix) (http://www.tranceaddict.com/forums/showthread.php?s=783bd7c0d32bac081f175d86ac9d302a&threadid=203531&perpage=15&pagenumber=1)

Hope you guys enjoy :)

[Eccles]

Room of Angel (Carl B Remix) (http://www.tranceaddict.com/forums/showthread.php?s=783bd7c0d32bac081f175d86ac9d302a&threadid=203531&perpage=15&pagenumber=1)

Hope you guys enjoy :)
I shouldn't enjoy that, but I do.

[Eccles]

I knew I wasn't the only person who spotted the head outside Henry's window...I take no credit for this further than finding it floating about somewhere (Pun intended).
http://home.comcast.net/~andydthorley/head_0002.wmv

[[deltree]]

Silent Hill Film Update:
Improved Teaser:
Since the release of the official website (http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/silenthill/), which released a film teaser as the site's flash introduction, the site now offers visitors the option to view the teaser in .mov format (Quicktime (http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/)). (For those who can access the flash intro, simply click to view again and the Quicktime intro will play instead.) Also, the site has been cleaned up slightly to provide optimal window size and clearity, which includes the teaser. For those with keen senses, you'll notice that the trailer has some slight editting changes since it was first offered. Most noticable of the changes is the picture and sound quality, but you'll also notice some slight cue and directional changes as well. One benefit to having the improved picture quality is that now you can see some items that were not quite as noticeable the first time around. Enjoy.

Official Silent Hill Film Site - Quicktime Teaser (http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/silenthill/site/trailer.html) (Direct access for those who can't get the flash intro to work.)
Silent Hill Film - Quicktime Teaser [MegaUpload Mirror] (http://www.megaupload.com/?d=ELH1A3SK)

Morbid Obsession's Journey to Silent Hill:
The editors from Morbid Obsession (http://morbid-obsession.com/) took a trip to the film set and took some photos of the modified streets of Brantford, Ontario (old news, but bare with me for a moment). Yet, they managed to record some places and images that were not shown in any of the official or unofficial film set photos. Their description of the filming process doesn't reveal too much, but still makes me feel excited by reading it. Anyway, the reason why I am posting this now, is for two reasons: 1) for completion of documentation of the film's progress and 2) to let you guys knows that an exclusive interview with Jeff Danna will be posted there shortly (presumably before the end of December). So, keep your eyes out for that.

Morbid Obsession - Journey to Silent Hill Film Set (http://www.morbid-obsession.com/ed-silenthillmovie.htm)

Rule of Rose:
I'm not sure if anyone has already seen this, but Sony Computer Entertainment is developing a horror game called "Rule of Rose." The only real information I have to go on this are that it will be on the Playstation 2 (released January 19, 2006) and that the two trailers were released in Japan, which suggests a Japan only release, but still worth viewing. Actually, this trailer is a must see for fans of horror-gaming, since it captures so much of the demensia of creepy characters and situations. Details make the man.

I suspect that the game will follow the older, blonde woman who appears to be either a caretaker or teacher to the group of young girls. She appears to be plagued by continuous threats in a surreal setting of 1930's Europe. Based on the appearance and actions of this presumable main character, I think the gameplay will be similar to that of Clock Tower 3, where the character cannot actively fight against her attackers and must resort to hide-and-evade tactics (not my favorite style of gameplay, but not unbareable). However, what makes me most excited are the FMVs of the supporting characters who are as disfunctional and disturbing as they are realistic-looking.

Rule of Rose - Official Playstation Website (http://www.playstation.jp/scej/title/ror/)
GameSpy.com - Rule of Rose - Japanese Trailer #2 (http://media.ps2.gamespy.com/media/772/772135/vids_1.html) (Stream, Option to Download)
GameTrailer.com - Rule of Rose - Japanese Trailer #2 (http://www.gametrailers.com/gamepage.php?id=2271) (Stream, Option to Download)
GamesRadar.com - Rule of Rose - Japanese Trailer #2 (http://www.gamesradar.com/downloads/default.asp?pagetypeid=2&articleid=38244&subsectionid=1625) (Download Only)
GameSpot.com - Rule of Rose - Japanese Trailer #1 & #2 (http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/action/ruleofrose/) (Stream, Option to Download with Free Registration)
Rule of Rose - Japanese Trailer #1 [MegaUpload Mirror] (http://www.megaupload.com/?d=2BD35E9A) (.zip / .wmv / 6.55MB)
Rule of Rose - Japanese Trailer #2 [MegaUpload Mirror] (http://www.megaupload.com/?d=715H9U5J) (.zip / .wmv / 19.19MB)


This just might be the first time a video game movie actually looks and feels like the experiences in the game.

[The Instrument of GAWD]

I knew I wasn't the only person who spotted the head outside Henry's window...I take no credit for this further than finding it floating about somewhere (Pun intended).
http://home.comcast.net/~andydthorley/head_0002.wmv

Okay, good. I wasn't going insane then. I knew I saw the head float up outside the window by the stereo on my first play through, but never saw it ever again.

[The Final Minuet]

I've never been fortunate enough to see the floating head on any of my runs. Thanks for posting the video.

[Global-Trance]

Also got a little tidbit to add...

Friend just sent me a link to a really, really excellent remix of Room of Angel, called "Room of Angel (Carl B Remix)"

Room of Angel (Carl B Remix) (http://www.tranceaddict.com/forums/showthread.php?s=783bd7c0d32bac081f175d86ac9d302a&threadid=203531&perpage=15&pagenumber=1)

Hope you guys enjoy :)

As a trance DJ, I gotta say that Carl B stuff is usually good. I've heard a lot of his work and I've mixed with a good handful of his tracks. Excellent stuff.

[Pallad]

Silent Hill Film Update:
Improved Teaser:
Since the release of the official website (http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/silenthill/), which released a film teaser as the site's flash introduction, the site now offers visitors the option to view the teaser in .mov format (Quicktime (http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/)). (For those who can access the flash intro, simply click to view again and the Quicktime intro will play instead.) Also, the site has been cleaned up slightly to provide optimal window size and clearity, which includes the teaser. For those with keen senses, you'll notice that the trailer has some slight editting changes since it was first offered. Most noticable of the changes is the picture and sound quality, but you'll also notice some slight cue and directional changes as well. One benefit to having the improved picture quality is that now you can see some items that were not quite as noticeable the first time around. Enjoy.

Official Silent Hill Film Site - Quicktime Teaser (http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/silenthill/site/trailer.html) (Direct access for those who can't get the flash intro to work.)
Silent Hill Film - Quicktime Teaser [MegaUpload Mirror] (http://www.megaupload.com/?d=ELH1A3SK)

Morbid Obsession's Journey to Silent Hill:
The editors from Morbid Obsession (http://morbid-obsession.com/) took a trip to the film set and took some photos of the modified streets of Brantford, Ontario (old news, but bare with me for a moment). Yet, they managed to record some places and images that were not shown in any of the official or unofficial film set photos. Their description of the filming process doesn't reveal too much, but still makes me feel excited by reading it. Anyway, the reason why I am posting this now, is for two reasons: 1) for completion of documentation of the film's progress and 2) to let you guys knows that an exclusive interview with Jeff Danna will be posted there shortly (presumably before the end of December). So, keep your eyes out for that.

Morbid Obsession - Journey to Silent Hill Film Set (http://www.morbid-obsession.com/ed-silenthillmovie.htm)

Rule of Rose:
I'm not sure if anyone has already seen this, but Sony Computer Entertainment is developing a horror game called "Rule of Rose." The only real information I have to go on this are that it will be on the Playstation 2 (released January 19, 2006) and that the two trailers were released in Japan, which suggests a Japan only release, but still worth viewing. Actually, this trailer is a must see for fans of horror-gaming, since it captures so much of the demensia of creepy characters and situations. Details make the man.

I suspect that the game will follow the older, blonde woman who appears to be either a caretaker or teacher to the group of young girls. She appears to be plagued by continuous threats in a surreal setting of 1930's Europe. Based on the appearance and actions of this presumable main character, I think the gameplay will be similar to that of Clock Tower 3, where the character cannot actively fight against her attackers and must resort to hide-and-evade tactics (not my favorite style of gameplay, but not unbareable). However, what makes me most excited are the FMVs of the supporting characters who are as disfunctional and disturbing as they are realistic-looking.

Rule of Rose - Official Playstation Website (http://www.playstation.jp/scej/title/ror/)
GameSpy.com - Rule of Rose - Japanese Trailer #2 (http://media.ps2.gamespy.com/media/772/772135/vids_1.html) (Stream, Option to Download)
GameTrailer.com - Rule of Rose - Japanese Trailer #2 (http://www.gametrailers.com/gamepage.php?id=2271) (Stream, Option to Download)
GamesRadar.com - Rule of Rose - Japanese Trailer #2 (http://www.gamesradar.com/downloads/default.asp?pagetypeid=2&articleid=38244&subsectionid=1625) (Download Only)
GameSpot.com - Rule of Rose - Japanese Trailer #1 & #2 (http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/action/ruleofrose/) (Stream, Option to Download with Free Registration)
Rule of Rose - Japanese Trailer #1 [MegaUpload Mirror] (http://www.megaupload.com/?d=2BD35E9A) (.zip / .wmv / 6.55MB)
Rule of Rose - Japanese Trailer #2 [MegaUpload Mirror] (http://www.megaupload.com/?d=715H9U5J) (.zip / .wmv / 19.19MB)

I almost feel ashamed to admit that I glanced through all the SH movie info and then found myself engrossed in finding out more about this Rule of Rose game. Looks more along the lines of Haunting Ground than anything.

[Global-Trance]

Silent Hill movie needs to come out faster... so does the soundtrack.

Anyways, the movie poster contest is wrapping up in a few hours. Here's my entry. I'm not sure what to think of it. I just wanted to submit something dark, grainy, and foggy like the town itself. Anyways, for everyone out there that submitted something, I hope you all had fun doing so.

http://globaltrance.ffmusic.net/Wu-SilentHillMoviePoster.jpg

[Nulion]

Global, that poster is awesome :D

...Is it just me, or is it that if you stare at that poster for a few seconds, it actually appears to move? o.0

[Global-Trance]

Global, that poster is awesome :D

...Is it just me, or is it that if you stare at that poster for a few seconds, it actually appears to move? o.0

Thanks Nulion! I didn't notice about it moving until you mentioned it... it depends on where you stare I guess. I hope I didn't make my poster all evil and possessed. o_o

[Vivi22]

It does sort of seem like the fog is moving if you stare at it. Very cool poster. I think it captures the look of the games (and movie) very well.

[ifirit]

Silent Hill movie needs to come out faster... so does the soundtrack.

Anyways, the movie poster contest is wrapping up in a few hours. Here's my entry. I'm not sure what to think of it. I just wanted to submit something dark, grainy, and foggy like the town itself. Anyways, for everyone out there that submitted something, I hope you all had fun doing so.
I'm glad to see some people here throwing their hat into the ring, especially since the prize for winning is pretty nice. ($2,500 + 25 free tickets to the premiere + limited edition poster with your design + Silent Hill merchandise package & bragging rights on having made the official poster for the film.)

As a service to Global-Trance and any other people who have submitted a poster for the contest, the voting process will begin tomorrow. Voting can be completed online (through the website) or by text messaging on your cell phone (provided you signed up to receive information when registsering). You can make 1 vote per day from Jan. 4 until 12:00pm (noon) on Jan. 17, 2006. That's a total of 14 possible votes that you can make for your favorite poster. (So, if you guys want to see Global-Trance move on to the second round, send in those votes! Maybe GT will share his tickets with us if he wins. ;))

After the first round of voting is completed, the top 50 posters will be sent to the TriStar Marketing Team and they will narrow the choices down to 5 contestants. They will have the results posted by Jan. 20th, 2006. Afterwards, you can vote (again 1 vote per day) for your top pick until 12:00pm (noon) on Feb. 17, 2006. That's a total of 30 votes that you can cast for the winner.

So, everyone, get those mice ready to cast those votes!

[Nulion]

Ah, so not only are the fans creating the posters, but voting on them too? Pretty cool of them :)

Global-Trance's poster honestly does get my vote, and I've taken a look at a lot of different posters. Not one of them has the cool stare at it till you see the fog moving thing though, hehe. Not to mention a lot of them just don't quite feel right, or are overly complicated, etc etc.

...That reminds me, I heard a little something over on the IMDb forums - that Hot Topic has gotten rights to start licensing Silent Hill merchendise. Who knows, could get some cool t-shirts out of it, or stickers and other weirdness. This means I will actually have an excuse to shop there :)

[UnforgivingEdges]

Silent Hill movie needs to come out faster... so does the soundtrack.

Anyways, the movie poster contest is wrapping up in a few hours. Here's my entry. I'm not sure what to think of it. I just wanted to submit something dark, grainy, and foggy like the town itself. Anyways, for everyone out there that submitted something, I hope you all had fun doing so.

http://globaltrance.ffmusic.net/Wu-SilentHillMoviePoster.jpg

Wu, that is fucking awesome.

[Global-Trance]

(So, if you guys want to see Global-Trance move on to the second round, send in those votes! Maybe GT will share his tickets with us if he wins. ;))

Hey that's a possibility. I gave away a video game in UnMod and mailed it out to my expense.

SO VOTE FOR ME PLEASE! :)

(Thanks for all the support ^_^)

[Global-Trance]

Voting was supposed to have started already... guess they're delayed... check the link throughout the day. Again please vote for me :)

http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/silenthill/postercontest/

[Monobrow]

Hey guys, I finally got on a high speed connection and saw the teaser...oh my god...I am very hopeful now.

Also, bump.

p.s.: nice poster, GT

[Global-Trance]

VOTE FOR MINE PLEASE. EVERYDAY.

http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/silenthill/postercontest/vote/vote_popup.php?imgId=1887

Edit: Thanks Kate :)

[AMT]

So I just found SH2 for PS2 for 7.99, perfect condition. Off to play it now.

[blueblazer1224]

Probably old news. But after watching the trailer for the 4th time I think that I saw Pyramind Head swing something right before it shows the girls face bleeding at the end. I had a big smile on my face after that. People who are new to the series aren't gonna know what hit them when they see Pyramid Head for the first time. If he is in the movie...crosses fingers.

[leokef]

Probably old news. But after watching the trailer for the 4th time I think that I saw Pyramind Head swing something right before it shows the girls face bleeding at the end. I had a big smile on my face after that. People who are new to the series aren't gonna know what hit them when they see Pyramid Head for the first time. If he is in the movie...crosses fingers.

Yeah, he's confirmed as in the movie. You needn't cross your fingers, except maybe for the general quality of the film as a whole.

[DJ Skratch 'n' Sniff]

After all I've seen about the film, I have nothing but high hopes. So far they've got the whole environment nailed. I'd be totally surprised/bummed if the film sucks. The trailer alone is so freaking awesome. Akira is even doing the score (unless it's just recycled music from the games, that is)!

Actually, the only thing that bothers me about the film thus far is the way Dahlia Gillespie is depicted. It's so drastically different from the game. Oh well, hopefully this minor change won't affect the final product and the film'll kick my ass.

[ifirit]

Silent Hill Film Update:
Official Silent Hill Trailer Confirmed?:
According to rumors on the Internet Movie Database (http://www.imdb.com) (IMDB), the official trailer for Silent Hill will be featured along with Underworld: Evolution. Understandably, I'm sure people are skeptical about this rumor after the last time this rumor floated around the internet (i.e. The Fog, Saw 2). However, this time there seems to be some credibility behind the rumor since there have been confirmations reported from email replies from Sony Pictures (http://www.sonypictures.com), mentions from theater employees who have received the schedule of trailers to be shown with its respective film and a scanned copy of the Trailer Attachment Report which shows Silent Hill to be featured as the primary trailer with Underworld: Evolution.

Feel free to believe the rumor or not, but something tells me that this time it is true. So, with unofficial confirmation on the first trailer, I'm sure that next weekend will be a good time to go to the theaters and watch U:E, even if you didn't like the first film. Anyway, if you don't feel like spending $8 - $10 on a movie ticket, it seems likely that the trailer will also be released on the internet at the same time. Underworld: Evolution opens in theaters on January 20, 2006.

Silent Hill Forum - "Silent Hill trailer to show with Underworld: Evolution" Thread (http://silenthillforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=22317)
Unofficial - "Trailer Attachment Report" Scanned Image (featuring Silent Hill) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v694/Janus3/trailers.jpg)

Poster Contest Problems:
Since the poster contest ended the submission phase, the site has been having some porblems with the voting phase in terms of programming. Originally, the site featured a page which contained a scrolling page of randomly placed posters (in order to prevent script-kiddies from creating mass votes for a single poster). This page was originally listed as http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/silenthill/postercontest/vote/vote.php? Yet, due to problems with the randomization and the obvious poster submission violations, the webmasters had to redesign the pages a little (possibly having to reset the vote count, but unlikely since the pages that the posters are featured on have remained the same). Also, the site has also fitlered out some of the posters that are disqualified, meaning that some posters will not show up when accessed. So, in order to vote for a poster, you must know the specific name (url) of the poster in order to vote for it. (Not a problem for Global-Trance since he's already posted his url, but for people just beginning to vote for a poster, this process will be difficult to navigate and will likely need to rely on suggestions and plugs to cast their votes [especially since there are over 2000 poster entries]).

So, if you have any recommendations for voting, please post your suggestions/plugs (& please be serious and suggest the great and awesome posters, or we'll have to wade through a sea of submissions until Jan. 17th). With that said, you might want to check out the suggestions (http://silenthillforum.co.uk/forum/showpost.php?p=302526&postcount=69) made by Bogus (http://silenthillforum.co.uk/forum/member.php?u=8978) from the Silent Hill Forum (http://silenthillforum.co.uk/forum/).

[DJ Skratch 'n' Sniff]

I'm sure you mean Underworld: Evolution. But thanks for the tip. I really hope this is accurate. I'm not too big of an Underworld fan. But Silent Hill'll be worth it... I hope.

[Selgeron]

Personally I'm a big fan of this one

http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/silenthill/postercontest/vote/vote_popup.php?imgId=1637

Maybe not as original as some but I thought the hands in the mist around the bottom were cool....


I have no selfish reasons for pointing this out
*cough*

[DJ Skratch 'n' Sniff]

Though that poster's pretty cool it lacks the subtlety of Silent Hill. Not only that, it's just a couple of the released screen shots rendered over eachother.

[Petara]

I haven't played the original Silent Hill, but i've played the third and fourth and i'm playing the second right now. Yeah i'm a moron for playing them out of order, but i still haven't been able to get my hands on a copy of the first one.
However, I really can't decide whether it would be worthwhile to track down a copy or order it online in the time between now and when the movie comes out, so i'm wondering:

Would it be better to play the game before or after i see the movie?

[RazorOutlaw]

Not related to Silent Hill, but interesting nontheless. I haven't had a chance to actually view this website either.

http://www.siren-movie.com/index.html

[DJ Skratch 'n' Sniff]

I haven't played the original Silent Hill, but i've played the third and fourth and i'm playing the second right now. Yeah i'm a moron for playing them out of order, but i still haven't been able to get my hands on a copy of the first one.
However, I really can't decide whether it would be worthwhile to track down a copy or order it online in the time between now and when the movie comes out, so i'm wondering:

Would it be better to play the game before or after i see the movie?

The movie is, more or less, based on the first game. So, I'd play the first game before I saw the movie if I were you. The game's pretty cheap if you can find it (I got it for 12 bucks about three years ago).

Also: that sucks that you played them out of order because the third one is actually a direct sequel to the first one. It kinda' spoils a few things. But I forgive you.

[UnforgivingEdges]

I haven't played the original Silent Hill, but i've played the third and fourth and i'm playing the second right now. Yeah i'm a moron for playing them out of order, but i still haven't been able to get my hands on a copy of the first one.
However, I really can't decide whether it would be worthwhile to track down a copy or order it online in the time between now and when the movie comes out, so i'm wondering:

Would it be better to play the game before or after i see the movie?

The movie is, more or less, based on the first game. So, I'd play the first game before I saw the movie if I were you. The game's pretty cheap if you can find it (I got it for 12 bucks about three years ago).

Also: that sucks that you played them out of order because the third one is actually a direct sequel to the first one. It kinda' spoils a few things. But I forgive you.

Irrelevant. Silent Hill 2 is the greatest game in the series, and is the only one that MUST be played.

I consider the others (especially 4) optional filler.

[DJ Skratch 'n' Sniff]

Isn't what you just said irrelevent? I was just helping out a fellow fan.

Also: the second one has ties with the fourth (Frank and James Sunderland, for example). In fact, they're all linked in some way. The third is the best, by the way.

[DJ Skratch 'n' Sniff]

Not related to Silent Hill, but interesting nontheless. I haven't had a chance to actually view this website either.

http://www.siren-movie.com/index.html

If they made a Siren movie, you'd have to strap me in Clockwork Orange-style to watch it. That game was worse than smelly man nuts.

[UnforgivingEdges]

Isn't what you just said irrelevent? I was just helping out a fellow fan.

Also: the second one has ties with the fourth (Frank and James Sunderland, for example). In fact, they're all linked in some way. The third is the best, by the way.

I liked 3, too. Had a good atmosphere.

But SH2 is one of those games that comes along once every 7 or 8 years that is just mind blowingly amazing. I mean, the development team did a phenomenal job; the only thing that makes me sad is that they'll probably never strike gold again like they did with SH2.

[DJ Skratch 'n' Sniff]

I liked 3, too. Had a good atmosphere.

But SH2 is one of those games that comes along once every 7 or 8 years that is just mind blowingly amazing. I mean, the development team did a phenomenal job; the only thing that makes me sad is that they'll probably never strike gold again like they did with SH2.

I know what you mean. Silent Hill 2 was the first PS2 game that visually blew me away. The effects and the environment were so freaking beautiful.

And, of course, I can't wait to see Pyramid Head in the movie. I'll probably pee my pants.

[Eccles]

Also: the second one has ties with the fourth (Frank and James Sunderland, for example). In fact, they're all linked in some way. The third is the best, by the way.Yes, but SH4 isnt as closely linked to SH2 as SH3 is to SH1.
As far as I could tell there isn't too much of a link between the two further than happening to mention Frank and James. Mild plot spoilarz!
I mean yes, it does turn its attention to Walter in the second part of the game, but that doesn't really make it a sequel like SH1-3

You could say the fourth game has ties with the first and third games, because you can find memos about Alessa and Dahlia in/around the orphanage.
Come to think of it, why haven't people come up with crackpot theories about Alessa having some kind of influence on Walter? The fanboiz are slipping, methinks.

Okay, a question I have about silent hill 4. Sorta spoilers, here, so I'ma white them out.
So Walter is dead, right? And he's been dead for some time now. How, then, does he manage to turn up in the real world? People (most notably Frank) comment on having seen him hanging round Henry's room and you can see him for yourself (he stares through the doors peephole from time to time). I can understand why the child version of him would turn up in the otherworld: perhaps I'm wrong but all of the areas you go to are somehow important to Walters past (with the possible exception of the hospital)...I also understand why Adult Walter would turn up in the otherworld (punishing people, the 21 sacriments and so on), but what I don't get is how Walter can be so clearly dead and not dead simultaneously.
And I'm done.

[DJ Skratch 'n' Sniff]

Yes, but SH4 isnt as closely linked to SH2 as SH3 is to SH1.
As far as I could tell there isn't too much of a link between the two further than happening to mention Frank and James. Mild plot spoilarz!
I mean yes, it does turn its attention to Walter in the second part of the game, but that doesn't really make it a sequel like SH1-3

You could say the fourth game has ties with the first and third games, because you can find memos about Alessa and Dahlia in/around the orphanage.
Come to think of it, why haven't people come up with crackpot theories about Alessa having some kind of influence on Walter? The fanboiz are slipping, methinks.

Okay, a question I have about silent hill 4. Sorta spoilers, here, so I'ma white them out.
So Walter is dead, right? And he's been dead for some time now. How, then, does he manage to turn up in the real world? People (most notably Frank) comment on having seen him hanging round Henry's room and you can see him for yourself (he stares through the doors peephole from time to time). I can understand why the child version of him would turn up in the otherworld: perhaps I'm wrong but all of the areas you go to are somehow important to Walters past (with the possible exception of the hospital)...I also understand why Adult Walter would turn up in the otherworld (punishing people, the 21 sacriments and so on), but what I don't get is how Walter can be so clearly dead and not dead simultaneously.
And I'm done.


I was just saying all the games were related... not necessarily sequels. I also said "for example" after the Sunderlnd part; I didn't bother throwing in the fact that in the second game you find a newspaper clipping that tells of Walter Sullivan killing two kids and commiting suicide. Anywho, I'm not looking to argue or anything.

My theory on your query: Silent Hill is a magical creepy place. Not everything need be explained but I'm sure the "other world" and the "real world" sort of run on the same wave length or something (things that happened in either world somehow have an effect on the other). If neither of those theories help you out how about this one: Frank's umbilical cord. Perhaps it somehow holds a connection between the two worlds? Hence why you see the giant flopping umbilical chord in the subway world and when you revisit the prison tower world.

[Eccles]

Well, the thing is...the previous three (four) games had some kind of explanation as to why crazy things were happening.

The craziness in SH1/1pn was created by Alessa Gillespie manifesting her pain/fears (either to hide from Dahlia, punish various people, whatever...it doesn't really say explicitly, just hints). SH2 is James' mind torturing itself. SH3 is Claudia being a bitch...SH4 didn't really give a reason for the weirdness. Not an explicit one like the previous three, anyhow.

As for the two worlds being related, stuff in silent hill 1 explains this away (and as I type this "all good girls" by the wingless comes on...CONSPIRACY THEORY!)
For example, you only meet Lisa in the otherworld Silent Hill. Likewise, you only see Alessa in the otherworld...shortly after the first boss in SH1 you see her watching you, but as things fade from bloody and burnt to normal she fades away.

Likewise in SH2, only certain people can see certain things in the town. Eddie, for example, can't see Pyramid Head. Presumably he can't see the burning stairs either, but Angela and James can (she says something to the effect of "You see it [the fire] too? For me it's always like this"

They kinda...shat all over that idea in SH3, though. So I dunno. I'm still confused as to my query...

[DJ Skratch 'n' Sniff]

I just kind of go with the flow with these games. It's kind of hard to rationalize everything (as you can tell). It's all about whatever makes a great game and story; nothing needs to be consistent then, does it?

I know what you mean though. I've tried to piece together everything in the first game and still can't after beating multiple times. That's the most confusing one of them all to me. Like what the hell was with the Flauros exactly? I also would've liked to know more about this Sameal character.

Anywho, I really hope the movie's awesome and that they make a fifth game. I honestly can't see the series sucking any time soon.

[Eccles]

Like what the hell was with the Flauros exactly?In the game it was a mystical artefact used for sealing power. Dahlia gave it to you knowing that sooner or later you'd run into Alessa, which would cause the Flauros to activate, thus weakening Alessa an allowing Dahlia to take her to Nowhere.

In real life Flauros is supposedly a mischievous demon who has the body of a man and the head of a cat. He enjoys bringing the pain.

I also would've liked to know more about this Sameal character.Samael is just another persona for Satan. You can look it up in most any mythological encyclopedia.

[DJ Skratch 'n' Sniff]

You've studied. No fair. But thanks anyway. The Flauros thing makes total sense now that you explain it like that.

I know of Sameal from Lovecraft but, I guess what I meant was, I wanted there to be more of it in the game... or something. Now that I look back on it, that was a dumb thing of me to say.

Total chaos and the Cthulu mythos are always such fun. You ever see Jacob's Ladder, by the way? Some things from that movie they paid homage to in SH3--specifically, the subway scene.

[Eccles]

I have seen it, yes. I also noticed they paid homage to it shortly after you fight the hangers in SH2...y'know, strapped to a table roaming the hellish asylum.

[DJ Skratch 'n' Sniff]

You've actually seen it? You're, like, one of three people I know of that has.

Anywho, great chat.

Hope you enjoy the film in... 99 days! It's so far away!

[Nulion]

Ah...Jacob's Ladder was a good movie...It's probably been said here before, but the worst ending of Silent Hill 1 is also a homage to the ending of Jacob's Ladder.

Spoiler:
In the worst ending of SH1, Harry dies in his car, and apparently the entire game was simply what he saw in his mind, during his dying breaths. Similar to Jacob's Ladder, where the ending has Jacob dying on a hospital cot while still in Vietnam, and the entire movie was nothing but Jacob's last visions. Or something to that effect, hehe

[RoboPanda]

Lots of great references to Jacob's Ladder in these games (even the name of the street that you have to get to in the subway in SH3). Not to mention Session 9, if you've seen that movie.

[ifirit]

Warning: Silent Hill 1, 3 & 4 Spoilers
You could say the fourth game has ties with the first and third games, because you can find memos about Alessa and Dahlia in/around the orphanage.
Come to think of it, why haven't people come up with crackpot theories about Alessa having some kind of influence on Walter? The fanboiz are slipping, methinks.
Alessa doesn't have any influence on Walter, because the cult of Silent Hill ("4S" for those who like to use acronyms) used the ceremonies tied to Vatiel to begin the Sacraments for the Descent of the Holy Mother ("21 Sacraments" for those who like use short names). According to the supplemental information provided by Translated Memories (http://www.translatedmemories.com), the Vatiel sect headed by Jimmy Stone was responsible for placing the influence of Vatiel into Walter's subconscious. As you may know, the Vatiel sect was separate from the Holy Mother sect and the Saint Ladies sect, one of which was headed by Dahlia Gillespie (it is presumed that Dahlia headed the Saint Ladies sect, since the Holy Mother sect was responsible for the operation and maintainence of Wish House, something where the day-to-day duties did not involve Dahlia, as indicated by Walter's diary). Considering all this information, many people recognize that the actions by Walter and the influences by Alessa are two separate entities, though possibly aimed toward the same goal.

Okay, a question I have about silent hill 4. Sorta spoilers, here, so I'ma white them out.
So Walter is dead, right? And he's been dead for some time now. How, then, does he manage to turn up in the real world? People (most notably Frank) comment on having seen him hanging round Henry's room and you can see him for yourself (he stares through the doors peephole from time to time). I can understand why the child version of him would turn up in the otherworld: perhaps I'm wrong but all of the areas you go to are somehow important to Walters past (with the possible exception of the hospital)...I also understand why Adult Walter would turn up in the otherworld (punishing people, the 21 sacriments and so on), but what I don't get is how Walter can be so clearly dead and not dead simultaneously.
And I'm done.
One possible answer to your question maybe shown after Henry uses the "Keys of Liberation" on his front door. You are meant to realize that from the beginning of the game (although not the beginning of the five days when Henry became trapped in his room) Henry was in Walter's alternate world (Walternate world, sorry I just saw that as I was typing) the whole time. This suggests many different things. One, that the holes in Henry's room were not portals to an alternate world, but portals to different places within Walter's world, which is entirely interconnected (as you learn by escorting Eileen through the 2nd Visits). Two, the things Henry saw through his front door peephole where not entirely of the "real world." This means that some images that Henry saw through his windows, peephole and other views may have been layered, if not entirely within Walter's world. Obviously, the bloody handprints are an indication of this, since noone else seems to notice them on the wall. Back to the point, the bad and good endings suggest that Walter's intention was to create a connection between the "real world" and his world through Room 302 of South Ashfield Heights Apartments. When Henry looked through his windows, Henry was able to see things that could only appear from within Walter's world, including Walter himself.

One theory that I am considering is that everything that Henry sees through his windows and peepholes are the confluence of the things he saw over the last five days. Walter's world simply built the outside world (outside Rm. 302) from the memory that Henry obtained over the last five days. This means that everything seen in Silent Hill 4: The Room is part of Walter's world, created from the memories of those who inhabit that world. Henry's reactions to the things he sees outside are just his reactions to memories, images which cannot act back towards him.

Whether you believe that the world Henry sees is reality mixing with the alternate world or an extention of the alternate world entirely, you can agree that what Henry is seeing is not the true reality.

P.S. To answer your question specifically about Superintendent Frank, the diary entry gives a little ambiguity to the idea that Frank dreamed that he saw Walter entering Room 302 with a blood-dripped bag ten years ago, rather than seeing it with his own eyes. What I find hard to believe about the diary entry is that Frank wouldn't have noticed an entire room missing from the apartment (the secret store-room). That you'll have to figure out for yourself.

My theory on your query: Silent Hill is a magical creepy place. Not everything need be explained but I'm sure the "other world" and the "real world" sort of run on the same wave length or something (things that happened in either world somehow have an effect on the other). If neither of those theories help you out how about this one: Frank's umbilical cord. Perhaps it somehow holds a connection between the two worlds? Hence why you see the giant flopping umbilical chord in the subway world and when you revisit the prison tower world.
The idea that the two worlds are influenced by each other requires one little detail to hold together: they must be connected. In Silent Hill 4: The Room, the "real" world and the alternate world are not connected, that is why Walter is performing the Sacraments for the Decent of the Holy Mother. His attempt to purify "her" (Room 302) means that he wants to bring his mother into his "purified" world (the alternate world) away from the things that he felt corrupted "her" (i.e. tenants). In other words, he needs to connect his world to the "real" world, which is accomplished as part of the Sacraments for the Decent of the Holy Mother ("21 Sacraments").

The image of the Greedy Worm as a symbol for an umbilical cord is used to mean a connection between parent and child. This metaphor can be extended to other various themes present in the game: Walter's connection (or lack of) to his mother (Room 302), the relationship between various parents and children displayed throughout the game, or the relationship that the "real" world provides the memories to build the alternate world from. This is Walter's intentions in completing the Sacraments for the Decent of the Holy Mother, to connect his world (or consciousness) to his mother the way a mother is connected to a child in the womb.

But, you may be asking, "aren't the two worlds already connected?" Not entirely. The metaphor itself suggests this as the Greedy Worm is shown with a loose end. The Greedy Worm is not even shown connected at both ends, suggesting that the two worlds are not connected to each other.

For example, you only meet Lisa in the otherworld Silent Hill. Likewise, you only see Alessa in the otherworld...shortly after the first boss in SH1 you see her watching you, but as things fade from bloody and burnt to normal she fades away.
Alessa is seen in Misty Silent Hill. Cybil sees the girl in both Silent Hill and the Silent Hill Play Novel. However, Misty Silent Hill is not considered to be the "real" world either.

Like what the hell was with the Flauros exactly?In the game it was a mystical artefact used for sealing power. Dahlia gave it to you knowing that sooner or later you'd run into Alessa, which would cause the Flauros to activate, thus weakening Alessa and allowing Dahlia to take her to Nowhere.
Dahlia doesn't really take Alessa to Nowhere. Nowhere is Alessa's world (memories) collasped upon itself. Nowhere would have been located at the center of the Lakeside Amusement Park, where Alessa fell, which is why the chapel was later built at the same spot. The cult of Silent Hill believes that place to be a holy site.

Lots of great references to Jacob's Ladder in these games (even the name of the street that you have to get to in the subway in SH3). Not to mention Session 9, if you've seen that movie.
Haven't we been through all of this before?

[RazorOutlaw]

Ifrit, did you catch my link to the Siren movie? It's posted on the previous page...

[DJ Skratch 'n' Sniff]

Ah...Jacob's Ladder was a good movie...It's probably been said here before, but the worst ending of Silent Hill 1 is also a homage to the ending of Jacob's Ladder.

Spoiler:
In the worst ending of SH1, Harry dies in his car, and apparently the entire game was simply what he saw in his mind, during his dying breaths. Similar to Jacob's Ladder, where the ending has Jacob dying on a hospital cot while still in Vietnam, and the entire movie was nothing but Jacob's last visions. Or something to that effect, hehe

I've never actually gotten the worst ending to Silent Hill before. So I had no idea. But that's cool.

[DJ Skratch 'n' Sniff]

Since we're talking about homages and the like. I'm sure you're all already aware of the street names in the first game.

[Tranquil Chaos]

Session 9 sucked and wasn't scary.

[DJ Skratch 'n' Sniff]

It had it's moments but, yeah, the film sucked. The deleted scenes made it even dumber.

[ifirit]

Ifrit, did you catch my link to the Siren movie? It's posted on the previous page...
I saw the link, I'm more excited about Siren 2 (http://www.playstation.jp/scej/title/siren2/), than I am about the Siren film, which will probably turn out like a lot of the Japanese genre films, such as Parasite Eve (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0261889/), Boogiepop & Others (http://boogiepop.rightstuf.com/) or Tomei (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=4247) (a true Silent Hill influence for those in the know).

Since we're talking about homages and the like. I'm sure you're all already aware of the street names in the first game.
I take it that you didn't get a chance to check out Nursery Cryme (http://www.nurserycryme.net) while it was still open. A pity, really. Fortunately, Silent Hill Tears (http://silenthilltears.125mb.com/) has kept a candlelight vigil for the site, by hosting a copy of the timeline originally on Nursery Cryme and maintaining many of the references seen in the first game. References made in the second game will be included at a later date. I suggest everyone brush up on their SH references, since this is starting to get out of hand.

EDIT: P.S. DJ Skratch 'n' Sniff, please refrain from making double posts. If you need to include an additional thought or continue an idea in your post, please use the "EDIT" button located at the top, right-hand corner of your posts (http://www.ocremix.org/phpBB2/templates/ocr/images/lang_english/icon_edit.gif).

Session 9 sucked and wasn't scary.
Session 9, like many psychological thrillers, requires that you emerse yourself in the atmosphere developed by the film and have an active imagination. If your mind isn't wondering what lies around the next corner or what'll show up next, the experience probably won't be very enjoyable. Session 9 isn't cult-acclaimed because of the story or it's ability to scare you outright, but for it's genuinely creepy atmosphere which is pretty unique in terms of cinematagraphy (sp?). Most people have to experience the film in an isolated setting in order to appreciate this aspect of the film's character; otherwise, distractions pull you away from the experience and prevent you from absorbing the full view.

[Monobrow]

Just a side note, but Dahlia is directly tied to Walter's actions as a child in SH4, I don't know if this was said earlier or not. Anyway, she (as is implied in a diary I think) was the one that suggested that he go and "visit" his mother, (the Room) I believe...I'm pretty sure, can someone check on this?

[ifirit]

Warning: Silent Hill 4 Spoilers
Just a side note, but Dahlia is directly tied to Walter's actions as a child in SH4, I don't know if this was said earlier or not. Anyway, she (as is implied in a diary I think) was the one that suggested that he go and "visit" his mother, (the Room) I believe...I'm pretty sure, can someone check on this?
From the diary entry, it's somewhat unclear as to whether Dahlia was addressing Walter directly or whether it was just something that she said while meeting with the Holy Mother sect. Either way, Walter misinterpretted the message. I don't think that Dahlia was refering to Walter's actual or perceived mother, but likely to the Holy Mother. I mean, how could she know the location of this particular orphan's birth parents immediately on their first meeting? From Walter's diary, Walter over-reacts at the mention of this and wants to see his mother in order to find solice in someone meant to love him unconditionally as an escape from the treatment he was receiving under the care of Wish House. I don't believe that it's a coincidence that the mention of Dahlia and her visit are listed after Walter's recants about his life at Wish House.

It isn't until Walter actually gets to Ashfield and is unable to locate his mother that he begins thinking that his mother is in Room 302 of South Ashfield Heights Apartments (and then ultimately that the room itself is his mother). Walter's search is entirely out of his own desire to see his mother, not by suggestion that he see her by Dahlia or anyone else. Also, she mentions Ashfield, not specifically South Ashfield, where Walter spends the majority of the time searching. In fact, the diary even suggests that Walter was advised not to go to South Ashfield, because it is a "scary place."

felixmcli.org - Silent Hill 4 The Room - Notes (Red Writings) (http://felixmcli.org/sh4-data.shtml#redwords) (Specifically, entries Oct. 16th & Oct. 17th)

[DJ Skratch 'n' Sniff]

I don't know if you're trying to be a jerk or if you just think you're a know-it-all or what, but not all of us here read up on every little piece of background on the games. "This getting out of hand"? Because we're not all knowing, like yourself? Sorry some of have questions and some of us take longer to piece things together.

Also, I'm very aware of the EDIT button. I just don't want to have big ass posts like yourself. I was writing on seperate topics as well.

I mean no offence, by the way, and thanks for the links.

[ifirit]

I don't know if you're trying to be a jerk or if you just think you're a know-it-all or what, but not all of us here read up on every little piece of background on the games. "This getting out of hand"? Because we're not all knowing, like yourself? Sorry some of have questions and some of us take longer to piece things together.
The problem is that we recently (meaning about two months ago) went over many of the influences from Silent Hill.

Also, I'm very aware of the EDIT button. I just don't want to have big ass posts like yourself. I was writing on seperate topics as well.
Double posting is one of those things that makes people look stupid. When you make two posts within 1 minute of each other, that just seems careless. I'm not directing anything toward you in offense, but just trying to keep you from making blatant social faux pas's.

I mean no offence, by the way, and thanks for the links.
It's not that people shouldn't ask questions, but a little research will get you farther than just asking flat out without knowing whether the questions have been asked and answered already. Although it seems like quite a task, this thread has some really great information and provides some unique perspectives that you probably won't see anywhere else, so reading through it proves to be beneficial. For some of the members here, reading through the entire thread is a badge of honor, myself included.

[DJ Skratch 'n' Sniff]

Being fairly new to the boards here, I only recently discovered this thread and was surprised to see how many pages it had (77 at the time). I didn't bother reading those pages because I also saw when the thread was created and was probably full of things that no one was discussing anymore. So I just hopped right on without was being said at present. Now that I'm so stoked about the movie and all though I just may read those first 77 pages now.

Thanks for being helpful instead of being a jerk, by the way. I really appreciate it.

[Petara]

Wow...that was awesome. I just beat SH2 for the first time and, yes, my pants are moist. Definitely my favorite of the series. Still, the most impactful quote goes to Vincent in SH3:
(Vincent to Heather) "Is that what they look like to you?"... "Just joking! It was a joke." 8O

[UnforgivingEdges]

Wow...that was awesome. I just beat SH2 for the first time and, yes, my pants are moist. Definitely my favorite of the series.

Game storytelling and emotion evoking don't get much better.

Also, for the quote thing, I think what Angela said to James on the stairs of the hotel at the end of SH2 was probably the most powerful quote in the series.

[Petara]

"It's always like that for me..."

Yeah, that certainly was a punch in the nuts.

[blueblazer1224]

SH2 spoilers...(possibly)







"I'm not your Mary, but I can if you want me to be. It doesn't matter who I am, I'm here for you James. See, I'm real."

that was an awesome scene.

[BocoDragon]

"It doesn't matter who I am, I'm here for you James. See, I'm real."


I also like how after you beat the game, Maria actually speaks that quote during the looping cinema. Before you beat it she's muted.

[DJ Skratch 'n' Sniff]

I can't think of too many quotes as of right now (because it's been a while since I played any of the games) but, one that sticks out in my mind right now is in SH4 when Cynthia's all covered in blood, her eyes are swarming around and she says, "I feel like I'm dying". It probably didn't hurt to have Room of Angel playing in the background either.

[The Instrument of GAWD]

Ah, it's been awhile since I've posted here.

Since we're into quotes right now, guess I'll bring up the discussion between Ol' Jimbo and Fat Eddie in the prison.

I was rather interested in seeing Eddie starting to fall a part at that point. Finally admitting he's killing people but still making excuses for it.

On a different topic, I find it abit odd that James' Voice Actor (Guy Cihi) is a president (or whatever) of some kind of investiments company in Japan. Ifirit pointed it out to me once, blew my mind... sort of.

[watkinzez]

I was thinking of getting Silent Hill 2 given its reputation. Are the games inter-related in any way, or are they seperate stories each time?

[DJ Skratch 'n' Sniff]

I was thinking of getting Silent Hill 2 given its reputation. Are the games inter-related in any way, or are they seperate stories each time?

Heh-heh, it depends who you ask. They're all inter-related in one way or another (re-occurring characters and continuing story-line) but none of them are really a direct sequel of the previous one. It's kind of complicated. The second one's a good one to start with considering it has the least to do with the other three. Then you can play 1, 3 and 4!

[BocoDragon]

I was thinking of getting Silent Hill 2 given its reputation. Are the games inter-related in any way, or are they seperate stories each time?

Some of them are definitely connected. Some of them are only spiritually connected.

Silent Hill 2 is self-contained, and an excellent place to start in the series. Of course, it has some subtle connections to other titles......

[watkinzez]

Hmm, okay then. I just hope I'll be able to find it somewhere. Wouldn't figure it to be a rare game, so shouldn't be that hard..

[The Final Minuet]

I would definitely recommend Silent Hill 2. It's pretty easy to find (at least, around here it is), and I'd say it's probably the scariest overall.

[Nulion]

Make sure if you're getting Silent Hill 2 for PS2, get the Greatest Hits edition....it has the extra "Born from a Wish" scenario in it where you play as Maria :)

[Eccles]

Alessa doesn't have any influence on WalterAnd Harry isn't pyramid head, but that doesn't stop people from saying the opposite ;)

One, that the holes in Henry's room were not portals to an alternate world, but portals to different places within Walter's world, which is entirely interconnected (as you learn by escorting Eileen through the 2nd Visits).See, I got that much...just like I got the fact that all of the places you visit in the game are related to Walter somehow.


But this is what I don't get. The general consensus about SH1 is that Alessa is creating the other world to punish people, but leaves items along the way to help you get through and, hopefully, help her. But if Walter greated the world in SH4 why would he help you? I mean no, there isn't an abundance of stuff like the previous games (except for those goddamned golf clubs) but you've still got enough to get through. Personally speaking I usually end up with surplus stuff in the chest at the end of the game.

This means that some images that Henry saw through his windows, peephole and other views may have been layered, if not entirely within Walter's world.Kinda like how Walter's standing at his door in the second round of the apartments? Gotcha.

To answer your question specifically about Superintendent Frank, the diary entry gives a little ambiguity to the idea that Frank dreamed that he saw Walter entering Room 302 with a blood-dripped bag ten years ago, rather than seeing it with his own eyes.Doesn't Frank leave a note in his diary about people complaining about "The guy in the long coat"?
(Which could be anyone were it not in a video game, when it's only going to be one or two people)

What I find hard to believe about the diary entry is that Frank wouldn't have noticed an entire room missing from the apartment (the secret store-room). That you'll have to figure out for yourself.
SPOILARZ (is it sad that that's how I instinctively typed that? I think so)
What I find hard to believe is that nobody noticed the smell of crucified serial killer coming from the back room...even through walls, the smell of corpses is damn hard to get rid of.
Alessa is seen in Misty Silent Hill. Cybil sees the girl in both Silent Hill and the Silent Hill Play Novel.Does she? I know she talks about a girl taking Bachman road (and how said road is out)...but does she specifically say it's Alessa? It could be another image of Cheryl like you get at the very beginning.
Dahlia doesn't really take Alessa to Nowhere. Nowhere is Alessa's world (memories) collasped upon itself.Well yes, I didn't mean it like Dahlia carted Alessa off in a bag somewheres...but she gave you the Flauros because she knew it'd trap Alessa. Eventually.
I was thinking of getting Silent Hill 2 given its reputation. Are the games inter-related in any way, or are they seperate stories each time?Silent Hill 2 is a separate story from SH1 and you won't gain any deeper understanding of SH2 by playing SH1 first.
The only games you could do with playing in order are 1 and 3...but Sh3 gives you a summation of SH1 halfway through anyway, so it's not a necessity.

[Nulion]

But this is what I don't get. The general consensus about SH1 is that Alessa is creating the other world to punish people, but leaves items along the way to help you get through and, hopefully, help her. But if Walter created the world in SH4 why would he help you? I mean no, there isn't an abundance of stuff like the previous games (except for those goddamned golf clubs) but you've still got enough to get through. Personally speaking I usually end up with surplus stuff in the chest at the end of the game.

Was wondering about that just as I read it, but maybe it's possible that Walter created his own world, and in his own world he scattered ammo around to help himself out? The ammo may have never been meant for Henry to use, but for Walter.

Evidence for that might be that the only firearms in the game are pistols...and Walter himself uses pistols. So he'd keep ammo around to keep himself armed.

But then I suppose that theory would eventually fall apart, right? He hides ammo in a lot of places where you never see him. Not to mention, why would he hide a gun in Henry's apartment? I don't imagine it was to give Henry a sporting chance to keep himself alive.

But...

If Walter didn't put the ammo there for himself, then it would have had to have been for Henry - maybe because Walter wanted Henry to make it all the way to the end, where he could complete the 21 Sacraments?

Guess I'm rambling :)

[ifirit]

Warning: Silent Hill 4: The Room and Silent Hill Spoilers
But this is what I don't get. The general consensus about SH1 is that Alessa is creating the other world to punish people, but leaves items along the way to help you get through and, hopefully, help her. But if Walter created the world in SH4 why would he help you? I mean no, there isn't an abundance of stuff like the previous games (except for those goddamned golf clubs) but you've still got enough to get through. Personally speaking I usually end up with surplus stuff in the chest at the end of the game.

Was wondering about that just as I read it, but maybe it's possible that Walter created his own world, and in his own world he scattered ammo around to help himself out? The ammo may have never been meant for Henry to use, but for Walter.

Evidence for that might be that the only firearms in the game are pistols...and Walter himself uses pistols. So he'd keep ammo around to keep himself armed.

But then I suppose that theory would eventually fall apart, right? He hides ammo in a lot of places where you never see him. Not to mention, why would he hide a gun in Henry's apartment? I don't imagine it was to give Henry a sporting chance to keep himself alive.

But...

If Walter didn't put the ammo there for himself, then it would have had to have been for Henry - maybe because Walter wanted Henry to make it all the way to the end, where he could complete the 21 Sacraments?

Guess I'm rambling :)
There is one thing that people forget about sometimes in Silent Hill 4, the assistance by Joseph Schreiber (aka Victim 15). You can debate whether or not Joseph is actually helping Henry out or if he is simply another lost soul working towards the fulfillment of the Sacraments for the Decent of the Holy Mother, but either way, Joseph is intent on providing Henry with what he needs to reach the Ultimate Truth. There are certain clues left behind in the game that suggest this.

For instance, Jasper refers to someone called "that real nosey guy" who seems to be searching for information and clues about Wish House, the cult of Silent Hill, etc. It's uncertain as to when Jasper met the "nosey guy," but it seems clear that it wasn't too long ago. Some people infer that he is Walter Sullivan who is wandering around the world, preparing to kill his victims, but I doubt that, since Jasper refers to his killer as "the Devil." (Which I can only assume is Walter.) From the way that Jasper refers to the "nosey guy," I believe that it is (or was) Joseph Schreiber who spoke to Jasper, was collecting information, and gave him the trowel (Blood-Inscribed Spade).

Later, when Henry speaks to him in Room 302 of the Past, Joseph's speech leads Henry to find the Pickaxe of Hope, the tool necessary for him to uncover Walter's body, obtain the Keys of Liberation and enter the Chamber of Ten Hearts (all of which are essential for Henry's final confrontation with Walter). Joseph even offers advise on a way to destroy Walter's body and collapse his world by informing Henry of the words in the Crimson Tome (an item that I'm still a little unsure about in its purpose in the series as a whole). So, it is a possible explanation that Joseph is responsible for placing the majority of helpful items in the game.

Joseph does also give Henry other important items placed under his door that help him at certain dead-ends, such as the Key to Room 303 (well, he really only helps Henry find the key), the Succubus Talisman, the Small Key (used to open the gate in the elevator shaft of Hospital World) and, not to mention, the Red Diary.

However, something else got me to thinking that it isn't Walter leaving these items around, because the one item that you clearly see Walter leave behind for Henry causes his apartment to be cursed, the Shabby Doll. The item itself didn't necessarily hold any malice towards Henry (since it doesn't really hold any meaning for him) and Walter didn't particularly hate the item (since it was a gift from Eileen and a reminder of the happiness shared by mother and child), so I am making the assumption that if Walter had left any items behind for Henry (or himself) to use later, they would have cursed Henry's apartment as well had he stored them in the trunk. It seems a little outlandish that Walter was so dangerous that even the items he touched would cause them to be cursed (or maybe he actually "purifies" them?), but it still seems plausible.

But this is what I don't get. The general consensus about SH1 is that Alessa is creating the other world to punish people, but leaves items along the way to help you get through and, hopefully, help her.
That depends on your theory about SH1 in general. Personally, I believe that Alessa's world was created in order to distance herself from Dahlia and the "real world." (How much more distance can you place between yourself and another person than an entire world? But, for a 14-year-old girl, I guess the town was her entire world.) I believe that the person who was placing the items around Alessa's world was Dahlia, since she needed Harry to find Cheryl/Alessa (something he couldn't do entirely on his own) and since Alessa didn't have a complete grasp* on her "world."

*Mentioned in an earlier theory about the internal struggle between Alessa, Cheryl and the god.

[Monobrow]

Warning: Silent Hill 4 Spoilers
Just a side note, but Dahlia is directly tied to Walter's actions as a child in SH4, I don't know if this was said earlier or not. Anyway, she (as is implied in a diary I think) was the one that suggested that he go and "visit" his mother, (the Room) I believe...I'm pretty sure, can someone check on this?
From the diary entry, it's somewhat unclear as to whether Dahlia was addressing Walter directly or whether it was just something that she said while meeting with the Holy Mother sect. Either way, Walter misinterpretted the message. I don't think that Dahlia was refering to Walter's actual or perceived mother, but likely to the Holy Mother. I mean, how could she know the location of this particular orphan's birth parents immediately on their first meeting? From Walter's diary, Walter over-reacts at the mention of this and wants to see his mother in order to find solice in someone meant to love him unconditionally as an escape from the treatment he was receiving under the care of Wish House. I don't believe that it's a coincidence that the mention of Dahlia and her visit are listed after Walter's recants about his life at Wish House.

It isn't until Walter actually gets to Ashfield and is unable to locate his mother that he begins thinking that his mother is in Room 302 of South Ashfield Heights Apartments (and then ultimately that the room itself is his mother). Walter's search is entirely out of his own desire to see his mother, not by suggestion that he see her by Dahlia or anyone else. Also, she mentions Ashfield, not specifically South Ashfield, where Walter spends the majority of the time searching. In fact, the diary even suggests that Walter was advised not to go to South Ashfield, because it is a "scary place."

felixmcli.org - Silent Hill 4 The Room - Notes (Red Writings) (http://felixmcli.org/sh4-data.shtml#redwords) (Specifically, entries Oct. 16th & Oct. 17th)

The important lady told me mommy
was asleep in Ashfield.
I got a mommy too! I'm really happy!
I wanna see her. Where is Ashfield
anyhow?

Hmmm, the phrasing to this is VERY ODD. I still don't really understand the significance of "mommy
was asleep in Ashfield"

Why would that be said? What is so special about Ashfield to the Holy Mother Sect? I did understand the Holy Mother sleeping part. But regardless, my point was that Dahlia is still ultimately responsible for leaving Walter with that impression, and also ultimately (even if that's not what she meant) pointing him in the direction of "The Room", even if he twisted her words (along with all of the doctrine he read.) Anyway, I always thought it was very cool that they tied her in there...That harlott sure is responsible for a hell of a lot of misery.




Also, in terms of which games to play in which order. I really DO recommend you play them in numerical order if you can, as even though most people like the second one the best, I really ANTICIPATED a lot when I played the second one, and it made my play through of it all that much better.

It's funny that I rented the first one when it came out...but only for the first five minutes, then I dropped the controller and didn't pick it up again until a week before SH2 was released (which I had no idea was coming out at the time). So after finally beating SH1, I went out and bougth SH2 brand new, and it added up to the scariest one-two weeks of my life -_-.

Anyway, you can settle on playing the second one first, if you can't find SH1, but eh, game one is so underappreciated. Also, DON'T play 3 without playing the first game, because 3 is the sequel. It ruins a lot if you do. The fourth one is related to all of the others in some way, but is also pretty self contained, so you could even start out with that, if you had to.

[Global-Trance]

Welp... the first stage of voting ends next Tuesday. If you haven't been supporting me with them daily votes, please do so. :)

http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/silenthill/postercontest/vote/vote_popup.php?imgId=1887

[StarZander]

It's funny that I rented the first one when it came out...but only for the first five minutes, then I dropped the controller and didn't pick it up again


I did the exact same thing. I rented it, with my sister, because it looked cool. We played until we came to the café, and then we were to scared to do ANYTHING, so we quickly turned off the game, and never played again. Some years later, the rental place was selling out all of their games extremely cheap, so I bought Metal Gear Solid and Silent Hill for a total of about $10. This time I managed to beat it, and I was hooked. Shortly afterwards, SH3 was released, so I bought that (not knowing the striong connection it had to SH1) without having played SH2. This was during the summer. The christmas that year, I wished for SH2: Director's Cut, and got it. It's been my favorite in the series ever since. Then I bought SH4 on the releasedate.

I think this play order was quite perfect, but playing the games in numerical order might be even better. I'm not sure.

[Monobrow]

It's funny that I rented the first one when it came out...but only for the first five minutes, then I dropped the controller and didn't pick it up again


I did the exact same thing. I rented it, with my sister, because it looked cool. We played until we came to the café, and then we were to scared to do ANYTHING, so we quickly turned off the game, and never played again. Some years later, the rental place was selling out all of their games extremely cheap, so I bought Metal Gear Solid and Silent Hill for a total of about $10. This time I managed to beat it, and I was hooked. Shortly afterwards, SH3 was released, so I bought that (not knowing the striong connection it had to SH1) without having played SH2. This was during the summer. The christmas that year, I wished for SH2: Director's Cut, and got it. It's been my favorite in the series ever since. Then I bought SH4 on the releasedate.

I think this play order was quite perfect, but playing the games in numerical order might be even better. I'm not sure.

That is a good play order, but anyway...I think playing the first first one is always a good choice, regardless.

[BocoDragon]

Yeah StarZander, that was the same order I played them in too...... 1, 3, 2, 4 worked perfectly well.

[flipsideshooze]

2,3,1,4 here.... still a bit screwed because of it... but i eventually went back and played them all in order....

[Your Good Twin]

Are they never going to post a link so we can look at all the posters? Are people just supposed to get theirs voted on by showing other people their links? What a shitty system.

Oh snap, somebody made a site that browses the posters so you can vote appropriately and posted it to that silenthillforum site: http://dekonstruktiv.org/temp/shposter/

[Monobrow]

Wow, yeah some of those posters are really awesome, but you still have my vote GT. I've voted a few times.












I hope ya win.

[Monobrow]

Some of these posters could make good wallpapers...

By the way, does anyone have any great site links to some really good SH wallpapers? I'm not sure if anyone has linked to these before in this thread (I guess I'm too lazy to look on my crappy modem).


Hmmm...

I really love SH2 Promise (reprise), it's an outstanding song.

Makes me very happy that there was recognizable Akira Yamaoka music in the teaser too. I'm very hopeful.


I need to get my ps2 back so I can replay SH2 again...I traded it to my brother for his x-box, and now I have a craving to play something...I may have to go out and actually buy an x-box version.

[Monobrow]

********SPOILERS AHEAD********













Okay guys, let's have some Silent Hill 2 theory discussion:

A long time ago I went to the silenthillforum site, and ran into some guy named "TheAdversary". To summarize, he has this interesting theory that Mary was confined in Brookhaven Hospital for five days, and then released to go see James the day before he killed her. He also claims that the rooftop diary was in fact, Mary's and that she was suicidal. Most of all of the stuff he claims is in the below topic. It IS an interesting theory, but I've already gone over all of my doubts over there at that forum, and realized that some people just want to be right, no matter what the cost, instead of having a good hearted debate.

Tonight I went back there, and I laughed a little bit that he and others are still singing the same exact tune with other people. So it gave me an idea: I want to know what you smart and cool people over here think. Is this guy right? Instead of me jumping around on a flame spree, let's debate over here. It might give this topic a little more life anyway.

What do you think?

http://www.silenthillforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=132&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0




ps. sorry for the triple posts..jeez

[Global-Trance]

Bump for Mono.

Well with a sudden twist of fate, they've reduced the spots for finalist of the poster contest I think... Apparently there's only going to be 5 by Friday.

[ifirit]

Bump for Mono.

Well with a sudden twist of fate, they've reduced the spots for finalist of the poster contest I think... Apparently there's only going to be 5 by Friday.
Not really. The top 50 posters were sent directly to the Sony/TriStar Marketing Team, who will narrow the choices down to the top 5 from those 50. They began reviewing posters yesterday and will continue until tomorrow. The finalists' posters will be posted for public viewing on the 20th. (This was explained earlier.)

It just seems that the people running the contest decided not to post the results of the preliminary voting round, so we don't know who the top 50 posters are. It's possible that after the contest is completely over, they'll post the complete results of the contest and you'll be able to see where you placed. Granted that will be a long time, but you'll know whether or not you made it into the top 5 by Friday afternoon.

Warning: Silent Hill 2 Spoilers
Okay guys, let's have some Silent Hill 2 theory discussion:

A long time ago I went to the silenthillforum site, and ran into some guy named "TheAdversary". To summarize, he has this interesting theory that Mary was confined in Brookhaven Hospital for five days, and then released to go see James the day before he killed her. He also claims that the rooftop diary was in fact, Mary's and that she was suicidal. Most of all of the stuff he claims is in the below topic. It IS an interesting theory, but I've already gone over all of my doubts over there at that forum, and realized that some people just want to be right, no matter what the cost, instead of having a good hearted debate.

Tonight I went back there, and I laughed a little bit that he and others are still singing the same exact tune with other people. So it gave me an idea: I want to know what you smart and cool people over here think. Is this guy right? Instead of me jumping around on a flame spree, let's debate over here. It might give this topic a little more life anyway.

What do you think?
I don't feel that there is any need for discussion on this because it has a very easy answer, which can be found in the very first paragraph of Mary's (complete) Letter. She writes:

In my restless dreams, I see that town. Silent Hill. You promised you'd take me there again someday, but you never did. Well, I'm alone there now, in our special place, waiting for you. Waiting for you to come to see me, but you do...

Coupled with the story that Laura gives about obtaining Mary's Letters suggests that Mary wrote both letters before she left to go "home." These things suggest that Mary and Laura were hospitalized outside of Silent Hill/South Vale. In addition, if she had written those letters before she supposedly went to Brookhaven, then the context of the diary written in Brookhaven doesn't make complete sense.

In Mary's letter to James, she wishes him to lead his own life again after she's gone. She makes peace between herself and her illness, her fate to die. Although she is sad that her life is ending, she is happy that she shared it with her someone special. The diary in Brookhaven on the other hand gives a sense that the person writing the diary has given up on life rather than accepting the inevitability that they will die. Although these two comments seem similar, they are very different when you consider a person's emotional state. Giving up on life is a response when you feel that there is no hope in life to continue to live. Accepting that you will die means that you value life and the purpose of living, but that you know that it is part of the nature of things, that life begins and life ends.

However, I'm not going to totally refute what the Adversary (http://www.silenthillforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=938#938) wrote, because there are some doubts placed within the game that could be interpretted such that Mary did go back to Silent Hill. However, one major problem with that is that it opens the door again to the idea that the main character in the game is actually running around a populated city killing innocent people because he/she thinks they're monsters. It is not something that can be taken lightly and causes huge reprocussions when you consider the story.

I think that people should also consider Maria's interpretation of things as well. Although born from James' wish to see Mary again, is she susceptable to James' delutions as well, that the town is not really abandoned and crawling with monsters?

In short, this is an interesting theory that plays on the emotions of the player and casts a different light on the things you experience in the game, but when you consider the concept as a whole, it is probably not the case. Anyway, as someone in that thread said earlier, definitely food for thought.

EDIT: Silent Hill Film Update

Silent Hill Film Trailer Confirmed:
According to Bloody-Disgusting.com (http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/), the trailer for Silent Hill is definitely being featured along with certain prints of Underworld: Evolution. The report comes from an email sent by a fan, fragilen1n, who was treated to an early screening of Sony's sequel to Underworld. In addition to the confirmation of the trailer's presence with the film, it is reported that it is indeed a brand-spankin'-new full-length trailer and not simply the teaser (featured on the Silent Hill website (http://www.sonypictures.com/silenthill/)) converted to big-screen format. So definitely keep you eyes peeled for the trailer to appear online tomorrow or, better yet, go see Underworld: Evolution for the ultimate trailer experience. (However, rumors suggest that only half of the printings of U:E have the trailer attached. The rest of the printings will feature the trailer for Ultraviolet in its place.)

Warning: Possible Film Spoilers & Definite Trailer Spoilers
Bloody-Disgusting - "The Trailer Park: See 'Silent Hill' Tomorrow!!" (http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/index.php?Show=5647&Template=newsfull)
Silent Hill Forum - Additional Confirmation (http://www.silenthillforum.co.uk/forum/showpost.php?p=306959&postcount=111) (Thanks to LifetoLifeless (http://www.silenthillforum.co.uk/forum/member.php?u=195))
Silent Hill Forum - Detailed Trailer Description (http://www.silenthillforum.co.uk/forum/showpost.php?p=306746&postcount=95) (Thanks to Bogus (http://www.silenthillforum.co.uk/forum/member.php?u=8978))

[StarZander]

Just bumping the thread, so that everyone can enjoy the wonderful news in the above post, that has been added.


Joygasm!

[ifirit]

Silent Hill Film Update:
Forget waiting, the full-length theatrical trailer is online NOW! Go check it out now on http://movies.yahoo.com]Yahoo (http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=12i1rbag1/M=251521.4184276.5385482.2374497/D=movies/S=51156425:HEAD3/Y=YAHOO/EXP=1137725145/A=1862105/R=0/SIG=10pgvel51/*[url) Movies[/url]. The trailer is exactly as described earlier and is indeed a brand-new collection of scenes. The trailer runs at a length of 2 minutes and 30 seconds (2:30) and sets up the beginning of the entire film and possibly up to the middle. Scenes and moments from the original Silent Hill are abound as the trailer tries to recreate the experience of playing the game. Images of the monsters shown in the teaser are shown a little more clearly, due to the fact that they removed the grain filter from the film itself. You may also find that the monsters feel even creepier than before given how Rose interacts with some of them. However, the trailer does treat us to a small treat, new music. The music featured in the trailer features classic pieces from the Silent Hill soundtracks, but also contains some new ambient works containing that trademark Yamaoka flair. Personally, I was hoping to hear some new melodic pieces or even an arranged version of the theme, "Silent Hill," for film score.

Warning: Possible Film Spoilers
Yahoo Movies - Silent Hill Theatrical Trailer (http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808718754/trailer)

Now, that you've viewed the trailer, you may not feel as confident about the film as before. (Personally, I was just a little unsatisfied.) It seems as though the film is just a watered-down version of the first game, and find that the quotes refering to "hell" and "the dark one" to be too forward and ackward to be a part of the Silent Hill series, which makes it sound somewhat clique' of horror films. I think that the producers and director are underestimating the intelligence of the Silent Hill fan and, in my opinion, the viewing public. If people don't come out of the theater, the way gamers got up from their consoles, going "What the hell was that all about?," then I feel that Davis Films didn't fulfill the expectations of a Silent Hill work. This is something that I feared from the beginning, but have come to expect as the likely outcome.

In any case, I still feel excited about the film, because despite any personal feelings I have toward seeing this trailer, it still looks better than any videogame-to-film movie I've ever seen. I love the look of the crawling walls and the nurses that don't move.

[ILLiterate]

I'm glad they fit "DARKNESS" in the trailer

[Vivi22]

I wasn't sure what to think of the trailer at first. It definitely had the fog and ash and just the general look of SH down in the beginning, but once I saw some of the more surreal areas and creatures I was pretty much sold. It's going to be one hell (no pun intended) of a tough wait for me.

[RazorOutlaw]

Some of my thoughts mirror Ifrit's. I definitely feel more skeptical concerning some of the dialogue. Second, my other complaint stems from the trailer: the film is too "bright".

They seem to have done the same thing that was done with Alien: Ressurection, and that's being able to see everything. Period. I never thought that the darkened hallways of Silent Hill would ever be so well lit.

On the other hand the creatures all look fine and dandy, but even then I can still see them too well. I think Gans should have taken a page from Alien regarding lightining...

But I can't write the film off yet, nor can I let myself get hung up on aethetics. Afterall, I would have never played the first Silent Hill if I thought about how grainy everything looked...

[I-n-j-i-n]

^

I have no idea what you're talking about. It looks dark enough to me.

And the place is obviously that dark in midday. I think it looks great aesthetically.

The only potential problem is in the story pacing and writing.

[BocoDragon]

I think the pessimism is unwarranted.

This looks like a simple Euro-style horror film, which is what Silent Hill has been trying to emulate from the very start. We shoud be lucky we have a film that sticks so close to what SH is really about, rather than ballooning it into something it's not.

I've watched the fans inflate the mythology to massive proportions, but Silent Hill has always been a simple story about underequipped normal people facing their demons in a punishing nightmare town.

A straight telling of this type of story on the big screen will already make it the best videogame movie of all time.... The first legitimate adaptation of a videogame anyway.

But I warn you Silent Hill fandom: It will probably be a small film. I don't know if that can support the hype, especially with all the mythology fans have draped upon its simple frame.

[I-n-j-i-n]

European? Silent Hill as a game was obviously based off of American horror movies and American style.

[BocoDragon]

European? Silent Hill as a game was obviously based off of American horror movies and American style.

No way... I see far more influence from Lucio Fulci and other Italian horror filmmakers in Silent Hill. What American horror movies are you taking about?.... Friday the 13th? Evil Dead? Texas Chainsaw? There might be a little from each in there... but they're not the main influence.

Silent Hill uses the US as its location, some influences are certainly American (SH takes from all horror), but the style is mainly European horror. Now Resident Evil is certainly based on American horror styles.....

[I-n-j-i-n]

I can see where you're coming from, but I'm not talking about the American pop-horror. More like the indie stuff.

[BocoDragon]

I can see where you're coming from, but I'm not talking about the American pop-horror. More like the indie stuff.

Yeah, and that's definitely in there too :D

[Your Good Twin]

Personally, I'm extremely impressed by this trailer. Come on guys, after all the abstracts of things we love that have been thrown up on screen, think about how close this is to the game. I mean, compare this shit to Street Fighter or Resident Evil or Doom. And then think about how much of actual straight up Silent Hill is going to be on film.

It's going to be amazing, even when it's flawed.

[StarZander]

I was scared of watching the trailer, since this would probably be the thing to decide if the movie would be lame or good. Well, I still can't decide after watching it. Although, I think they've ruined Pyramid Head a bit. He doesn't quite look the way he should. Have a look at these screenshots, although they only show a small part of PH:

EDIT: If the pics aren't working, just right click > properties, then copy the address, and paste it in your browser.

http://www.freewebs.com/starzander/phead1.jpg

http://www.freewebs.com/starzander/phead2.jpg


It might be the lighting in that scene or something, but he's way too... green?
I might be taking more screenshots, if you want to see more stills of the different monsters.


EDIT2: Here are two more pics of monsters. The bunch of nurses, and the weird monsters at the end.


http://www.freewebs.com/starzander/nurses1.jpg

http://www.freewebs.com/starzander/nurses2.jpg

http://www.freewebs.com/starzander/monsters1.jpg

http://www.freewebs.com/starzander/monsters2.jpg

[Kiyosuki]

I saw this trailer when watching Underworld;Evolution (Which was actually pretty good...I was expecting an unintentional comedy like the first film. ) I think it has promise...ofcourse though I think something all you Silent Hill buff's have to do is keep your expectations in check. There's so much hype surrounding this film and so many expectations that if you just let it go wild...the film will never please you no matter how good or bad it may be. Control the hype, and maybe it'll startle you. :D I'm almost totally convinced that its just not going to be able to satisfy some insatiable hunger's I see around (since SH is such an interpretation heavy series.), and while I do have a tiny problem with Pyramid Head being in someone else's journey to the "other" side (since its sort of exclusive to James.) I remind myself that film and games are separate entities even if they're connected in storyline. Its a reimagining so I'm gonna just try my best to keep my expectations level.

Interestingly, a very large part of the audience was cheering the trailer. This was at a Hollywood premier too. It was really something, SH seems to hardly be a niche audience.

[RazorOutlaw]

^

I have no idea what you're talking about. It looks dark enough to me.
You have no idea what I'm talking about? If so, please read my post again carefully. ;) If I can see the entire hallway she's in rather well, that's too bright. SH has consistently had hard-to-see-locales. Fortunately that won't make or break the film, but it'll remove the tension because you'll be able to see everything and leave nothing to the imagination...which is something that the first Silent Hill was all about!

No way... I see far more influence from Lucio Fulci and other Italian horror filmmakers in Silent Hill.
Actually a lot of the films they pull from are American, although having not the full list of movies that actually influenced Silent Hill on hand, I can't say how many European-style films are there. In terms of American films we're talking like Jacob's Ladder, Muholland Drive, Strange Highways, etc.

Erm, Indie films then?

I don't exactly recall that the creators were trying to emulate European horror in the first place, so that's news to me.

Anyway, the movie is made by a Frenchman and he's probably pulling from the style that he knows. Frankly there's nothing wrong with that although I wouldn't expect many people (i.e. American audiences) to sit comfortably with another style than their own. Speaking purely in terms of my own experience with something not pop-horror, I did enjoy Ringu and that was my first experience with Japanese horror. Perhaps my first experience of European horror based on a Japanese game will go well too. :)

P.S.

I watched the trailer again. I still think the film is too bright. >:

At the same time I'm realizing that I'm probably not giving Gans credit enough, he has managed to capture the look of the games pretty well (more so than I thought the first time around, although I loved the grain filter), and from what I can glean from the trailer the story looks in place enough too. Also, Silent Hill in West Virginia? Hmm.

[Eccles]

Those creatures in the third picture...I think they could be the stabby kids from the school.

'course, I can't say exactly since it's horribly fragmented.

[BocoDragon]

You're telling me the opening cinematic of SH1 doesn't scream EURO to any of you? Think about it.

In retrospect I was wrong to say SH is "mainly" European.... SH lifts from international horror sources. Considering I am such a Jacob's Ladder fan I should know better.

What kinda scares me (not directed at anyone in particular) is that there seems to be a lot of Silent Hill fundamentalism going on...... Silent Hill is this..... Pyramid Head represents that......

YOU FANS INVENTED THESE THEORIES. Don't believe them so much!

[RazorOutlaw]

You're telling me the opening cinematic of SH1 doesn't scream EURO to any of you? Think about it.
No, it screamed Japanese to me because that's the only place I thought of it as coming from. My friend is really into Fulci and a variety of other Italian horror directors, so I could always grab some movies off of him. I'm sure he'd oblige. And in the process I could not only enrich my knowledge of Italian horror but perhaps Silent Hill too. :P

Oh and having read a review of The Beyond (where the author went into details about the plot) that movie did use similar ideas to the ones in Silent Hill. But those similarities weren't enough for me to declare that SH was striving for a kind of horror beyonds its own. As a result I just kind of forgot about The Beyond and SH sharing any particular qualities.

What kinda scares me (not directed at anyone in particular) is that there seems to be a lot of Silent Hill fundamentalism going on...... Silent Hill is this..... Pyramid Head represents that......

YOU FANS INVENTED THESE THEORIES. Don't believe them so much!
Thing is, some fan-made theories are backed up by what the creators have said. I realize that some theories are way off the mark, but other theories regarding creatures like PH have to fit more specific criteria. Some people will say that PH is intrinsically a part of James, while others will say that it doesn't matter because the creature's visage is part of the town's past. I believe the latter interpretation is failing to look at the big picture, but now isn't the time to dreg up that argument.

Although I can easily recognize I'm a bit of a purist regarding SH, the details in The Book of Lost Memories are sometimes too concrete to be taken any other way. There are certain aspects of the game that cannot be interpreted another way, although the same aspects may carry several meanings such as the purpose of Laura, Eddie, Douglas or Alessa.

As far as I know SH movie is in a world of it's own, and therefore I won't hold it to the same level as the games themselves. If the film tried to continue the game's general continuum it probably wouldn't have succeeded anyway.

[Jenga]

Those creatures in the third picture...I think they could be the stabby kids from the school.

'course, I can't say exactly since it's horribly fragmented.They look too big to be the children.

[Eccles]

Those creatures in the third picture...I think they could be the stabby kids from the school.

'course, I can't say exactly since it's horribly fragmented.They look too big to be the children.And pyramid head has too many muscles. Your point?

[Jenga]

Those creatures in the third picture...I think they could be the stabby kids from the school.

'course, I can't say exactly since it's horribly fragmented.They look too big to be the children.And pyramid head has too many muscles. Your point?Just saying it might be a new group of monsters for the film.

[Eccles]

Yeah, prolly. Like those Al Behd guys.

[Jenga]

I remember a still coming out that had Sean Bean standing in front of a hospital...I wonder if KaufMann will make an appearance in 'Normal' Silent Hill.

[Infinite HP]

I've seriously got to replay the game now. I'm a little rusty.

Also, the torsos with legs for limbs would be pretty cool if they had those in the movie...

[BocoDragon]

What kinda scares me (not directed at anyone in particular) is that there seems to be a lot of Silent Hill fundamentalism going on...... Silent Hill is this..... Pyramid Head represents that......

YOU FANS INVENTED THESE THEORIES. Don't believe them so much!
Thing is, some fan-made theories are backed up by what the creators have said. I realize that some theories are way off the mark, but other theories regarding creatures like PH have to fit more specific criteria. Some people will say that PH is intrinsically a part of James, while others will say that it doesn't matter because the creature's visage is part of the town's past. I believe the latter interpretation is failing to look at the big picture, but now isn't the time to dreg up that argument.

Although I can easily recognize I'm a bit of a purist regarding SH, the details in The Book of Lost Memories are sometimes too concrete to be taken any other way. There are certain aspects of the game that cannot be interpreted another way, although the same aspects may carry several meanings such as the purpose of Laura, Eddie, Douglas or Alessa.

As far as I know SH movie is in a world of it's own, and therefore I won't hold it to the same level as the games themselves. If the film tried to continue the game's general continuum it probably wouldn't have succeeded anyway.

Personally I don't believe there is a general contiuum in Silent Hill.... it's not a comic book universe, you know? It's a series of nightmarish episodes in a familiar location.

I understand the creators' personal backstory has been unveiled through non-game sources, but again, I don't believe that these are rules or specific meanings.... They are only the inspiration for the obtuse work that actually appears in the game. For example, the enemies that James fights certainly are based on twisted images of sexuality........ but if those same monsters were to torture someone without sexual problems in some future game or movie..... so what?... it's Silent Hill! It's crazy! There are no rules.

One of the connections SH has to The Beyond, for example, is that it doesn't actually make sense... :D If you think about it with your logical left-brain you will explode. I know SH has concrete story themes, but the details are not to be explained. At least, they aren't in the main game, which is the artistic work. If the creators wanted you to know exactly what Pyramid Head represented, they would tell you in the game.... What we have now is "an inpiration for Pryramid Head.... what he is supposed to represent... as told in a behind the scenes source", and that doesn't seem like a rule that must now be adhered to.

But that says more about me and my relationship to SH than it does about SH itself. I like it kept subjective so that people can continue to read whatever they want in the details..... That has always been the original appeal, IMO.

And at least you recognize that you're a purist, and you do have a point :) It's all good.

[Amaterasu]

http://mp3content01.bcst.yahoo.com/proot1/PubShare02/yahoointernal/11/21764261.mov

...

YES.

[Aetherius]

In response to the person who said pyramid head looked too green: I disagree. Looks more red than green to me.

[Vivi22]

In response to the person who said pyramid head looked too green: I disagree. Looks more red than green to me.

His skin colour looks pretty grey to me. I'm thinking part of why that person thinks he looks grey might just be monitor settings or something. Pyramid Head looks pretty normal (well...) to me.

[RazorOutlaw]

WARNING: SPOILERS

Personally I don't believe there is a general contiuum in Silent Hill.... it's not a comic book universe, you know? It's a series of nightmarish episodes in a familiar location.
The episodes seem disjointed at first, but that's only if you look at them by themselves. The release of Samael allowed the towns power to grow (SH1), which lead to characters being pulled into Silent Hill (SH2), and during the intervening years the cult continued it's pursuit of Harry (SH3). SH4 is basically in it's own area, but it still has ties to the previous games.

I understand the creators' personal backstory has been unveiled through non-game sources, but again, I don't believe that these are rules or specific meanings.... They are only the inspiration for the obtuse work that actually appears in the game.
I see where you're coming from, but that's honestly not the things they are saying. For example, they aren't saying the Patient Demons were just inspired by a friend they saw walking down the hallway, but rather that the Patient Demons were created by James (and the power of the town) and represent X (X of course stands for the meaning that I forget, if I had time I could check what the meaning was specifically.) Another example are the winged creatures in SH1. They just aren't there to antagonize players, they are a manifestation of the pterodactyls that Alessa read about in the book The Lost World. So while some of the background information behind the creatures might be revealed (Patient Demon being inspired by friend), they are given a direct explanation as to what purpose they have in the story and why they are there.

For example, the enemies that James fights certainly are based on twisted images of sexuality........ but if those same monsters were to torture someone without sexual problems in some future game or movie..... so what?... it's Silent Hill! It's crazy! There are no rules.
The creatures themselves probably wouldn't appear sexual, you're right. They would appear as something else because their manifestation relies partly on their state of mind, their feelings, and the town's dark power...

EDIT:
Also, I went back and read your post. I see I've misunderstood this little section. You're right about the movie, anyway. If we have the same monsters from the game appear in the movie, they probably wouldn't have the same reasoning behind them (i.e. PH couldn't be a part of James's mind in the movie if Rose is seeing him).

I know SH has concrete story themes, but the details are not to be explained. At least, they aren't in the main game, which is the artistic work. If the creators wanted you to know exactly what Pyramid Head represented, they would tell you in the game.... What we have now is "an inpiration for Pryramid Head.... what he is supposed to represent... as told in a behind the scenes source", and that doesn't seem like a rule that must now be adhered to.
Why should they have to tell you in the story? Why couldn't they have left the story for players to figure it out? SH2 is a bit like a puzzle, it has certain pieces that fit together, and the player needs to put them together.

Second, this is not so much about a rule but rather going directly against a definition, if I'm thinking of the correct word. Think about it, a rule would be that if a person entires Silent Hill with dark feeling in their heart, that the town will manifest things for them to see. That much has been laid about by the creators.

But the same kind of thinking can't be applied to characters. Harry Mason is a 40 something male who is searching for his daughter. That isn't a rule, it's a fact. Pyramid is, by defintion of his creatures, from James mind.

Even if I'm wrong about the definition/rule thing in terms of how they would apply (i.e. whether one is really a rule or really a definition, or whether they are both definitions of some sort), that still doesn't change a thing about what certain characters/creatures are.

However, you could come to the conclusion that James is a really selfish man for what he did, and is entirely deserving of the hell he's gone through and that perhaps he deserves to die. You could also say that Laura is a bit of a guide, or even a demon (figuratively) in the story. What you couldn't change is that she's just a young girl who is searching for the woman who wanted to adopt her. Likewise, you could say that PH is an angel/demon/truthseeker. But you'd also have to accept that it's existence is tied entirely to James.

But that says more about me and my relationship to SH than it does about SH itself. I like it kept subjective so that people can continue to read whatever they want in the details..... That has always been the original appeal, IMO.
A lot of people feel that way, and unfortunately a lot of what is in Silent Hill can't be taken any other way. Certain creatures might carry symbolism with them, but they also have very unambiguous reasons for existing.

Like I said, the issue with me isn't so much disagreeing with symbolism as it is with the facts. When people say Eddie had no point, or Laura was just an extra, they aren't understanding the character. When they say PH could show up for anybody because it's a part of the town's past, they don't understand that the creature was manifested due in part to James's feelings of guilt.

Anyway, I don't claim to be the source on Silent Hill, I could be very wrong regarding the facts. There's probably a lot of ambiguity in Silent Hill that hasn't been explained, but I think that has more to do with symbolism and meaning.

[RazorOutlaw]

Etc. etc. etc.

Sorry, double post. :/

[Aetherius]

oops, accidental double post. Read on, my friends.

[Aetherius]

Well, I'm of the opinion that while there may be a meaning or reason for everytyhing to be in Silent Hill, the fact remains that it's just a video game, and not reality. That said, we can't expect them to have it entirely free of unexplained things, and we can't even expect it to be free of plot holes or logical fallacies.
We SHOULD be expected to notice the connections and origins of some things, but when no connections can be readily found without a large amount of speculation, it's best to chalk it down to 'It's just a video game.' instead of slitting our wrists and hoping we wake up in a foggy town instead of a hospital bed with a bunch of angry relatives standing over us.

[Amaterasu]

http://mp3content01.bcst.yahoo.com/proot1/PubShare02/yahoointernal/11/21764261.mov

...

YES.

Mother fuckers this is the theatrical trailer! WATCH IT NOW.

[BocoDragon]

Good points RazorOutlaw. There is a lot of substance to the SH backstory. I guess I'm reacting to the gamers who say "Uh oh.... Silent Hill can't do this... Look what it says in the book." when this is a series about walls that bleed and doors that lead nowhere :P

Emotional themes and characters are very, very strong in this series... logical details... not so much. "What year is it?", for example. :)

[StarZander]

http://mp3content01.bcst.yahoo.com/proot1/PubShare02/yahoointernal/11/21764261.mov

...

YES.

Mother fuckers this is the theatrical trailer! WATCH IT NOW.

Look a few pages back, and you'll see a link to it too. Most of us have already seen it. Although, not in a downloadable link, me thinks.


EDIT: Everyone who hasn't checked out the new and improved Silent Hill movie website, then go do so now:

http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/silenthill/

EDIT2: You should really sheck the Media gallery, as it has loads of new stills. Yummyness!