“Return to Silent Hill” opens Friday to overwhelmingly negative reviews and a projected weak box office performance, even compared to the poorly received “mercy.”
Currently, the film holds a dismal 7% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 15 reviews, and a score of 30/100 on Metacritic. This is slightly worse than Christophe Gans’ original 2006 “Silent Hill” (33% on RT,31/100 on MC) and comparable to 2012’s “silent Hill: Revelation” (8% on RT,16/100 on MC).
This new installment loosely adapts the critically acclaimed video game “Silent Hill 2,” which itself received a celebrated remake in 2024.Both versions of the game where lauded for their atmosphere, psychological horror, and exploration of themes like repression, trauma, and guilt.
However, reviews for the film describe it as a disappointing adaptation, failing to capture the essence of the source material. Critics cite issues with pacing, character development, and a lack of the psychological depth that made the game so impactful.