While he may not be returning for the next installment in the franchise, the underratedSean Bean-led adaptation of an iconic video game is getting a new streaming home ahead of its reboot. After getting his start in the world of theater, Bean quickly rose to stardom with his turns in theJack Ryanfranchise film,Patriot Games, and as the iconic villain Alec Trevelyan inPierce Brosnan’sJames Bondfranchise debut,GoldenEye. The years since have seen him find success with everything from playing Boromir in Peter Jackson’sLord of the Ringstrilogy to HBO’sGame of Thrones.
Amid his frequent spells in the world of high fantasy,Bean has also ventured into the horror genre on multiple occasions. Some of the more notable ventures include the 2007 remake of the cult classic horror-thrillerThe Hitcher, in which Bean played the titular villain, as well as the medieval action-horror movieBlack DeathandBrandon Cronenberg’s acclaimed psychological horror filmPossessor. There is one, however, situated among the bunch that not only led to the production of a sequel, but is also gearing up for a reboot.
The Silent Hill Movie Is Getting A New Streaming Home
Bean Co-Led The Cast Of The First Two Adaptations
One of Bean’s more memorable horror movies was that ofSilent Hill, which is about to get a new streaming home. The 2006 movie served as an adaptation of the Konami franchise of the same name, centering on Rose Da Silva as she took her adopted daughter to the titular town in the hopes of helping cure her sleepwalking and nightmares, only to herself fall into a nightmarish landscape. Co-led by Radha Mitchell as Rose and Bean as her husband Christopher,Silent Hillwas initially poorly received, but has built a cult following, leading to a sequel and upcoming reboot.
Now,Shudderhas announced thatSilent Hillwill be coming to their library. The 2006 adaptation of the horror game will make its premiere on the horror-driven streaming platform on March 1, which also marks its return to a streamer after being without a streaming home for some time. The news also comes nearly a year after the first trailer for the upcoming reboot,Return to Silent Hill, was unveiled.
Why You Should Watch Bean’s Silent Hill
It Should’ve Kickstarted A Video Game Adaptation Renaissance
Long before HBO’sThe Last of Us, Netflix’sArcaneand Ben Schwartz’sSonic the Hedgehogmovies came along and put the genre on the right track,the 2006Silent Hillmovie actually stood out as one of the better video game adaptations. Director Christophe Gans, at the time better known for his period action horror movieBrotherhood of the Wolf, clearly understood not just what the titular town should look like in its fog and rust-filled iterations, but also the eerie atmosphere that should come from its story and characters.
At the time of its release, very few other video game adaptations succeeded at translating their source materials for the screen, even if they proved successful at the box office.Paul W.S. Anderson’sResident Evilinfamously startedwith a loose interpretation of the games and focused on original characters before gradually veering away from them, whilethe increasing output of controversial director Uwe Boll saw the likes ofHouse of the DeadandAlone in the Darkruined. Though Gans and writer Roger Avary also took some major liberties, they still stayed true to the essence of the firstSilent Hillgame, in particular.
New Silent Hill Movie Has The Perfect Opportunity To Fix The 2006 Film’s Disastrous Villain Mistake
The 2006 Silent Hill movie was weighed down by a disastrous villain mistake but Return to Silent Hill can finally fix it by adopting a major change.
This is even more evident when comparingSilent Hillto its sequel,Revelation, which went for a fast-paced, 3D horror ride versus an atmospheric one, which resulted in it being a critical failure. While the video game adaptation genre has certainly come a long way since, it’s hard to deny that Gans' passion not only shone through in that first film,but also made him the right choice to revive the franchise withthe upcomingReturn to Silent Hill, which will directly adapt the second game.
What ScreenRant Has Said About Silent Hill:
If Silent Hill as a gaming franchise is anything, it is overwhelmingly atmospheric. The chilling and eerie nature of the games is something entirely unique, and bringing it to life in a film wasn’t an easy thing to do. However, the movies have atmosphere in spades, and actually do an excellent job of creating the cinematic equivalent of many of the game’s creepiest vibes. Seeing the fog-draped city of Silent Hill loom up before the heroes as they enter the town is the stuff of nightmares, and the dreamlike logic of the games was painstakingly recreated through visuals alone. Though horror is made up of so much more than atmosphere, a chilling aura can go a long way to keeping the viewer on edge and ripe for the perfect scare. —9 Reasons Why The Silent Hill Movies Are Underrated
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Silent Hill
Cast
Rose Da Silva takes her adopted daughter, Sharon, to the town of Silent Hill in an attempt to cure her of her ailment. After a violent car crash, Sharon disappears and Rose begins a horrific journey to get her back.
