Scenes From Silent Hill 2 That Need To Be In Return To Silent Hill

Summary

• Return to Silent Hill promises a unique experience inspired by Silent Hill 2’s intimate tale of horror.
• The movie must emphasize key game scenes, like Mary’s letter and Pyramid Head’s appearance.
• A faithful recreation of pivotal moments in the game, like Maria’s death in the labyrinth, is essential for the movie.

Return to Silent Hill is the third movie in the film series that loosely adapts that source material, so far covering the events of the first and third games, chronicling the events of the Mason family (or Da Silva, in the movie). This next film promises a different experience, inspired by the events of Silent Hill 2.

Silent Hill 2 was the personal story of one man searching for his deceased wife in the town they favored for their holidays, only to see that it is no longer an idyllic vacation spot. It was a very intimate horror tale tinged with plenty of tragedy. It is a deeply hallowed game that deserves a faithful cinematic recreation, with certain scenes being a must for fans and newcomers alike to enjoy.

Spoilers Ahead For Silent Hill 2

9

Eddie And Laura In The Bowling Alley (Or Theater)

Both Characters Seem Unaffected By The Monsters

James encounters Eddie and Laura on multiple occasions throughout the game. In one scene in both versions of the game, players can see Eddie and Laura sitting together talking. Eddie is confessing he is in trouble with the law, and Laura is innocently asking why he can’t just apologize. In the original, this conversation is held in a bowling alley while Eddie eats pizza. The remake places it in the theater, though players can still hear that iconic line by visiting the bowling alley.

Both characters seem unaffected by everything strange happening within Silent Hill, and are instead just enjoying their downtime. Even the most oppressive horror games or movies need to give viewers or players a break, which this scene definitely provides, as it is set in a safe location. As such, this scene is a must for the movie, especially because it brings up the question of why both of them seem to be unbothered by all the monsters.

8

Closing And Opening With The Letter

Mary’s Letter Is James’s Reason For Entering Silent Hill

Silent Hill 2 comes full circle, opening with a brief excerpt from Mary’s letter, and James’s inner monologue revealing he received the letter from his wife, who passed away from a disease years prior. After the events of the game come to a close, players are given a detailed reading of the letter with Mary’s voiceover. It’s a tremendously touching scene that players will struggle to sit through without shedding a tear.

It’s a truly poignant way to open and close the game, and just shows the importance of Mary to James and the plot as a whole. If the moviemakers wish to capture the essence of the game, it is imperative that this letter plays an equally important role. They should give viewers the first few lines at the beginning, and then more at the film’s conclusion.

7

First Monster Encounter

Introduces One Of The Many Creatures In Silent Hill

One of the earliest and most memorable scenes in Silent Hill 2 is when James encounters the first straitjacket monster in the town. In the original, he encounters it under a tunnel, and in the remake, it happens inside an abandoned house. Both games require the player to follow strange trails of a rust-colored substance that eventually leads them to the source, a terrifying monster that can spray this foul acidic liquid on the player if they aren’t careful.

This first encounter in the game is important as it serves as a combat tutorial while also introducing one of the main monsters, and it would be important for the movie to introduce horror in this way, as well as pay homage to one of the most memorable and terrifying moments from the game.

6

Angela On The Staircase

Her Arc Concludes In Shocking Fashion

Angela is another poor soul trapped in Silent Hill, supposedly in search of her mother, whom she believes may be in the town. James encounters her many times throughout the game, and it quickly becomes apparent she is very troubled, hiding many dark secrets in her past. Her arc culminates with a scene in Lakeview Hotel where she ascends a flaming staircase. According to her, it always looks like that to her. She departs from James filled with feelings of hopelessness, never to be seen again.

As such an important character in James’s journey, Angela needs a proper send off that is appropriate to her story and character, which is exactly what players got in the game. The creatives adapting the story might have their own plans for Angela, but this scene in the game works so well because it is truly tragic, and a shockingly honest admission that sometimes, not everyone can be saved. Perhaps the right person could have brought Angela some hope, but James is a realistic and flawed protagonist who is ultimately unable to save her.

5

Meeting Maria

This Key Character Cannot Be Forgotten

Maria is one of the most important characters in all of Silent Hill 2, a mysterious and seductive figure bearing a striking resemblance to James’ late wife, Mary. She is theorized to be a manifestation of James’s idealized version of Mary, which was given substance in her scenario Born From a Wish.

She accompanies James in many scenes throughout the game and is a fan-favorite character of the entire franchise. It is confirmed that Maria will appear in Return to Silent Hill, so it is a safe bet that her introductory scene will be adapted. Hopefully, the filmmakers can do this scene justice, as it sets up her character for the rest of the game, and gives a peek into her playful nature when she asks James if she looks like his girlfriend.

4

The Videotape

James Is Forced To Face The Truth

James allowed himself to believe in the fantasy that his beloved wife Mary had succumbed to a terminal disease, but the truth is laid bare to both him and the player towards the end of the game when he recovers a VHS tape in Lakeview Hotel. The tape shows the truth that he had buried, that he had killed Mary with his own hands, whether because the role of caretaker had taken too much of a toll, or to end her prolonged suffering.

It’s a shocking and tragic revelation that shakes James to his core, and leaves the player stunned. As it is such an important twist in the game, it should be properly portrayed in the movie in the same or similar manner, hopefully through the medium of a VHS recording.

3

Pyramid Head In The Apartment

This First Glimpse of the Main Antagonist Was an Important Scene

Pyramid Head has already featured in both Silent Hill movies in spite of his in-game lore, and he is definitely making his return in Return to Silent Hill, as he is James’s own personal monster, reflecting his desire to be punished for his sins. He appears many times throughout the game, right up until the final showdown before James must fight Mary/Maria. Players get their first glimpse of him in Wood Side Apartments, as Pyramid Head appears on the other side of a barred corridor.

This was such a simple yet effective scene of horror, as the player sees this silent, hulking creature that says nothing, and doesn’t even move, only for him to vanish from that spot if players leave the area. The fact that Pyramid Head is so still and silent really works with his otherworldly appearance and definitely should be paid homage to in the movie. Just one silent glimpse that both James and the audience see, before he disappears from view.

2

Maria’s Death In The Labyrinth

A Scene That Makes Her Prison Appearance Even More Surprising

The labyrinth is one of the creepiest and most daunting locations in all of Silent Hill 2 and proves to be a fatal location for Maria. When James and Maria enter the maze, Pyramid Head appears behind the duo. They are forced to flee quickly into an elevator at the end of the maze. James makes it to safety, but Maria dies just as she reaches the doors. Whether this death has any symbolism is up for debate, but it is a very real moment for James and the player.

As a near-constant presence for James and the player, Maria’s death and subsequent absence is deeply felt, making the loneliness even more oppressive. Though she returns in a scene shortly after with seemingly no memory of her demise, it is still a key scene that hints at Maria’s existence in the game, throwing further doubt on whether she is even real.

1

The Leave Ending

The Perfect Way To Close Out James’ Journey

There are many different ways that James’ journey can conclude, with the Leave ending being one of the most common, and perhaps the best. Everybody loves a good gag ending, especially the famous Dog ending that features in many discussions, but Leave really did feel like the true ending for James. By playing the game in certain ways, such as looking at Mary’s photograph, players will unlock this ending.

It sees James and Laura walking out of the town together as Mary’s letter is read over the scene. Combining it with the letter is a bittersweet ending, as James is now free of torment and guilt, but the letter is still so heartbreaking that audiences really emphasize with both of them. After experiencing a movie both sad and horrific, such an ending would be extremely cathartic and poignant.