RETURN TO SILENT HILL (2026)

Genre: Horror/Mystery
Director: Christophe Gans
Cast: Jeremy Irvine, Hannah Emily Anderson, Evie Templeton, Robert Strange 
Runtime: 1 hr 46 mins
Rating: NC16 (Horror and Violence)
Released By: Shaw Organisation
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 29 January 2026

Synopsis: RETURN TO SILENT HILL brings the iconic horror franchise back to the big screen. When James receives a mysterious letter from his lost love Mary, he is drawn to Silent Hill—a once-familiar town now consumed by darkness. As he searches for her, James faces monstrous creatures and unravels a terrifying truth that will push him to the edge of his sanity. 

Movie Review:

Return to Silent Hill marks two things: first, another big-screen outing for the Silent Hill franchise and second, the return of director Christophe Gans, who makes a comeback after helming the first atmospheric Silent Hill back in 2006.

Based on Konami’s 2001 game Silent Hill 2, the story follows James Sunderland (Jeremy Irvine of War Horse), a depressed, alcoholic artist who returns to the town of Silent Hill after receiving a letter from his ex-girlfriend, Mary (Hannah Emily Anderson). What greets James is a deserted, desolate place where ash constantly falls from the sky instead of rain or snow. While searching for Mary, James encounters several suspicious-looking residents and yucks, monsters of all sorts as well.

Return to Silent Hill, in short, is a love story. Boy meets girl. Boy and girl have a misunderstanding. And boy and girl go through several grieving obstacles to meet again. There’s no doubt Gans is a big fan of the horror franchise, as he has been talking about Silent Hill since the beginning of time, so you can’t really blame the man for trying his best to adapt the gist of the original video game for the big screen.

But the result turns out to be a dreaded affair. Instead of an emotional love story that captures your attention right from the start, the romance between James and Mary feels like an emotionally empty vacuum, as the story constantly transcends between what’s real and what’s not. It’s also supposedly a psychological horror film, yet it’s never truly terrifying nor does it delve deep into the psychological side of things. With all the constant flashbacks, it’s no wonder James looks disheveled and confused all the time.

James’ encounters with the various bizarre Silent Hill residents such as Angela, Laura, and Eddie are meant to be figments of his imagination, perhaps manifestations of his baffled mind. A cult ritual is also introduced midway for no exceptional reason. Perhaps under more capable hands, these elements might have resonated better, rather than Gans presenting them as mere nonsensical exposition.

If you’re here for the visuals, we’re sorry to say they look terribly worse than the 2006 version. It’s obvious James is stuck in an empty greenlot most of the time, running through badly designed corridors. Despite being touted as practical effects and makeup, the creepy monsters like Pyramid Head, Armless, and Spider Lady seem lifted straight from early Konami video games instead. Flat and insipid.

Without any significant visuals to boast of or a worthwhile story to tell, there’s no point returning to Silent Hill after the dismal Silent Hill: Revelation 3D. While Gans’ passion is appreciated, this outing simply lacks the terror and emotion needed to bring audiences or fans of the game back.

Movie Rating:

(Lacking in both visuals and story, there’s no point making a return to Silent Hill)

Review by Linus Tee