Silent Hill: Revelation (2/12/2013)

Rated R for violence and disturbing images, some language and brief nudity.

Starring Adelaide Clemens, Sean Bean, Kit Harington, Carrie-Anne Moss and Malcolm McDowell

Directed by Michael J. Bassett

If you’ve played the Silent Hill video game, you might understand what’s happening on screen. If not, I guarantee that you won’t have a clue.

Here’s what I know. In this Silent Hill squeal, Heather Mason (Clemens) and her father (Bean) have been on the run, always one step ahead of dangerous forces that she doesn’t fully understand. On the eve of her 18th birthday, plagued by horrific nightmares and the disappearance of her father, Heather discovers she’s not who she thinks she is. The revelation leads her deeper into a demonic world that threatens to trap her forever.

In my opinion there are two kinds of scary movies…movies with scary stories and movies with scary images. Silent Hill: Revelation is all about the scary images. In fact at times it felt like the special effects were driving the picture. And in case you are wondering, these images are some of the most disturbing I have seen in a long time.

So besides the disturbing and frightening effects, this movie has bottom-of-the-barrel acting, an incoherent script and a total lack of direction. There are a few familiar faces, but there is no redeeming this one. And seriously what has happened to Carrie-Anne Moss’ career?

This horror movie is incredibly boring as well as totally baffling. If anyone can explain why this movie ends with a shot of speeding police cars, please let me know.

Let me just say one more thing. I feel bad for everyone who lives in West Virginia. Over the years West Virginians have hardly been portrayed positively on film. From banjo playing rednecks to deformed degenerates and now Satan worshiping weirdoes who built their temple/amusement park on an old Indian burial ground. Sorry West Virginians. And if it makes you feel a little better…I’m giving this one a “Coaster”!

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
No.

Other than the one scene with brief nudity, there is no sex in this movie. There are several F-words and S-words and the Violence & Gore are off the chart.

Here are just a few examples of some of the disturbing images you will see:

• A woman is seen burning and screaming in pain.
• A man is seen being stabbed in the back, then his arm and shoulder are sliced.
• In an illusion, people seem to be eating raw flesh with a lot of blood from hamburgers.
• We then see blood covered chefs cutting human meat, including a man hanging upside down and having his stomach being sliced vertically. His head is covered in a tightly shut plastic bag.
• During flashbacks we see a girl being burned and the aftermath.
• People are seen being turned into mannequins.
• A man bursts into flames and disintegrates.
• A man is stabbed in the eye and the knife is twisted to cause more pain.

1. Do you remember when Heather said, “If you love someone then you know you never give up on them”? What do you think she meant by that?


2. Read John 15:13
   
   There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
   
   Why was Heather willing to lay down her life for her father?


3. Who do you know who loves you like that?


4. Read Romans 5:8
   
   But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
   
   God sacrificed everything to love us, what can we do this week to show our love for Him?