Silent Hill Film Opening Analysis

Full opening scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJspxq_btno

The opening scene starts off with a non-diegetic sound that is an acoustic guitar being played with the tremolo picking technique. As Silent Hill is based around a video game of the same name, this piece of music is associated with the series and provides some of the horror feel.

The sound then changes to being far more mechanical and having an eerie feel to it before the non-diegetic sound is replaced by Rose, the main character, screaming for her child.

The ellipses editing technique is used so you hear her calling for her child before you actually see her outside her house. 

The sound also emphasises the surroundings and makes the breathing seem louder that it actually is.

The use of camera angles shows the frantic worry of the characters looking for Sharon. This also allows for a good close up on he teddy bear Rose finds that obviously belongs to Sharon.





Many panning shots are used in the extract to show the surroundings, such as the forest that is a stereotypical setting for a horror film, even if it does not last for the entire duration of the film.



There is then another setting that is stereotypical to horror films, which is the graffiti ridden underpass with a busy main road above it.

An ariel shot shows a waterfall just outside the tunnel, connoting the danger of the area if the child is around there, with the possibility she fell down the waterfall.

The scene then cuts to show Sharon standing near the edge of the waterfall, with non-diegetic sound returning with background music that provides the feel of danger and mystery as well as the horror that is present elsewhere in the opening.

The camera pans to show Rose standing away from her. There is then a close up to show her face as she notices her and it shows her emotions of concerned and relieved that she found her daughter but she is standing over a waterfall.

The camera eventually goes to a close up of Sharon before travelling down the waterfall pit which has transformed into what appears to be a mine that is on fire and looks like hell itself.

The extract then goes on to Sharon being saved by her father and she starts screaming "Silent Hill!" which adds to the mystery of what happened in the opening and sets up the movie for what happens later in it.

The final scene is the Silent Hill title card.



Similar to Resident Evil, this opening is setting up the events of the film, hence why Sharon screams Silent Hill, which is the name of the town where a majority of the film is set. Once again, because my opening is supposed to be setting up events, this will be useful in terms of sound and explanation.