Unlike most other survival horror franchises, the Silent Hill games keep fans coming back for more by investing in a certain feeling rather than familiar monsters and recurring characters. Yes, Pyramid Head and the nurses are some of the biggest icons in gaming, but it’s really the series’ unique blend of Nietzschean psychology and moody atmosphere that makes it stand out. That’s why it’s only natural that fans would also search for the same eerie vibes in other media.
And while I’ll admit that there’s nothing out there that feels exactly like the Silent Hill games (even the adaptations can’t quite replicate the surreal solitude of the source material), today I’d like to share a list attempting to answer one of the most common questions asked by new Silent Hill fans: are there any movies that feel like Silent Hill?
For the purposes of this list, we’ll be defining Silent-Hill-adjacent cinema as films which contain creepy atmosphere and dark psychological themes similar to Konami’s franchise. That being said, feel free to comment below with your own recommendations if you think we missed a particularly spooky film.
And while we’re here, I’d also like to give a shout out to a few relevant films that didn’t quite make the cut simply because most horror fans have probably already seen them: The Mist, Shutter Island, and Session 9!
With that out of the way, here are six atmospheric horror films for Silent Hill fans…
6. Citadel (2012)
Horror is usually associated with isolation, and I think that’s why it’s so hard to get urban horror right. I mean, how do you make someone feel alone when they’re surrounded by millions of people in a concrete jungle? Well, Ciarán Foy presented a clever solution to this problem in Citadel, a film about an agoraphobic father attempting to protect his infant child from feral teenage gangs that may or may not inhabit a local apartment complex.
It’s not a perfect movie, suffering from low production value and an obtuse script, but there’s enough doom and gloom here to keep Silent Hill fans satisfied – especially when you consider that the film’s condemned tower block feels a lot like a decrepit location from the games. Plus, the whole thing was based on a real encounter that the director had with deranged youths, which I think makes it even scarier.
5. Angel Heart (1989)
It may not have been a huge hit upon release, but the years have been kind to Alan Parker’s horror-noir feature Angel Heart. A loose yet loving adaptation of William Hjortsberg’s novel of the same name, this underrated gem follows a hardboiled detective (Mickey Rourke) during the late 1950s as he attempts to locate a missing singer, with this strange case ultimately revealing an occult conspiracy involving cults, voodoo and the devil himself.
This premise may not sound all that similar to a survival horror game, but Angel Heart’s gritty visuals and occult themes were actually a huge influence on the development of the otherworld in Silent Hill 3. It’s also one hell of a compelling mystery, which is why I couldn’t help but include it on the list.
4. Deathwatch (2002)
A psychological horror film about World-War I soldiers trapped in a never-ending trench that appear to be punishing them for their wartime sins, it’s easy to see why Deathwatch eventually landed MJ Bassett a gig as the director of Silent Hill: Revelations. However, while that official SH adaptation was ultimately sabotaged by studio meddling, Deathwatch remains Bassett’s scariest feature.
From homicidal barbed wire to the protagonists losing their mind as they realize the trench has a mind of its own, there’s plenty to like here if you’re a fan of mean-spirited horror stories that put their characters through nightmarish ordeals. After all, if war is hell, trench warfare must be the seventh circle.
3. Possum (2015)
I’ve already raved about Matthew Holness’ work on the criminally underseen horror-comedy show Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace, but even I was surprised when Holness’ indie horror flick Possum turned out to be a legitimately disturbing tale about confronting trauma. In fact, I’d argue that this is one of the scariest films on the list despite starting out as a low-stakes story about a puppeteer returning to his childhood home.
Not only is the film’s Norfolk setting surprisingly atmospheric, but the film also treats its dark subject matter with an admirable degree of respect – and that’s not even mentioning the iconic cursed puppet that earns the film its title. The deliberate pacing and unsettling story may not be for everyone, but this British gem will almost certainly appeal to fans of Silent Hill.
2. Lost Highway (1997)
My personal favorite David Lynch movie, Lost Highway combines nightmarish storytelling with noir sensibilities in a one-of-a-kind experience that you’ll either love or hate. Telling a surreal story about murder, marital spouts and VHS voyeurism, the film may not be easy to understand, but at least it’s never boring.
And though Lynch has been an obvious influence on the Silent Hill series since his early work, Lost Highway stands out by featuring an overarching plot that likely inspired much of Silent Hill 2.
However, even if you’re not a fan of surrealistic thrillers, you’ve got to admit that the Trent-Reznor-produced soundtrack still kicks all kinds of ass.
1. Jacob’s Ladder (1990)
Demonic entities, surreal otherworlds and a haunted protagonist who can’t quite get a grip on reality – Jacob’s Ladder doesn’t just feel like Silent Hill, it also happens to be one of the greatest inspirations for Konami’s long-running franchise. From the uncanny shaking of the monster heads to its depictions of urban decay, there are too many similarities here to count, and yet Adrian Lyne’s 1990 cult classic still manages to surprise viewers over three decades later.
Featuring a deeply compelling lead performance by Tim Robbins (as well as a surprisingly scary basis in real world conspiracy theories), I wouldn’t just recommend Jacob’s Ladder to Silent Hill fans, I’d recommend it to any cinephile willing to risk a dive into a terrifying waking dream.