Return to Silent Hill (2026) – A Return to Confusion and Disappointment

Before I share my thoughts on this movie, I need to tell you about my history with this franchise. Back in 2006, when the first Silent Hill movie came out, I watched it and had a very strong reaction: "From now on, no more horror movies." It's been almost 20 years, and I can't for sure remember all the details, but I remember thinking nothing in that movie made sense. I could not find any meaning in what happened or what was shown. It just felt like nonsense. That's how the first Silent Hill made me feel—so much that I mostly stayed away from horror for years.

Now, two decades later, here comes Return to Silent Hill (2026), and I decided to give the franchise another chance. Maybe things would be different? Maybe I'd finally understand the appeal? Unfortunately, I have to say it started nice but later fell into the same problems. Another disappointment.

The Plot: A Love Story Lost in Darkness

The setup is actually promising. James Sunderland (Jeremy Irvine) receives a mysterious letter from his lost love, Mary (Hannah Emily Anderson) . The letter calls him back to Silent Hill, a town they once knew—but it's now consumed by darkness. He goes searching for her, hoping to uncover the truth and maybe find her alive.

What follows is a journey through a nightmare. James faces monstrous creatures, some familiar to fans of the video game Silent Hill 2 (which this film loosely adapts). He unravels a terrifying truth that pushes him to the edge of sanity. Or at least, that's what the movie wants to happen.

My Take: A Decent Start, Then Lost Again

I have to admit, the movie started nicely. The love story setup gave it some emotional grounding. I cared, at least a little, about James searching for Mary. But as the film went on, it fell back into the same patterns that frustrated me with the first movie: scenes that don't make sense, creatures that feel random, and a general feeling of watching someone else's nightmare without any clear meaning.

There are some cheap scares—the kind that make you jump but leave you feeling nothing. The creatures look creepy, sure, but they don't seem to serve any purpose beyond "here's a monster, be scared." It's like we're watching a series of disturbing images rather than a coherent story with actual meaning.

I want to be fair: maybe there are themes and symbolism here that fans of the games appreciate. Maybe the nonsensical nature is intentional, reflecting the confusion of the protagonist. But for me, as someone who wants a story to make some kind of sense, it lost me again.

The Ratings: Critics and Audiences Agree—It's Bad

• IMDb: 4.1/10 (from 11,000 users)
• Rotten Tomatoes: 19% Critics / 30% Audience
• Budget/Box Office: $23 million budget, $42.7 million worldwide

The numbers tell a clear story: nobody liked this movie. A 19% critic score and 30% audience score is rare alignment—usually critics and audiences disagree, but here they both say the same thing: this isn't good.

But here's the strange part: the box office tells a different story. With a $23 million budget and $42.7 million worldwide, it's actually profitable. Nobody liked it, but many watched it. Maybe it's the franchise name. Maybe it's curiosity. Either way, it's proof that bad reviews don't always mean empty theaters.

A Quick Comparison: Other Horror Movies I've Loved

Here's what confuses me. In the last year, I've watched some new horror movies and genuinely loved them: Weapons, Nosferatu, Sinners. These films worked for me. They had atmosphere, meaning, and stories that made sense even when they were scary. So it's not that I've given up on horror entirely.

But Return to Silent Hill? It's just not for me. And honestly, if you're someone who watched this and loved it—or loved the first one—I'm genuinely curious: what made you like it? Let me know in the comments. I want to understand.

Final Verdict: Not for Me, Maybe Not for You Either

My rating is 5 out of 10. There are some little sparks here—moments where you see what the movie could have been. Some hints of deeper meaning. But the way the story and visuals present it, I got lost again. Maybe these kinds of movies just aren't for me. Or maybe this one just isn't good.

Recommendation: If you're a hardcore Silent Hill game fan, you might find things to appreciate. If you're a casual viewer looking for a coherent horror story, I'd skip it.

What did you think of Return to Silent Hill? Did it work for you? Help me understand what I'm missing—drop your thoughts in the comments!

And suggest a movie for my next review! I'm on a horror kick now after loving Nosferatu and Sinners—recommend me something truly great.

If you enjoyed this honest take, please share to support the blog. Thanks for reading—see you in the next one!

See also My full list of 2026 movie reviews →