Return to Silent Hill 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		0.5
Overall		4.0

Return to Silent Hill 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Based on the fan-favorite Konami video game series, 'Return to Silent Hill' arrives on 4K UHD disc in this amazon-Exclusive SteelBook courtesy of Cineverse. Directed by Christophe Gans ('Brotherhood of the Wolf'), who directed the first 'Silent Hill' film in 2006, this second sequel, based on the second game in the franchise, stars Jeremey Irvine ('War Horse') and Hannah Emily Anderson ('X-Men: Dark Phoenix') alongside a host of disturbing practical creature effects. A small assortment of light on-disc supplemental features are accompany the feature film. A Blu-ray disc, an exclusive O- card, and a lenticular art card are also included, but a Digital Code is not. For a discussion of this new SteelBook, please scroll down to the "Special Features and Extras" section.

Return to Silent Hill 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

For a discussion of the film's 2160p presentation, please follow this link.

Return to Silent Hill 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

To read about the film's audio track, please follow this link.

Return to Silent Hill 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Return to Silent Hill: SteelBook 4K with Walmart-Exclusive O Card greets the purchaser with a dramatic image of the film's most dread monster, Pyramid Head on the front of the O -card. Opting for a red monochrome color scheme, it is quite eye-catching and telegraphs the character's danger well. The film's title, in a stylized red font sits just below his torso. Below his massive helmet are the words "YOU LIVE HERE NOW." (capitalization in original), again in red. The reverse, dominated by similar reds, features a typical film synopsis, data about the film, and a few stills. The spine of the O-card carries over the same monochrome red color scheme, with the title, the 4K logo, and Cineverse's logo in white. Removing the O-Card, we see the glossy cover of the SteelBook. Its grey-blue color scheme depicts the strange Laura holding her doll as ash all from the sky. Her face is shadowed, hiding some of her face. The film's title is found above her in a darker grey. Above that, again, are the words, "YOU LIVE HERE NOW." (capitalization in original). The SteelBook's spine is two shades of grey with the film's title in its traditional font in the center. The 4K logo is at the top, and Cineverse's at the bottom. The back cover features another shot from the film. Here we find James standing outside the "Heaven's night" club. The neon sign announcing its name has been given a metallic pink highlight and stands out dramatically from the brick building.

Opening the SteelBook, the tabs on the left hold a promotional slip for Screambox. On the right side, the 4K UHD disc and the Blu-ray disc are stagger- stacked, each on its own hub, with the 4K UHD disc on top. Removing all of the contents reveals two images; Pyramid Head on the left, and dirty windows lit with a red light on the right. of the forest in flames. It's a fitting overall design that conveys a few key characters and the atmosphere of the film. There are no embossed or debossed elements, and as the glossy finish shows fingerprints, all due care should be exercised when handling the SteelBook. Please note that this edition does not include the Pyramid Head lenticular art card found in the Amazon-Exclusive SteelBook 4K.

Return to Silent Hill 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Fueled by regret and remorse, James scours an underworld of his own design, searching for Mary and a second chance. Using a mix of lighting and sound cues in conjunction with walking down stairs, negotiating a maze, and a precipitous descent in an elevator, James presses symbolically ever deeper into the netherworld in his quest. The nightmarish world that Christophe Gans brings to the screen is visually arresting, and the creatures created by Patrick Tatopoulos, such as Pyramid Head and the Nurses, are the film's most effective horror-inducing asset, working to build a robustly unsettling atmosphere. Will the song of James and Mary end differently this time around? You'll have to return to Silent Hill to know for sure. With its more dramatic outer packaging, the Return to Silent Hill: SteelBook 4K with Walmart-Exclusive O Card is my preferred alternate edition, even though it lacks the lenticular art card found in the Amazon edition, and it comes recommended to fans of the franchise (either the games or the films) or of practical creature effects. To all other potential visitors, while not directly linked to the prior films, starting with 2006 film may be helpful before taking the return trip.