IV:  THE EMPEROR

Visual Concept

The mist and darkness that blur the line between dream and reality

Mist and darkness have become symbols of the Silent Hill series.  It is not 
the case that these elements are present merely to frighten the player.  Mist 
and darkness obstruct the horizon by creating a condition in which visibility 
is limited.  In other words, the boundary between heaven and earth is 
obscured, which suggests a blurring of the line between dream and reality.

IMAGE:  Heather near Jack's Inn
The mist is a symbol of Silent Hill.  It can also be interpreted as the 
thoughts of the dead rising up from the lake and settling over the town.

Mist

IMAGE:  Harry stands by a chasm at the end of a street
In the first game, the production used hardware limitations to an advantage.

Darkness

IMAGE:  Brookhaven's basement
The darkness that deprives one of one's field of vision evokes an instinctual
terror.

SECTION TWO:  Noise and camerawork that represent mental distortion and blur

While on one hand elements such as mist and darkness are plainly visible,
when these elements are presented production design is included even in the 
technical effects.  For example, the noise that produces a sense of reality 
and atmosphere expresses the grittiness of the psychological aspect involved 
and heightens the intensity in accordance with the progression of the story.  
Additionally, if one pays attention to the camerawork, one might notice that 
the way it shifts to the protagonist's point of view at times expresses a 
sense of confusion and anxiety.

IMAGE:  Harry in the alleyway
In the first game, from the outset the camera position moves freely and 
draws in the player.

Noise

IMAGE:  Claudia swallows the fetus
The purpose of this effect is to eliminate any "CGishness," but it also 
manages to disturb the player's psyche. 

Framing

IMAGE:  James and Angela in the apartment building
A demo scene from Silent Hill 2 that makes use of a particularly slanted 
point of view.  It indicates the mental state of the characters that appear
in the scene. 




back