The fog has descended on the latest cinematic entry in the Silent Hill franchise, but the reception is proving more chilling than the monsters on screen. Return to Silent Hill, which opened in US cinemas on 23 January 2026, is currently grappling with a combination of critical derision and a series of environmental setbacks that have stalled its commercial momentum.
Despite the return of Christophe Gans—director of the original 2006 cult hit—the new adaptation of Silent Hill 2 has been met with a wave of negative reviews. Critics have largely panned the film for its 'incoherent' narrative and 'janky' visual effects, resulting in a dismal 16% score on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic average of 33, making it one of the lowest-rated major releases of the past 12 months.
