FILMS

David Lynch 

David Lynch enjoys a reputation as a man of remarkable talent because of 
his sense for creative imagery.  What he portrays are always the "abnormal
characteristics that lie hidden in peaceful normality."  His nightmarish 
imagery and logic-defying story development always captivates ardent fans. 

From Creator:  Personally, I think Twin Peaks is the best thing he's ever
done.  Also, I experienced a culture shock from the beauty of the visuals
in Dune, which I saw when I was in junior high school.

-Masahiro Ito

Lost Highway 

A mystery that depicts psychological terror like a maze which the protagonist 
falls into after having lost consciousness from the shock of having seen a 
mysterious video tape. 

Data:  Available on DVD from Pioneer LDC for 3,800 yen (excluding tax)

Eraserhead 

The shocking feature film that Lynch debuted with, which depicts the figure 
of a man who enters a world of nightmares and insanity when his girlfriend 
gives birth to a deformed baby.

Blue Velvet 

A suspense film in which an ordinary young man becomes involved in affairs as 
a result of finding a human ear by chance.  The scene in which the protagonist 
hides in a closet is suggestive of Silent Hill 2.

Twin Peaks 

A twenty-nine episode tv drama that depicts the case of the murder of a 
female high school student that took place in an American country town.  
The story development, in which mysteries invite mysteries, has gained 
fervent popularity to the extent that it has become a social phenomenon.

Dune

A sci-fi action film that depicts a power struggle that unfolds on a desert
planet.  The film is unusual for the director David Lynch, and the viewer can 
experience spectacular visuals that make full use of the special effects.

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Stanley Kubrick 

The master filmmaker Kubrick is known as a perfectionist.  He has worked in 
a wide range of genres, but whichever it is, his works are always filled with 
an overwhelming feeling of tension and his imagery is full of philosophical 
suggestions.

From Creator:  Full Metal Jacket is an unparalleled depiction of sadistic 
human beings.

-Masahiro Ito

Full Metal Jacket 

A war film that depicts the Vietnam War.  Scenes of training go on and on 
during the first half, depicting the way human beings are transfigured into 
weapons.

Data:  Available on DVD from Warner Home Video for 2,500 yen (excluding tax)

Lolita

A controversial film that depicts the grief of a middle-aged man who suffers 
because of his forbidden love for a young girl and comes to bring ruin upon 
himself.  The car driving through the fog in the beginning is reminiscent 
of the opening from the first game.

A Clockwork Orange

A unique science fiction film set in a chaotic near future.  It depicts a 
juvenile delinquent who is devoted to being as bad as possible and gets 
arrested, and the way he is reformed as a result of experiments that are 
performed on him.

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Alejandro Jodorowsky

A Chilean visual artist who is said to be the father of the cult movie.
With unique depictions that are like experimental imagery, he portrays
violence and unearthly rituals, and throws the boundary between dream
and reality into disarray.

From Creator:  Although I can't recommend his films to people 
unconditionally, they are all strange works that leave behind a 
strong impression.

-Hiroyuki Owaku

El Topo 

A road movie with a western motif.  In this film, Zen ideology and freaks 
intermingle in bizarre events that take place in a desert.    

Data:  Available on DVD from SPO for 4,800 yen (excluding tax)

Holy Mountain

Guided by an alchemist, nine men and women head for a holy mountain that 
is home to wise men who are immortal and perpetually young.  There, a 
shocking conclusion awaits them.  Holy Mountain is said to be Jodorowsky's 
most esoteric work. 

Santa Sangre  

Developed with visuals that are uniquely beautiful, Santa Sangre is a story 
about a parent and child in a circus troupe who hurt each other.  The 
protagonist's mother, who is a devotee of a cult religion, was also a model 
for Claudia.

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Jacob's Ladder

A soldier who returns from the Vietnam War has horrifying hallucinations.
The film has many settings in common with Silent Hill, such as the hospital
and subway.

Data:  Available on DVD from Pioneer LDC for 4,700 yen (excluding tax)

From Creator:  I saw this movie when I was in high school and experienced 
terror psychologically for the first time.

-Masahiro Ito

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Betty Blue integral version

A controversial film that depicts the ultimate love of a man who devotedly 
supports his girlfriend who has gone insane and a woman who goes to ruin as 
a consequence of her passionate love.

From Creator:  Silent Hill 2 was influenced more than a little by this last
scene.  

-Hiroyuki Owaku

Data:  Available on DVD from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Japan for 
3,980 yen (excluding tax)

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Alice

Animated surrealist depiction of the strange Alice's Adventures in 
Wonderland from the extremely talented Czech director Jan Svankmajer.

From Creator:  Among other things, the "canned lightbulbs" from the second 
game were influenced by this work.

-Hiroyuki Owaku

Data:  Available on DVD from Columbia Video for 4,700 yen (excluding tax)

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The Exorcist III

The third movie in the series was personally directed as a legitimate 
sequel by William Peter Blatty, the original author of The Exorcist.

Data:  Available on DVD from Pony Canyon for 3,800 yen (excluding tax)

From Creator:  Various aspects of this movie such as imagery and direction 
have been referenced since the first game.

-Masahiro Ito

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Event Horizon

A spacecraft that vanished seven years ago appears again.  Members of a
rescue team board the ship and have hallucinations based on emotional
wounds from their pasts. 

Data:  Available on DVD from Paramount Home Entertainment Japan for 
4,700 yen (excluding tax)

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The Cell

Directed by Tarsem Singh, who originates from the music video world,
The Cell depicts the realm of the mind of a macabre killer with visuals 
that are vivid and beautiful.

Data:  Available on DVD from Pioneer LDC for 2,980 yen (excluding tax)

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Gokumontou 

Kon Ichikawa's fascinating version of Kosuke Kindaichi portrays vivid 
terror and deep characters.  The shots of crime scenes made up to look 
like Basho's haiku are shocking.

Data:  Available for rental from Toho Video

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Terry Gilliam

12 Monkeys

A feature-length science fiction film from Terry Gilliam, a director who
is known for his surrealist style.  In order to prevent a virus from 
causing the downfall of mankind, a convict is sent to the past world.

Data:  12 Monkeys (DTS Edition) is available on DVD from Shochiku Co., Ltd. 
(Inc.) for 4,700 yen (excluding tax)

From Creator:  As for the asymmetry between Vincent's left and right eyes, 
Brad Pitt is the hint.

-Shingo Yuri

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Chris Cunningham

The director Chris Cunningham, who is known for works such as Bjork's 
video "All is Full of Love," consistently treats the dissimilated human 
form as a motif.

Data:  Complete Volumen is available on DVD from Universal International
for 4,200 yen (excluding tax)

From Creator:  When I bought the Aphex Twin video, I was amazed at how 
good the visuals are.

-Masahiro Ito




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