'Silent, But Very Deadly!'

In the videogame-based horror flick 'Silent Hill,' Radha Mitchell plays a woman named Rose who travels to an abandoned town that has been appearing in her daughter's nightmares. Her husband (Sean Bean) begs her not to go, but Rose is unable to accept that her daughter is to spend her life in psychiatric care. The town is covered in fog, and every now and then, the creepy mist transforms everything it touches. Rose quickly realizes that her kid's dreams mean something and could be the key to the history of the haunting haze.

Chatting one-on-one with the Aussie-born actress at the movie's premiere, I first wondered if she had known about the videogame beforehand? Had she played it before she took the part? "I had no awareness of the videogame or the concept at all until I read the script. The first time I was reading the script I had to put it down because it was freaking me out. It was dark out and I was by myself. I picked it up the next day and finished it, and it haunted me. There were very detailed images in it. But that also was the thing that attracted me to it."

Why is it that horror films have come back in fashion in the past few years? "People want to feel their adrenaline pump. You go to the theater, get creeped out, and then it's over — you go back to your real life, where hopefully none of the creatures from Silent Hill are haunting you. I think it makes you feel a jolt of life by watching them."

Horror movies - good or bad - are usually frightening to watch, but is it that way whilst making them? "It isn't very scary on set, because a lot of the stuff is created in post [production]. And it feels a little ridiculous when people dressed in rubber are chasing after you. When I wasn't screaming for the camera I was actually laughing a lot, because it looked silly. Plus, there's no music, no loud bangs, no effects. But you have to get to a place where you really believe it, or you won't appear believable. You have to get into your mental state. I mined a few of my own fears: I am afraid of suffocation, really deep water, and deep-sea diving, and I'd think about those things to get in the moment."

How do you feel this horror flick differs from the hordes of others out there this year? "This film is directed by an artist [Frenchman Christophe Gans] who is very sophisticated, and therefore the story is sophisticated. It isn't just about cheap scares. These images will stick with you. They crept into my nightmares after shooting. It makes your skin crawl a little. Christophe was really passionate about the game and had a distinct vision for the film. He has a very existential French take on a horror film. I was impressed by that. It is a bigger idea than you have come to expect from this genre of material."

Your co-star, Jodelle Ferland, is only 11 years old, but she's already a horror veteran! On TV she's been in the 'Carrie' remake, Wes Craven's 'They,' and Stephen King's 'Kingdom Hospital.' Why do you think she's constantly cast in this genre? "Jodelle was a doll to work with — I'm not sure why she is always cast as this scary, creepy kid. I guess it's the dark hair and pale skin. But I think she looks like Elizabeth Taylor. Unless she has the scary makeup on — then she looks like Marilyn Manson. Even in the posters where she's missing a mouth, she does not freak me out — I think she's still cute. She was my favorite person to work with because she is so natural and sweet and has a good nature. She is always giggling. I really did feel like protecting her."