In 2006, STARNO collaborated with the Montreal-based VFX studio Mokko to bring the haunting world of SILENT HILL to the big screen. Directed by Christophe Gans, this adaptation of the legendary Konami survival horror game required a very specific, oppressive visual language.
Our primary task was the creation of Digital Matte Paintings representing the massive, impassable cliffs that encircle the cursed town. These geographical barriers are crucial to the film's narrative, emphasizing the feeling of isolation and entrapment felt by the characters.
The technical challenge lay in the seamless integration of these jagged rock faces within the town's iconic "thick fog." We worked on several shots to ensure the cliffs looked imposing and eerie, maintaining a perfect balance between high-detail rock textures and the volumetric density of the ash-laden atmosphere. The result helped define the boundary between the real world and the nightmare of Silent Hill.
Based on the acclaimed video game series, SILENT HILL follows Rose Da Silva (Radha Mitchell) as she desperately searches for her adopted daughter, Sharon, within the confines of a desolate and fog-shrouded ghost town.
Rose soon discovers that the town is not merely abandoned; it is caught in a supernatural struggle and inhabited by terrifying creatures that emerge when the "Darkness" falls. Directed with a deep respect for the source material's aesthetics by Christophe Gans, the film is often praised for its stunning visual design and faithful recreation of the game's unsettling atmosphere.
STARNO TEAM:Frédéric St-Arnaud (Freelance Matte Painter)
Mokko Studio
FEATURE FILM – 2006