The best death animations in Silent Hill Games

Important takeaways

• Deaths in
  Silent Hill
  Gameplay can vary based on items obtained, puzzles solved, and QTEs, providing unique challenges for players.
• Some death animations, like the tip of Maria by Pyramid Head, are canon within the game's story.
• Some enemies in
  Silent Hill
  games, like Schisms, have specific ways to kill the protagonist, requiring careful avoidance or quick action.

Whether strangled by Pyramid Head or split in half by a schism, there are seemingly endless ways to die in Silent Hill franchise. While some of the older Silent Hill titles aren't very inventive with their death animations (James falls to his knees in Silent Hill 2 getting old), there's a lot to be said for some of the creative ways characters can go down, especially in some of the more recent series entries.

While some deaths occur due to poor health in combat scenarios, others play out depending on whether the character obtains or uses certain items, fails to solve puzzles, or doesn't hit QTEs in time. Each monster attacks differently, so they have their own ways of hurting – and even killing – the protagonist if players aren't careful. Here are the best death animations of all Silent Hill game.

Spoilers ahead

9 Pyramid Head impales Maria with a spear (Silent Hill 2)

James can do nothing to prevent Maria's cruel fate

IN Silent Hill 2 and its remakeit is not possible to save Maria from Pyramid Head and all of her deaths are inevitable except for the last one, which is determined based on the player's actions throughout the game. To end “Maria”, where Maria survives and leaves Silent Hill with James, the requirements are essentially to stick by Maria's side, make sure she isn't harassed by monsters, and refuse to read any of Mary's letters or investigate Angela's knife.

Basically, James needs to make it look like he's invested in Maria and cares about her well-being. As James and Maria run from Pyramid Head in the hospital, Maria is impaled by Pyramid Head's Great Knife just before entering the elevator to salvation. Maria's death is a canon event here, so it doesn't matter how fast James runs.

8 Lisa Attacks The Player (PT)

Certain prompts allow Lisa to get the drop on the player

In the demo for Silent Hillsa project that unfortunately never saw the light of day, the player can be attacked by a ghost named Lisa. Although it is possible to avoid Lisa altogether PTthere are scripted segments where she can kill the main character and restore the corridor loop.

For example, when examining the radio on the dresser near the photograph, if the radio broadcast says “look behind you” and the player does, Lisa will spawn and incapacitate them. When Lisa appears in front of the protagonist, she lifts them off the ground and snaps their necks. When this happens, they respawn in the starting room and the loop starts over.

7 Sakura Head drives her arm through Anita's throat (Silent Hill: The Short Message)

There is no way to fight back against Sakura Head

IN Silent Hill: The Short MessageAnita struggles to avoid a monster covered in cherry blossoms (officially called “Sakura Head” by Silent Hill community) in an abandoned complex, which turns out to be a popular suicide site for teenage girls. Whenever it appears, Sakura Head will relentlessly chase Anita with violent jerks and twisting movements, and will have sudden bursts of speed to pursue her.

Unable to fight back against Sakura Head, Anita must instead escape the labyrinthine structure in which it spawns. If Sakura Head catches Anita, it will drive its entire arm through her throat, the same way the Wendigo kills Samantha Giddings in Until Dawn.

6 The Schism brutally cuts Alex Shepherd in half (Silent Hill: Homecoming)

Failure to break free from the schism's grip has dire consequences

Exclusively for Silent Hill: Homecoming and Silent Hill: Book of MemoriesSchisms are lanky humanoid creatures with an elongated head that resembles a cross between a hammerhead shark and a pendulum. Like Lickers in Resident Evil franchise, schisms are completely blind and rely on their other senses to find their prey.

They cannot detect Alex if he moves quietly and keeps his flashlight off. But if the schism grabs Alex and he fails to release himself, it will use its razor-sharp head to split him in half. Alex is able to avoid this grisly fate but snaps when the call arises.

5 Harry meets the bloodsucker who lives in the fridge (Silent Hill)

Harry must take preventive measures to keep the bloodsucker trapped

Unlike many of the enemies in the Silent HillHarry can't kill the bloodsucker. It appears in room 204 of the hospital, then again in Nowhere. At first, Alex is able to distract the Bloodsucker using a blood pack found in the pantry, but when the creature reappears in the kitchen of Nowhere, Harry must ensure that it remains trapped in the fridge to avoid an untimely death.

Harry can use the contract ring to reinforce the chain around the fridge and keep the bloodsucker contained. If he fails to do this, the Bloodsucker will appear from inside the fridge, ensnare Harry and drag him inside.

4 Murphy is sucked into a rotating fan (Silent Hill: Downpour)

It would make sense to turn off the fans first

As Murphy Pendleton navigates a large ventilation system Silent Hill: Downpourmay he encounter some environmental hazards, namely some large rotating fans. Murphy must find ways to turn off the fans to proceed safely, but if he tries to pass them without turning them off, he will be sucked into the giant blades and blended like a smoothie.

It is one of the more brutal deaths to come from Silent Hillwho seem to have a particular interest in exploiting spinning blades in a variety of gruesome ways. There's another segment where Harry slides down a chute and has to maneuver himself to avoid – of course – more spinning blades.

3 A sea monster drowns Heather Mason (Silent Hill 3)

Electrocuting the beast with a hair dryer is the only way

Heather Mason can be dragged to a watery grave by an unidentified sea monster in the Silent Hill 3. She is able to learn about the creature through a note left by a sewer worker, expressing concern that an “alligator” is lurking beneath the underground structure.

In order to safely exit the underpass, Heather must find a hair dryer before attempting to cross the bridge that the monster lives under. If Heather finds it, she can electrocute the creature and pass unharmed. If Heather fails to grab the hair dryer before continuing, the sea monster will hook her leg with its tentacle and pull her under, drowning her.

2 Alex Shepherd Loses An Arm (Silent Hill: Homecoming)

Failed QTEs will leave Alex armless

Most of the gruesome deaths seem to appear in Silent Hill: Homecoming. As if it wasn't bad enough that Alex is split in two, he can also have his arm cut off. Poor Alex just can't catch a break.

In room 203 of the operating room, Alex finds a wall with a large hole in it from which blood is continuously seeping. Alex must reach inside to grab the Robbie toy, but if the player fails to complete the QTE sequence, Alex will have his arm ripped off by whatever monstrosity lives inside the bleeding wall. The Robbie toy can be used to unlock the gate to another corridor, at the end of which Alex finds an elevator.

1 Heather Mason collapses in the mirror room (Silent Hill 3)

Perfect timing ensures Heather escapes the mirror room

The Mirror Room is one of the most iconic locations from Silent Hill 3. As Heather enters the mirror room, a stretcher in the corner of the room begins to leak blood, reaching across the floor with spider-like tendrils. If Heather tries to leave, the door will lock, forcing her to stay in the company of her own reflection for a while.

As the bleeding intensifies, the room darkens. To escape the room, timing is key, as when Heather's reflection stops moving, she can dash back to the door and try again. This time it will open. But if Heather stays in the Mirror Room too long, she will collapse and die.