Nightmares of Blood and Flesh: Trauma and Resilience in Silent Hill

Nightmares of Blood and Flesh: Trauma and Resilience in Silent Hill by Anton Cancre

There is no hyperbole in saying that Silent Hill changed the landscape of survival horror games in the late 1990s. It didn’t do anything all that revolutionary in terms of gameplay, gore, or scares. It was the story and, more importantly, how that story was told. The use of the medium itself, bringing together tactile connection, player choice, visual metaphor, and impact of actions taken created something new and intense. The effect of Silent Hill on subsequent games cannot be understated.

This book is an in depth, highly personal analysis of how the plot, symbols, psychological manipulations, gameplay, and player choices create a story that delves into the long term effects of trauma and how it changes who a person is without ever feeling didactic or preachy. At the same time, it is a look at how this piece of art interacts with the experiencer and how that interaction profoundly changed at least one person. Or, it is just some obsessed dude raving about his favorite game. Whatever works better for you.

198 pages / paperback