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Pyramid Head
'Silent Hill' character
A screenshot of a painting found in a video game; a pale-skinned, spear-wielding and muscular monster with a red triangular helmet covering his face stands in the center, surrounded by several caged humanoids.
Pyramid Head as he appears in Silent Hill 2
First gameSilent Hill 2

Pyramid Head, also known as Red Pyramid Thing[1] or "Triangle Head" (三角頭, Sankaku Atama) in Japan,[2] is a monster from the survival horror Silent Hill video game series, published by Konami. Introduced in the 2001 installment Silent Hill 2, he stalks the primary player character James Sunderland, who comes to the town of Silent Hill after receiving a letter from his deceased wife. The Silent Hill series, particularly the second installment, frequently makes use of psychology and symbolism: Pyramid Head represents James' wish to be punished for his "sins". Masahiro Ito, the designer of Silent Hill 2's monsters, created him with the goal of having "a monster with a hidden face".[3] Known for his large triangular head, Pyramid Head lacks a voice and reasons for his actions.[4]

He has since appeared in the 2006 film Silent Hill as "Red Pyramid", in the 2007 first-person shooter Silent Hill: The Arcade as a boss (a computer-controlled opponent), and in the sixth installment of the series, Silent Hill Homecoming, as the "Bogeyman". He has also made an appearance outside of the Silent Hill series as a selectable character in the 2008 Nintendo DS video game New International Track & Field. Positively received in Silent Hill 2 for his role as an element of James' psyche, he has been cited by reviewers as an iconic villain of the series and part of Silent Hill 2's appeal.

Design and characteristics

Of the creatures that appear in Silent Hill 2, only Pyramid Head features an "overly masculine" appearance.[4] He resembles a pale, muscular man covered with a white, blood-soaked robe reminiscent of a butcher's smock. He does not speak, but grunts and moans painfully.[4] His most outstanding feature is his large red, triangular head[3]—which is often misinterpreted as a helmet.[4][5] Masahiro Ito, the designer of Silent Hill 2's monsters, wanted to create "a monster with a hidden face", but became unhappy with his designs, which resembled humans wearing masks; he then drew a monster with a pyramid-shaped head.[3] According to Ito, the possibility of pain is suggested, because of the triangle's sharp right and acute angles.[3] At times, it appears that Pyramid Head is in pain.[4] His weapons consist of the deadly and heavy Great Knife,[6] which the player can find and use for the rest of the game,[7] and later, a spear.[5]

According to Konami's Lost Memories, his appearance was a variation of the outfits of the executioners from the fictional history of the town. They wore red hoods and ceremonial robes to make themselves similar to Valtiel,[8] a monster who appears in Silent Hill 3.[9] Like Valtiel, he dresses in gloves and stitched cloth and pursues the game's main protagonist.[8] Pyramid Head's appearance as an executioner stems from a picture that Silent Hill 2's protagonist James Sunderland saw while visiting the town with his wife;[10] Pyramid Head appears as a "distorted memory of the executioners" and the town's past as a place of execution, according to Takayoshi Sato.[11] Christophe Gans, the director of the film adaptation Silent Hill, suggests that he "was one of the executioners in the original history of the town" and "there is not one particular or exclusive manifestation of him as an entity."[12]

Appearances

Silent Hill 2

After receiving a letter from his deceased wife, Mary, and arriving in the foggy town of Silent Hill to search for her, the protagonist and primary player character James Sunderland encounters Pyramid Head several times over the course of the game. He first appears from behind a gate and makes no attempt to attack James. Later in an apartment, James walks in on Pyramid Head's rape and murder of two Mannequins — creatures made of two sets of hips and legs. Terrified and panicked, James hides in a closet and shoots Pyramid Head with a handgun several times, which causes him to leave. James witnesses Pyramid Head's rape and murder of another creature when near a flooded stairway and Pyramid Head attempts to kill him. After a few minutes, sirens sound in the distance and Pyramid Head descends the stairway, removing the water.

James does not meet him again until in Brookhaven Hospital, where Pyramid Head knocks him through a safety railing and he falls, sustaining injuries. Pyramid Head does not pursue or continue the attack. Later, he stalks Maria, James' companion who closely resembles his wife, through a lengthy corridor. As James flees into an elevator, the doors shut before she can join him. He struggles to open the doors to save her, but Pyramid Head kills her. However, in the labyrinth beneath Toluca Prison, James finds her alive and unharmed in a locked cell. Before trying to seduce him, she reminisces about a trip that only he and Mary took to a hotel in Silent Hill. He leaves, promising to find a way to her, and discovers that Pyramid Head walks a corridor nearby, now carrying a spear. James reaches Maria's side of the cell afterwards, but finds her dead. Pyramid Head makes his final appearance just before the final boss, where two Pyramid Heads take part in the encounter. They kill Maria yet again and after pursuing him around the room for a while, both commit suicide.

Film

Pyramid Head makes an appearance in the 2006 film adaptation of Silent Hill as "Red Pyramid" and is portrayed by Roberto Campanella. In the film, the perspective of the female characters shaped the character's physical appearance.[12] Replicating the character's head exactly and having the actor move with it on proved to be impractical; Gans noted that despite the name, Pyramid Head actually wore "a basin" instead of a triangle-shaped head.[2] Red Pyramid's sword and head were constructed out of lightweight material painted to appear heavy.[13] For the role, Campanella wore a "five-part prosthetic"; it took two-and-a-half to three hours to get him into costume and make-up.[13] His boots had a hidden 15-inch (38 cm) sole which made him just under 7 feet (2.1 m) tall.[13] Patrick Tatopoulos, who worked on the make-up effects and monsters, enjoyed the project of designing the character. According to him, Red Pyramid serves as a symbol of the town's darkness and harbinger of its alternate dimension.[14] Gans considered the monsters of the film "a mockery of human beings", and commented: "The real monsters are the people, the cultists who tortured Alessa. When I approached the film, I knew that it was impossible to represent the monsters as simply beasts that jump on you."[15]

Silent Hill Homecoming

PlayStation: The Official Magazine revealed that the "famous Pyramid Head makes a significant appearance in Silent Hill Homecoming, but his role is limited to non-interactive scenes."[16] The "Bogeyman", as he is referred to in the game, appears only twice to the game's main protagonist Alex Shepherd; once in the Grand Hotel in Silent Hill and much later in a church where he executes Alex's father by splitting him in half.[17][18] His last appearance is in a possible ending to the game: Alex wakes up in a wheelchair as two Pyramid Heads appear, each with part of a helmet, which they use to turn Alex into one of them. After this ending is played, the player obtains the Bogeyman's costume for Alex to wear.[19] Mindful of Pyramid Head's role in Silent Hill 2, the developers chose to include him as "the embodiment of a myth [that] parents started to keep the children out of trouble" and "the accretion of the activities going on in the town of Shepherd’s Glen."[20]

Other

Pyramid Head appears in the 2007 first-person shooter Silent Hill: The Arcade as a boss,[21] and as a super-deformed selectable character in the 2008 Nintendo DS title New International Track & Field, an installment of the Track & Field series.[22] He also made a cameo appearance in the 2008 Silent Hill comic book Sinner's Reward, published by IDW Publishing. The writer, Tom Waltz, later said he regretted the cameo, which only functioned as fan service.[23] To him, Pyramid Head is a psychological construct created for James; however, he stated that: "At the same time, I don't think that ruined the comic. Some people really liked it. To some people, Pyramid Head should be in all the stories because they do like him."[23] Additionally, the character was portrayed in the 2009 Silent Hill-themed haunted attraction in Orange County, California, United States, from October 2 to 31.[24]

Analysis

"I was weak. That's why I needed you... Needed someone to punish me for my sins..."

—James Sunderland, Silent Hill 2

The Silent Hill series uses symbolism and psychology; the town of Silent Hill draws upon the psyche of its visitors, ultimately creating an alternate dimension that varies from person to person.[25] Specifically, in the case of Silent Hill 2's primary player character James Sunderland, the version of the town he explores is influenced by him—many of the monsters that roam the town either symbolize his guilt, wish for punishment, or sexual repression during his wife's three-year-long illness[25]—and ceases to exist after he comes to terms with the fact that he killed his wife, Mary, partially to end her suffering and partially out of resentment and frustration.[25][26] James knew she had a terminal illness,[27] which has been speculated to be cancer,[28] and often read medical textbooks, searching for something to help her.[29] During her last days alive, she became physically repulsive as a result of the illness and treated James abusively, ordering him to leave one moment and begging him to comfort her the next.[30] The knowledge of her terminal illness caused her to become angry and hurt her loved ones, particularly James, and it pained him to visit her in the hospital.[31] Manifesting as "James' anger and guilt",[5] Pyramid Head functions as an executioner of Maria, who strongly resembles Mary and later is revealed to be a delusion of James',[32] and his constant tormentor.[5] Through her repeated deaths, Pyramid Head reminds James of Mary's death and causes him to experience guilt and suffering.[10][33] Pyramid Head acts as "judgment personified, a sexually dark butcher", and "James' masochistic delusion" which punishes him for his sins.[28]

Reception and legacy

Critical reaction to Pyramid Head has been favorable for his creepy appearance and role as an element of James' psyche. Critics cite him as an iconic villain of the Silent Hill series,[34][35][36][37] a favorite among fans,[34] and part of the appeal of Silent Hill 2.[34][38][39] GameSpot compared Pyramid Head's appearance to Texas Chainsaw Massacre's Leatherface and found him the most terrifying monster in Silent Hill 2.[40] Computerworld named Pyramid Head as one of the most terrifying villains in computer and video games.[5] GamesRadar listed him as one of the twenty-five best new characters of the decade and ranked him second on its list of the scariest video game villains, calling him the "most horrifying character ever to have a cult following".[34][41] The Escapist described him as "one of gaming's most memorable recent antagonists".[4] The scene in which he rapes another monster was noted to be unsettling, since the subject of rape is not often tackled in video games.[42] GamesRadar disliked the final battle with him because of how anti-climactic it was compared to his role throughout the rest of the game.[7] His appearances outside Silent Hill 2 have received mixed critical reaction. Critics generally agreed that Pyramid Head's appearance in Homecoming was more of fan service, though Game Revolution called it "damned effectively-employed".[43][44][45] Film critics commented on his role in the film adaption, with several finding him disturbing.[46][47] A reviewer for DVD Reviews praised Campanella's portrayal of Pyramid Head and another monster, writing: "These are without a doubt some of the most striking bogeymen that I have seen on screen in a long time."[48] His appearance in New International Track & Field received mixed critical reaction. GameDaily disliked it, finding it awkward that a character like Pyramid Head was competing in sporting events with characters like Frogger and Sparkster,[22] while a critic for The Escapist called it enjoyable and "hilarious".[49] The 2007 Silent Hill: Origins also included a similar monster named "The Butcher",[50][51] whom the protagonist occasionally encounters killing other monsters.[52]

Further reading

  • Alexander, Leigh (2007-07-19). "Column: The Aberrant Gamer - 'Sundering the Mind'". GameSetWatch.
  • Rusch, Doris C. (2009-03-10). "Staring Into The Abyss – A Close Reading of Silent Hill 2". Well Played 1.0: Video Games, Value and Meaning. ETC-Press.

References

General

Specific

  1. ^ "Silent Hill 2 Creature Commentary". Silent Hill 3 公式完全攻略ガイド/失われた記憶 サイレントヒル・クロニクル (in Japanese and translation). Japan: NTT Publishing Co., Ltd. 2003-07-31. p. 49. ISBN 4-7571-8145-0. {{cite book}}: External link in |language= (help); Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link) CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  2. ^ a b Gans, Christophe (2006-03-15). "On Adapting Silent Hill Lore, The Red Pyramid, and Using "Centralia" as a Temp Film Title". Sony Pictures Digital Inc. Retrieved 2010-03-14.
  3. ^ a b c d Konami Corporation. The Making of Silent Hill 2 DVD. Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo, Inc, 2002.
  4. ^ a b c d e f González, Christina (2007-08-28). "The Escapist: Seeing Red: The Repulsive Allure of Pyramid Head". The Escapist. Themis Group. p. 1. Retrieved 2010-08-04.
  5. ^ a b c d e Gagne, Ken (2008-09-16). "You can run, but you'll only die tired: Gaming's 'baddest' villains". Computerworld. Computerworld Inc. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  6. ^ Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo, Inc (2001-09-21). Silent Hill 2 (PlayStation 2). Konami of America, Inc. On-screen text: Massive weapon wielded by Pyramid Head. Hard to use, but lethal.
  7. ^ a b "The 7 least-scary moments in scary games". GamesRadar. Future US, Inc. Retrieved 2010-01-05.
  8. ^ a b "I: The Magician - Valtiel". Silent Hill 3 公式完全攻略ガイド/失われた記憶 サイレントヒル・クロニクル (in Japanese and translation). Japan: NTT Publishing. 2003-07-31. p. 85. ISBN 4-7571-8145-0. {{cite book}}: External link in |language= (help); Text "NTT Publishing Co., Ltd" ignored (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link) CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  9. ^ "Silent Hill 3 Guide/Walkthrough – Enemies". IGN.com. IGN Entertainment, Inc. Retrieved 2010-08-05.
  10. ^ a b "XX: Judgement - Red Pyramid Thing". Silent Hill 3 公式完全攻略ガイド/失われた記憶 サイレントヒル・クロニクル (in Japanese and translation). Japan: NTT Publishing. 2003-07-31. p. 110. ISBN 4-7571-8145-0. {{cite book}}: External link in |language= (help); Text "NTT Publishing Co., Ltd" ignored (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link) CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  11. ^ Dieubussy (2009-05-15). "Interview with Takayoshi Sato: Seizing New Creations". Core Gamers. CoreGamer. Archived from the original on 2011-01-06. Retrieved 2011-01-06.
  12. ^ a b Gans, Christophe (2006-04-06). "Silent Hill: On The Red Pyramid, Carol Spier as Production Designer, and Exploring Society in Horror Films". Sony Pictures Digital Inc. Retrieved 2010-03-14.
  13. ^ a b c Making Silent Hill – Path of Darkness. TriStar Pictures, Inc. 2006.
  14. ^ Carroll, Larry (2006-04-17). "No Green Screen Here — 'Silent Hill' Baddies Report To Set". MTV. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2010-08-28.
  15. ^ Bettenhausen, Shane (2006-02-23). "Silent Hill Movie Interview: The Director's Cut". 1UP.com. News Corporation. Retrieved 2011-07-22.
  16. ^ Rybicki, Joe (December 2008). "Review of Silent Hill: Homecoming". PlayStation: The Official Magazine (13). Future US, Inc: 64.
  17. ^ "Silent Hill Homecoming Guide/ Walkthrough". IGN.com. IGN Entertainment, Inc. p. 9. Retrieved 2010-08-04.
  18. ^ "Silent Hill Homecoming Guide/ Walkthrough". IGN.com. IGN Entertainment, Inc. p. 29. Retrieved 2010-08-04.
  19. ^ "Silent Hill Homecoming Guide/ Walkthrough". IGN.com. IGN Entertainment, Inc. p. 10. Retrieved 2010-08-04.
  20. ^ Klepek, Patrick (2008-11-11). "Double Helix Reflects On The Good, Bad And Scary Of Making 'Silent Hill: Homecoming'". MTV. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2010-08-24.
  21. ^ Epperson, Justin (2007-02-17). "Previews: Silent Hill: Arcade". 1UP.com. News Corporation. Retrieved 2007-08-22.
  22. ^ a b Workman, Robert (2009-01-27). "Bad Career Move: Video Game Characters' Worst Moments". GameDaily. AOL Inc. Retrieved 2010-03-14.
  23. ^ a b North, Dale (2010-07-28). "Interview: Tom Waltz: From comics to Silent Hill 8". Destructoid. modernmethod. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
  24. ^ Cavalli, Ernest (2009-09-22). "The Escapist: News: Pyramid Head Gets Real In Silent Hill Haunted Maze". The Escapist. Themis Group. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
  25. ^ a b c "XXI: The World". The Book of Lost Memories (in Japanese). Japan: NTT Publishing Co., Ltd. 2003. p. 111. ISBN 4757181450.
  26. ^ Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo, Inc (2001-09-21). Silent Hill 2 (PlayStation 2). Konami of America, Inc. James: Forgive me... / Mary: I told you that I wanted to die, James. I wanted the pain to end. / James: That's why I did it, honey. I just couldn't watch you suffer. No! That's not true... You also said that you didn't want to die. The truth is I hated you. I wanted you out of the way. I wanted my life back.... / Mary: James... if that were true, then why do you look so sad?
  27. ^ Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo, Inc (2001-09-21). Silent Hill 2 (PlayStation 2). Konami of America, Inc. James: Mary's going to die...? You... you must be joking! / Doctor: I'm very sorry. [...] As her doctor, I promise that I'll do what I can. But... there's still no an effective treatment for her condition. / James: How long does she have? / Doctor: I'm afraid I'm not sure. 3 years at most... Perhaps 6 months...
  28. ^ a b González, Christina (2007-08-28). "The Escapist: Seeing Red: The Repulsive Allure of Pyramid Head". The Escapist. Themis Group. p. 2. Retrieved 2010-08-04.
  29. ^ Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo, Inc (2001-09-21). Silent Hill 2 (PlayStation 2). Konami of America, Inc. James: I've already read enough medical books. None of them ever did any good.
  30. ^ Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo, Inc (2001-09-21). Silent Hill 2 (PlayStation 2). Konami of America, Inc. Mary: Between the disease and the drugs, I look like a monster. Well what are you looking at? Get the hell out of here. Leave me alone already! [...] Are you still here? I told you to go! Are you deaf?! Don't come back! James... Wait... Please, don't go... Stay with me. Don't leave me alone. I didn't mean what I said. Please, James... Tell me I'll be okay. Tell me I'm not going to die. Help me...
  31. ^ Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo, Inc (2001-09-21). Silent Hill 2 (PlayStation 2). Konami of America, Inc. Mary's letter: Whenever you come see me, I can tell how hard it is on you...I don't know if you hate me or pity me... Or maybe I just disgust you... I'm sorry about that. When I first learned that I was going to die, I just didn't want to accept it. I was so angry all the time and I struck out at everyone I loved most. Especially you, James.
  32. ^ "Silent Hill 2 Character Analysis". The Book of Lost Memories (in Japanese). Japan: NTT Publishing Co., Ltd. 2003. pp. 46–47. ISBN 4757181450.
  33. ^ Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo, Inc (2001-09-21). Silent Hill 2 (PlayStation 2). Konami of America, Inc. James: Maria's dead. I couldn't protect her. Once again, I couldn't do anything to help. [...] Mary... What... What should I do? Are you... really waiting somewhere for me? Or is this your way of taking...
  34. ^ a b c d "The scariest villains ever". GamesRadar. Future US, Inc. 2008-06-16. Retrieved 2009-01-05.
  35. ^ IGN staff (2009-10-14). "Cheers & Tears: Horror Games". IGN.com. IGN Entertainment, Inc. Retrieved 2010-09-22. Besides, Silent Hill 2 provided the series with its iconic villain, Pyramid Head, a figure designed to haunt both monsters and characters alike.
  36. ^ Concelmo, Chad (2009-12-04). "Top 50 Videogames of the Decade (#20–11)". Destructoid. modernmethod. Retrieved 2010-09-22. ...Silent Hill 2 is most memorable for its introduction of iconic videogame character Pyramid Head.
  37. ^ Xu, Samantha (2009-06-21). "The Escapist: Love Triangle". The Escapist. Themis Group. p. 3. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
  38. ^ GamePro staff (2009-09-09). "The 40 Best PS2 Games: 2009 Edition". GamePro. GamePro Media, Inc. p. 2. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
  39. ^ IGN staff (2009-08-10). "The Top 25 PS2 Games of All Time". IGN.com. IGN Entertainment, Inc. p. 2. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
  40. ^ Dulin, Ron (December 4, 2002). "PC - Silent Hill 2: Director's Cut - Reviews". GameSpot. CBS Interactive Inc. Retrieved 2007-01-21.
  41. ^ "The 25 best new characters of the decade". GamesRadar. Future US, Inc. 2009-12-29. Retrieved 2010-01-04.
  42. ^ GamesRadar staff. "The 10 most shocking game moments of the decade". GamesRadar. Future US, Inc. Retrieved 2010-03-15. The emotionally-loaded subject of rape has never really been dealt with in games before or since Konami's survival horror....Still, even though it's a hugely disquieting moment, there's no question it further adds to Pyramid Head's mystique as one of the most terrifying video game villains ever.
  43. ^ Hudak, Chris (2008-10-03). "Silent Hill: Homecoming - PS3 Review". Game Revolution. AtomicOnline, LLC. Retrieved 2010-04-17. ...even Pyramid Head's appearances feel more like fan service (albeit damned effectively-employed fan service).
  44. ^ Croshaw, Ben (2008-10-22). "The Escapist : Zero Punctuation: Silent Hill Homecoming". The Escapist. Themis Group. Retrieved 2010-08-09. Pyramid Head also makes his contractual appearance for no better reason than fan service.
  45. ^ Haynes, Jeff (2008-09-30). "Silent Hill: Homecoming Review". IGN.com. IGN Entertainment, Inc. Retrieved 2010-08-09. ...even the few sequences where Pyramid Head pops up are more like brief guest appearances for fans, although he does have a great scene towards the end of the game.
  46. ^ Harvey, Dennis (2006-04-21). "Silent Hill - Film Reviews". Variety. Reed Elsevier Inc. Retrieved 2011-07-22. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  47. ^ Lemire, Christy (2006-04-21). "'Silent Hill' starts creepy but quickly turns silly". Associated Press. Retrieved 2011-07-22.
  48. ^ "DVD Review - Silent Hill". DVD Review. 2006-08-21. Retrieved 2011-07-22.
  49. ^ Stoklasa, Thaddeus (2008-08-14). "The Escapist: Review: New International Track and Field". The Escapist. Themis Group. Retrieved 2010-08-30.
  50. ^ Rice, Brad (2007-11-18). "Silent Hill Origins". Destructoid. modernmethod. Retrieved 2010-12-11.
  51. ^ Croshaw, Ben (2008-01-09). "Silent Hill Origins". The Escapist. Themis Group. Retrieved 2010-12-11.
  52. ^ Climax Studios (2007-11-06). Silent Hill: Origins (PlayStation Portable). Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.

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