Silent Hill Mythology - Who Wrote the Messages?

[@jumpingSpiders]

as someone who doesn’t speak english I appreciate how you talk makes it clear and easy to understand what you’re saying

[@meaningfulmindfulness15]

I speak English, and I also appreciate how he talks. 💙

[@ReluctantWarrior]

@Schwanzmajor Translators probably.

[@exactzero]

@Schwanzmajor They don't speak it but they can understand it.

[@lucas7777-w8d]

I agree with you, i feel the same

[@DestroManiak]

thats a very interesting point and you are absolutely right. Max Derrat has a very clean speech

[@djohle3430]

Silent Hill 2 is truly a masterpiece... it's 2021 and we're still discussing the mysteries within it.

[@shaneshane8482]

Came here to say this. This game blew my mind a decade ago, and I frequently think back to the brilliance and nostalgia it instilled in me.

[@RegulatorXIII]

Because the game series is dope.

[@TheJackal917]

It is not just a masterpiece in video games realm or just one of the most important video games ever made. It's a cultural staple, a Thing of it's own kind.

[@yoursexualizedgrandparents6929]

It's the first version of Bloodborne when it comes to content that is yet to be discovered.

[@TheJackal917]

@@yoursexualizedgrandparents6929 uncle Lance ain't eats his burger for free...

[@gregajohnson1985]

you notice that Maria asks Ernest, if he's Ernest Hemingway, alludes that he is an author, who writes about men caught in bad lives. that was the bulk of Hemingway's works.

[@orakulooo]

I played SH2 after The Room. When I saw that shit written on the wall about the hole I got shivers head to toe.

[@maxderrat]

That's so cool, dude. :O

[@jkt3sc]

You're tearing me apart Lisa.

[@PeacefulJoint]

I'm tired...I'm wasted....I love you darling...

[@niemaszglowy]

@@jkt3sc lmao

[@shophet125]

Wow, what a story!

[@waterkei]

Max uploaded a Silent Hill video. Instant like

[@synaestheticstudios]

Someone commented about instant liking a silent hill video that Max uploaded. Instant like

[@jba2048]

He had me at Silent Hill.

[@davidwhitney947]

Hell yes

[@davidwhitney947]

Thanks foe this Max. Love hearing your thoughts on SH

[@Halden.]

The fact that you don’t just pump out SH videos because they do well makes it clear how much respect you have for your audience; and I don’t think there’s a way to explain how appreciative I am of that.

[@maxderrat]

My audience is the best audience on KZbin because they are filled with people that are genuinely smart and kind. They've displayed that time and time again in my comment sections. This is how I return the favor.

[@shuya8904]

@@maxderrat that’s because you always came up with quality videos. when the majority of people came to youtube for entertainment, you do the opposite. you asked us to think with you, through your videos.

[@dlbyrd-gasca2730]

@@maxderrat I liked this video Max! Very cool and interesting. I hope that you like most of my comments thus far, and that the comment that I left on your babadook video, doesn't affect your opinion of me. The fact that you like that movie, doesn't affect my opinion at all. That is to say, if you've actually read that one already. 😏

[@matthewwisdom9933]

@@maxderrat do you think Laura write it look like child's hand writen

[@matthewwisdom9933]

@@maxderrat do you think that silent hill 4 is prequel then sequel it would make lot of sense because that

[@orchid9]

I'm pretty sure Maria is not a real person, like not a whole real person. She's born from a wish, the town created her to punish James, to create his purgatory. That's why she remembers her past, but she feels so disconnected about it like it's someone else's life, she isn't surprised of what happens around, she feels empty (something like depersonalization-derealization disorder). She contemplates suicide because her consciousness is this disconnected from reality, but then something clicks, she feels the purpose, that there is still something to do. At least I prefer to think about her this way.

[@fripptricky5099]

Does anyone know what the Japanese subtitles are when James reads the "There was a hole here, but it's gone now" are? I've heard Masahiro Ito say he personally interprets it to mean that the town is telling James there's nowhere to hide, not even his alcoholism.

[@apersonwhoknows]

That's another thought.

[@168toretiro]

can someone please explain the meaning of the 'hole' message?

[@raccooncitygunclub]

I'll come clean. It was me.

[@nige12]

RUN AWAY! RUN AWAY! RUN AWAY! RUN AWAY! RUN AWAY! RUN AWAY! RUN AWAY! RUN AWAY! RUN AWAY! RUN AWAY! RUN AWAY! RUN AWAY! RUN AWAY! RUN AWAY!

[@patrickm.4754]

So you're implying there's a connection between Raccoon City and Silent Hill. 😁

[@raccooncitygunclub]

@@patrickm.4754 Yes. It's bad voice acting! Haha

[@lucy4666]

@@raccooncitygunclub why do people keep saying that? i would've hated the voice acting if troy baker or something voiced james. the voice acting is shitty on purpose, it feels real and you can't deny that Mary's voice actress did a wonderful job when she read the letter. silent hill 2 isn't perfect and thank goodness it isn't, it was never meant to be that way.

[@denji5426]

@@raccooncitygunclub it's intended because you're meant to feel uncomfortable

[@spectr__]

4:50 "Those games are..." *Shows Spec Ops clip* "Alan Wake and Control" idk why but I laughed at that!

[@erikkumitsubashi1048]

When it comes to the HOLE message, I take a more literal approach. I believe at one time there was a hole in Neely's bar similar to the one in the Historical Society. However, that hole would have been for another visitor with darkness in their heart before the events of SH2. I think the person resolved their issues and returned to the bar only to see the hole gone, thus the message.

[@raven_glass]

Yep, just like SH4 the world is always changing and being adjusted by the people visiting there.

[@kosmosyche]

It seems there are at least 3 dead guys throughout Silent Hill that were part of a group of "explorers" who were somewhat systematically looking for something in the town. At least that was my impression. I mean there is a trailer with a note "Meet me at Neely's", then there is a dead guy right in front of Neely's, in the bar itself there is a map of SH with many buildings crossed out (like if they searched them and didn't find what they were looking for) and some areas circled (specifically their trailer area and Neely's bar area), also there's an arrow drawn through Wood Side Apartment and a question mark at the end of Martin's street, where we find a second corpse with a key to Wood Side Apartment. So seems like Neely's was their main "base of operations", so to speak, they were busy exploring, found the way through Wood Side Apartment to the other part of town, but unfortunately the 2 guys met their fate not far from where they were supposed to meet. The third guy found his demise near the broken bridge at the end of Nathan Avenue past Historical Society. He also had a map of nearby area with different markings on it. Seems like he tried to flee Silent Hill, probably after he realized that his buddies went silent or after he found them dead. So I always thought that some messages, specifically the one about the HOLE were made by these guys as part of their exploration effort, basically marking places of interest. What were they looking for btw? I think they were some kind of UFO/supernatural/weird places enthusiasts, who caught wind of something strange happening in the town and looking for supernatural phenomena. However, the other message that appears in Neely's in Dark Silent Hill (about James killing himself) was definitely not theirs. It's written in a different style and is similar to the "Wrench" messages (which I always attributed to the director of Brookhaven Hospital, but I guess he and that Ernest Baldwin fellow could be the same entity, they seem to have similar unsympathetic, but somewhat indifferent disposition toward James, like they know he is full of sh*t, but it's not their problem, if he really wants the truth let him have it).

[@ender8759]

Yes. It is way more interesting that way.

[@J.J.Jameson_of_Daily_Bugle]

I think people read too much into it, it was just devs messing with people and leaving cryptic messages because it added to strangeness of the game. It's like people going crazy over description for that pendant in Dark Souls that you could pick as starting item, what it means and where it's used, bla bla bla, but in reality they were just f-in with people. It literally means nothing and it does nothing, pretty much like "Rubbish" item.

[@humanoblivion2968]

What’s more terrifying than the lack of free will? Fate truly is a limiting factor on the ones own life, to be a puppet to a larger puzzle is a belittling idea.

[@madeup6]

You should look up what Sam Harris says about free will. He doesn't believe in fate but he does believe that we don't exactly have control of our thoughts. Thoughts just kind of come to us.

[@Halden.]

I never get tired of hearing a theory about Silent Hill, there’s just something so captivating about 100 different people having 100 different theories, and each one is just as valid as the last. The fact that I’ve only been able to play 2 makes me kinda sad.

[@burglemyhead6838]

At least ive played what is imho the peak

[@RenegadeShepard69]

I've never played any. Only watched it on youtube. I'm afraid playing horror games of any style and I don't got time lately. Only scary game I ever played was Alan Wake and I had to take some breaks cause it was too much. I was a teenager btw lol. So as I appreciate the lore and the ambience, the setting the soundtrack and all of that I don't see a problem with not playing, maybe one day I'll buy the SH Collection or just emulate it on PC, by for now I'm content with not playing and just watching everything about it. I mean even watching SH1, the scariest for me, is too much lol. So I don't think there is a problem that you haven't played them, the fanbase is pretty diverse in their experiences with these games. It's one of the best communities in that and many ways.

[@Octovisuals]

Get a PS1 emulator like ePSXe and play SH1. It's the best. You can also play SH3 in PC or using the PS2 emulator PCSX2. SH4 is for sale at GOG and Steam. Not the best, but still a SH in spirit and much better than everything that came after.

[@ivanaviNiebla]

@@RenegadeShepard69 Did you come around to play them? at least for me the experience was very different to watching videos. Maybe you can invite someone else to help you with the puzzles though, as some of them are just too much. I had my sister helping with guides because we were in the last days of holidays and wanted to finish the first 4 "quickly", she would tell me where to go or what to do when I was getting stuck (and to get certain endings), but I would explore every inch of the games anyways. But when you experience the stories first hand you get a very special feeling. Honestly we haven't been able to stop thinking of Silent Hill. I thought the main aspect were the horror and the intricate lore, but the lore isn't as intricate as all the theory making makes it to be (and I read everything there was to read on the games and interviews with the authors) and the horror is just complementing the human stories being told (although the horror is indeed some of the finest there is). Just being there experiencing the stories and the silent chill is bliss. Except for Silent Hill 4 and the remake of 2, the difficulty on those two makes it harder to chill, but they are equally great.

[@onejediboi]

Glad these are back, missed these.

[@PeacefulJoint]

Wasn't expecting Alan Wake to be discussed. That's gotta be an underrated game, I never hear anyone talk about it. Just bought myself a copy about a month ago.

[@nervoushabit4634]

It flew under the radar for a lot of ppl unfortunately. I bought it day 1 just cause the premise was super cool and def had sh vibes. Loved that games as a kid

[@PeacefulJoint]

@@nervoushabit4634 Yeah I had it day one as well. I was a huge fan of Max Payne 1+2 which Sam Lake also wrote.

[@kozlorog]

It's not underrated, just you began paying attention to it 11 years after it came out. It's like saying 'Doom 1 is underrated', because its not widely discussed nowadays. Alan Wake is one of the mainstream games. There are many people who wish it'd get a proper sequel.

[@valtiel6913]

Control is a great game as well and is free on Xbox

[@kozlorog]

@@valtiel6913 great? No. Mediocre? Absolutely and without any discussion (for any smart person with a taste)

[@daltonbecker4494]

I feel like maybe Ernest is in a similar situation to Leonard Wolf from Silent Hill 3. A man turned into a monster by Silent Hill, Leonard after losing his little girl sequestered himself away never leaving his home. So Silent hill turned this figurative ghost into a literal one. So now Ernest acts as a poltergeist in the town, writing things on the wall to taunt James.

[@IndiGo-Go]

It's strange... I was watching your video about synchronicity yesterday and just 10 minutes ago I thought to myself "I hope this guy makes another Silent Hill video." So here we are.....

[@krysc96]

It makes sense it was always earnest. He's giving James an EARNEST look into his psyche. It very similar to why Mary and Maria are given their specific names as well. There was definitely no mistake, no happy accident in that case

[@balerion302]

man this has given me more info about the game that I could think of. Way to get back into this rabbit hole.

[@MoriAnimations]

20 years later and theories are still absolutely popping off. Great video! Thanks so much for introducing me to Reinstall Paul, you both have opened my eyes even further that I never expected about my favourite piece of art.

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

I feel like a terrible Silent Hill fan. I never played that expansion and by extension didn't know Maria had her own side story.

[@AgentWolnyTyl3k]

It wasn't in every version of SH2, so you could just be unlucky. But now you know and you have another reason to return to the game :")

[@stormsekules9935]

Same here honestly, No idea till this video

[@chickensoupboi]

To be fair, the way they implemented didn't make it immediately apparent there was one, so don't blame yourself. Basically, if you have the original SH2 PS2 black label release, it doesn't have the expansion. If you have the Greatest Hits red label release, it includes the sub scenario. The Greatest Hits release at no point mentions on the box or cover it includes the scenario or any other extra content, there wasn't even a Restless Dreams subtitle like what the Xbox version had, so you'd have no idea unless you know beforehand that the two versions are actually separate.

[@goosegoose9549]

@@chickensoupboidoes it come on the ps3 port

[@TheRealGameTime]

​@@goosegoose9549late comment but yes it's on the HD collection for ps3

[@GentleTorture]

It's been so long since I played Alan Wake so I was lost in Control's DLC. Seeing you explain the relationship between Thomas and Alan in comparison to James and Maria allows me to see the Control cutscenes with Alan in a clearer light. Awesome videos as always!

[@ravendelacour1917]

Ernest is James' superego. The name Ernest points to this as a homonym of Earnest meaning genuine and honest, traits associated with the superego idealistic self image.

[@laviniakuster377]

i am sooo happy that u uploaded a new silent hill video i love that after all this time so many people still talk about this beautiful game thank u so much

[@YusiDJordan]

A new Max Derrat video = I become happy. But uh.. It’s midnight here and there’s no way I’m watching this until morning.

[@evanlongfellow6849]

Good move.

[@kohgon]

This is astounding, it truly is. I am currently studying for a philosophy qualification and we are currently discussing the mind, the extended mind theory and the implications it has on the memory of a person and what they believe. This video, alongside all of your Silent Hill ones, have kept me going throughout this degree and have provided me with a lot of inspiration.

[@Gman1991]

Another masterpiece Max🤙

[@benlavis3006]

Great video again, I really enjoyed it. Don't feel too stressed about not getting out more silent hill content, i personally enjoy all the gaming stuff pretty equally. On a different note, I finally remembered the name of an anime from my childhood that I thought you might enjoy. It's called wolf's rain. Good luck with the future videos 👍

[@WhoTookMyMirr]

The man's name is literally EARNEST how did I not see this

[@themaxterz0169]

I don't understand what you mean

[@WhoTookMyMirr]

@@themaxterz0169 Earnest can also mean genuine, sincere.

[@themaxterz0169]

@@WhoTookMyMirr ah, ok.

[@chompythebeast]

@@themaxterz0169 There's a famous English play by Oscar Wilde called 'The Importance of Being Earnest' that also plays with this pun, and is a very good Comedy of Manners if you're into that kind of subtextually subversive thing

[@tyke2829]

I think that Ernest could be another person much like Angela or Eddie. Someone with an issue and guilt. Difference is that he had died before hand but his soul was unable to pass. All the characters in the game ultimately guide each other to their final destination. Ernest was meant to help Maria, who could or could not be a real person, to eventually lead up to James. Or maybe the only reason Ernest and Maria interact is because they’re both from the town. Who knows

[@ADAM_NORMAN_AND_MELODY]

Maria is a stripper before, during, and after Silent Hill 2.... Her essence, some of it, was what became the Maria that became in Silent Hill 2.... James knows of the real Maria through local media in the past, by the way....

[@FredHerbert999]

"There was a hole here. It's gone now", doesn't everybody know this one? Glory hole.

[@jinzokrim9979]

Max Derrat , Reinstall Paul and Gaming university are the best , I hope to see more collaboration between you guys !

[@Nomed38]

At this point an entire years worth of university courses could be done on the psychological aspects of the Silent Hill series and that does make me smile so I give my humble thanks for your work. To this very day whenever the location I dwell sounds the "severe weather warning siren" I am gripped with an unfathomable dread until I realise is was all "just a test of the emergency alert system". Others feel dread at the siren's call though few do for the reasons I have. On a lighter note The Gods of Chaos saw fit to place an advertisement for some nickelodeon show towards the end of the video. Sometimes funny things happen for a reason.

[@Andriej69]

I will always be on the lookout for more SH content, you are already so far beyond what I've thought was possible

[@1611-g3v]

This is so interesting. Great job!

[@PeacefulJoint]

I'm gonna guess Maria before I watch the video. Can't see anyone besides the "town" leaving them considering the notes seem to know into James's mind.

[@gonehollow8513]

Max, your concise and wonderfully detailed analyses are a joy to behold. Your unique perspectives give new life to the silent hill mythos. Keep up the amazing work, my friend!

[@leonbarry5403]

3:00 Born from a wish. Even as a kid i understood maria was just what james wanted mary to be made manifest by the town.

[@victorcippitelli2242]

As SH analysis vídeos goes, this channel has the BEST content ever of them. Your work is impecable and very well done made with great passion.

[@lordofPockets]

Love it, thanks max for all the hardwork!!

[@nickmaatjes5611]

your channel is quickly becoming my favourite channel on youtube, you tick all my boxes, silent hill, existentialism, video games in general, philosophy and more. please keep em coming, i wish you a nice weekend, thank you for your videos!

[@Livithen86]

Dreams lead you to it for a short time but are forced back when woken up and you might not be able to get back easily

[@swmtothemoon6660]

You're the man.

[@maxderrat]

No... YOU'RE THE MAN.

[@giovanneallan9060]

Another awesome video, I love your work

[@mikesinistar8834]

I'm saving this for when I go back to work. I love these videos!

[@stalkeler]

This video gave me a thought... One day Max will analyze Planescape Torment philosophy and it will be beautiful

[@vaevictis_]

Been binging old silent hill videos so I’m excited this video dropped!

[@VAVORiAL]

Silent Hill videos are back! Let's go!

[@serendipity4346]

Man your channel is so interesting, i've been literally a week just watching your videos and you are like: "You could watch this video" at 3:59 and i'm like, idk, so surprised? Your content is so complete.

[@RuminInLove]

My only issue with Ernest writing the letters is, how did he get the letters to their respective locations (Hospital, South Vale)? He said he was unable to leave his mansion.

[@lucassouzaferreira]

Sometimes I think the developers never thought these things through. Sure, they may have had a concept to create a cohesive story, but not to the same depth as fans' theories. Maybe they just leave blanks for us to fill and theorize about. Which I, of course, like. I've played SH2 around the time it came out and your videos have given me a new appreciation for the series.

[@RadiantMantra]

There is a tendency to find meaning where there is none, and I am absolutely sure that is the case in a few cases, but don't think this is entirely the case. Games spend years in development, that's a lot of time and especially back then, development teams had great communication between the programmers artists and designers. If even one came up with an idea like incorporating psychology or mythology into the lore or levels, they would all come together to make it a reality. Again, years if development, and you do think about things like these when you're working on games.

[@jagergerg9771]

I love how deep you dive in the theories of the game.

[@Ginkodono]

Good stuff! I love this games series and hearing new ideas is fun

[@BelieveIt1051]

If it's not the town manifesting those messages for James, or James manifesting them himself subconsciously, then I think it's Joseph Shrieber from SH4. It didn't mean this at the time, but the message "There was a hole here. It's gone now", could easily be referring to the holes that appeared in Walter Sullivan's worlds. It's possible that Joseph was finding things out about Mary and James when he was investigating Silent Hill. I theorize it was also possible that Joseph is the one who delivered the letter to James from Mary. It makes sense, seeing as how Joseph's role is the Giver of Wisdom, and only he could have caused that letter to appear in James' mailbox. Joseph is the only one we know of who had access to Silent Hill and the apartments, and who had the type of personality to help Mary reach James. By the time James arrives in Silent Hill, Walter has killed Joseph, reducing him to a ghost within Silent Hill. That is how he could leave the various messages, and it would explain why the holes were there in the town for Joseph, but gone by the time James arrives. Also, Silent Hill 3 has fliers laying around advertising Maria's services. So that also proves she was a real person. I think her transformation into what we see in the game was actually due to Mary's influence, rather than James'. Maria died in Silent Hill, and Mary's spirit tried to give Maria a second chance at life with a man whom she believed was good. She also wanted James to move on with his life. But in the end it was always up to James on whether to move on or not, or take Maria or reject her.

[@Stigmatix666]

Never use a later installment written by different people to retroactively "explain" something..

[@BelieveIt1051]

@@Stigmatix666 Retroactive continuity is a thing, so...

[@Stigmatix666]

@@BelieveIt1051 So is backpedaling

[@BelieveIt1051]

@@Stigmatix666 So what? Retcons aren't the same as backpedaling.

[@dalazo]

The old Myst games actually deal with different dimensions and the sorts, they created their own universes which lived on its own.

[@calebgomillion1421]

I am binging the hell out of your content while I work. You're one of my new favorite channels. Keep up the fantastic analyses! 👌

[@DMC101]

You're a Saint max truly. Love your silent hill videos glad to see it gets the love it deserves to this day still.

[@madnessgodman]

Dude, I'm just glad you're back!

[@birdiepitchfeather63]

You always manage to come up with new and exciting ways to explore this series, and I’m incredibly impressed by it

[@TheEliasNoel]

This is such a brilliant video man. Seriously great point that makes born from a wish much more integral to the main story

[@LockheartEnterprise]

Nice to have you back sir

[@call2872]

Silent Hill 2 turned 20 years old this year. I love how people still talk about this game, it's a testament of its brilliance and timeless relevance to today's gaming society. Team Silent would be proud to see there's still so much love for the game.

[@StillHere03]

In my humbled opinion Max should be apart of the creative process of the next entry. He completely get psychological horror. Great videos dude! 👏🏿

[@tobiaskadachi]

Answer: The dog

[@valtiel6913]

MAX BACK AT IT WITH THE BANGERRRRRS

[@JohnDWJ]

Your depth of thought and presentation is inspiring.

[@maxderrat]

Thank you, sir.

[@educatedlaziness3268]

Who's to say that we aren't characters in a story someone else is telling, real to ourselves, but imaginary to them, imagine meeting that person, we could all be creators, be Gods yet ignorant of that fact by our own disbelief in our own creations

[@Yourbrotherjosh]

Love your work max you have inspired me to explore the concepts that you have introduced or reintroduced such as the elements of the psyche and alchemy.

[@IAmKentori]

It’s weird how most of us never wondered this at all

[@fariasaldanaa]

Just gonna drop my two cents here. If you play with the letters of the name Ernest, you can get Resent. Perhaps caused from the guilt of losing his daughter and James losing his wife. Hence the messages. Super cool video, thanks!

[@wjs9215]

Thank you, again, Max 💛

[@Foxtrop13]

ernest was closed in his room almost with not contact to the exterior, just like the characters in silenthill4, were James father is the superintendent of the building, must be some kind psychological proyection of his father

[@slingshotkurt8474]

I know you probably get this a lot Max but I love your videos, you're content really helps me open my eyes to things that I missed in Silent Hill or couldnt understand. Thank you!

[@andrewdoiron7922]

Thanks for the return to Silent Hill. Your consideration of only making videos when you have something new to say about it is what makes them as good as they are.

[@Danielsan1223]

I like your analysis! I've also thought about Ernest Baldwin being the one who wrote the memos to James. I also like your idea that Ernest could be James's conscience. The only thing that troubles me with that idea of Ernest being the conscience is that Ernest had a daughter and it appears from the Born From A Wish scenario that he is trying to use the rebirth ritual to resurrect his daughter, just like the one James uses for Mary in the rebirth ending of the regular storyline of Silent Hill 2. I've always thought of Ernest as like a lost spirit/ghost in the town of Silent Hill who lived there back when he was alive, but probably died a tragic death especially after his daughter died. I remember how in the Maria storyline, Ernest astonishingly remarks how for some reason Maria can interact with him which seems to imply that most other people for some reason can't. Maybe Maria could interact some with him because she isn't a normal human like James or Laura are? Perhaps people that are created by the power of Silent Hill, like Maria, have the ability to interact with other spirits of the town that actual living people cannot? I don't know if I'm making much sense, but who knows? Maybe Ernest has a dual purpose where he's both James's conscience and a complex free agent character within the town of Silent Hill that was created by its power? Either way, I definitely agree with you that Maria is not wholly just a figment of James's imagination as like you said she seems to have her own agency in her storyline on the Xbox version. I've always thought of the Maria storyline being a proof/justification that the story of Silent Hill 2 is not like Shutter Island where it's mostly or entirely all just in the protagonist's head. In other words, it's not like James is hallucinating the whole story of Silent HIll 2, but rather its his fears, desires, and so on becoming real in a physical way within the town of Silent Hill.

[@arthurl8385]

I have really been asking myself this lately on my last playthrough! I supposed it was a previous explorer, maybe the body that you can find at the end of Nathan Ave past the Historical Society. Thanks for the video

[@josepunkthrashdude]

Have you done a video on the mysterious blanked out documents in SH2? Like the blood swamp monument or the boat that sunk in toluca lake document you find in the prison? Those really made me scratch my head back in the day and still does 😱

[@heavennight9392]

This game is a masterpiece.even now ,after so many years still amazes me .thank you

[@354Entertainment]

i love your Videos Max! Especially about SH!!!!! Thanks homie for this!

[@puka2.224]

I'm a few years late here but here's my take on Maria (I did like your interpretation though, and it's just as valid): Just like the monsters around James, that seem to be his warped nightmares of what did happen - turned into flesh, Maria is a monster too, but instead of fears she is made of desire of what could have been, what he wanted. However, unlike the monsters around that want to punish James, like he is punishing himself by reflecting on the past events, Maria is different, she wants James as he is, for herself, in his corrupted mind Maria is his perfect wife, and he is her perfect husband. Now - since the town gave Maria more than an animal desire to kill or punish, it gave her human emotions, desires and wants, It used a real person - Mary - as clay for Maria, unlike the monsters that are tied to a feeling or an event, she is more complex. We all know that her butterfly tattoo is symbolic, Mary is the cacoon, Maria is the butterfly -in the mind of James. She is what could have been if the disease didn't take her, and corrupt the perfect image of her in her dying days. It is also implied that James, being sexually deprived, could have visited Heaven's Night, the strip-club, where Lady Maria was performing (as seen on posters), while Mary was suffering. This is the reason the town itself molded Mary into Maria. Since Maria doesn't remember anything at first, she just remembers certain feelings and a certain someone she is connected to, she attaches herself to the person on the poster, that James wanted to much, Lady Maria. I like to think of her as 2 people, Lady Maria and Mary, mind and body molded into one, no past or family, just a desire to be with James, to be happy, like Mary wanted him to be, like he selfishly imagined himself to be with Mary if she was more like Lady Maria, while also being aware that she is nothing without James. This thought makes it horrifying for me, just like we humans have to feed to survive, we don't just crave food for pleasure we need it to exist, Maria craves James, she must have him, she can't survive unless she has him, while also loving him so much but not remembering how she came to love him.

[@OliverKane3582]

Bravo. I think this is absolutely amazing. I love this game and how it can inspire people to think about it long before they’ve finished the game, crafting their own interpretations the game encourages them to make. This is a really good and interesting interpretation, so well done.

[@alilweeb7684]

This video kinda pseudo blew my mind. Wow. Terrific job

[@kaiguynicky7317]

Man I love videos like these.

[@kakadu2004]

Fuck yeah! New SH content from the man himself! Life is great.

[@Halden.]

OOOOHHH SNAP! ITS YA BOI CARL JUNG!!! If it wasn’t clear I actually really like hearing about Jung’s theories and whatnot in these videos.

[@chillyman7340]

I came here because your videos on the game Inside were so good lol, great video man.

[@maxderrat]

Thank you for sticking around, kind sir!

[@hisaceinthehole3426]

Hell, i could see why maria wouldnt want to believe in fate. Telling someone they were destined to be damned to silent hill? That truth would drive anyone crazy.

[@LordMarlle]

I don't remember if you have mentioned Danielewski's House of Leaves, but it is a absolute MUST READ, if for nothing else then for the reason that Sam Lake calls HoL his all time biggest inspiration

[@joshuamorris4565]

I loved House of Leaves, and even after all of these years since reading it, it still shows up in my thoughts often. Did you ever listen to Poe's album based on the book? She is the author's sister, and had a really interesting take on the mythos of the book and concept. I spent many a late night reading that book and absorbing it - I would be deeply involved reading and look down at my watch and find it was 3 am, lol! The later/earlier it became, the more foreboding it became.

[@LordMarlle]

@@joshuamorris4565 YES, the Poe album is an essential part of the puzzle. The fact that Poe pretty much had her career stolen from her, is an atrocity

[@joshuamorris4565]

@@LordMarlle - ah man, I knew something was wierd about what happened, but I didn't really understand the extent of it. I started researching a bit more, and that's some messed up stuff and she definitely got done wrong by all accounts. As bad as it is so say, it kind of feeds into the mythos of the project being inherently cursed by higher (or lower) powers. The reality is an old white guy did her wrong, but man....it feels like something ephemeral and malicious is going on beyond that. I dunno, just shooting the sh*t and all, but it does make a good story. We all were really done a disservice by having Poe taken away from us. I'm at the age to where I like to try to peek behind the curtain, and I really feel that Hous Of Leaves touched on something that goes beyond the regular level and hit a much deeper and darker chord

[@LordMarlle]

​@@joshuamorris4565 YES, where do we meet and talk about this shit XD Control, and Metal Gear and Death Stranding and dare I say it PT, talks about this shit as well Remedy used Poe - Haunted as one of the ending songs to Alan Wake Then Control comes along, and 'funnily' enough bears the title as the very next song on the Haunted album Also dr. Darling (in Control) uses the term Explorations in Control for their ventures into the weird portals in the Oldest House. The HoL references are much more than just fun winks at the player, everybody that has delved into the Labyrinth, knowning that the Labyrinth does not exist, would feel that. The fact that Alan Wake talks about auteur therory coupled with the intricacies of HoL and the real world scandal that were old man Danielewski scolding Mark Z for the Forty Year Sword, Poe picking up and gluing back together the maculated manuscript, just to tragically ending up totally loosing her chance to make it big So sad

[@joshuamorris4565]

@@LordMarlle - Oh man, it is sad, but also so interesting. Something touched deep into a lot of creative people's ( and developers) psyches with the story and music - for example, I'm an artist (high school art teacher specifically), and I got fixated on maze-making after the book. I was like "yes, there is something important here" and continue to draw mazes to this day always with HoL on my mind. You can look me up on Instagram and see a few if you want - my handle is #casebasket I do different things, but almost always with a dark psychological lean

[@ericcuevas7757]

I enjoyed this very much. Thankyou.

[@TheTerrorTaleVault]

Always happy to see mire SH content from you dude! I do, however, hope you don't feel you need to make SH content, we love you just the way you are Max.

[@david.9633]

Thank you for the video

[@sandpaperseat3228]

Awesome video still gets me how many layers of storytelling this game maybe hiding, can’t wait for your next berserk video the first was a refreshing insight from most other creators on KZbin 👌

[@MalditoNoisi]

This videos are so great, I really wish videos like this were available to the Spanish speaking community.

[@maxderrat]

All somebody needs to do is submit Spanish subtitles to me and I'll upload them. :)

[@MalditoNoisi]

@@maxderrat I actually did a translation in srt. format. Is there any way I could send it to you?

[@dmaa88]

Always a treat to isten to you max can't wait to see the remake analysis, but I'm still working through the game before I do. On the maria cration debacle, I think it was Ito who said, everyone is real, except Maria, she is a construct of the town, and James.

[@serpensortia7149]

Why everybody always ignoring in such theoryes that Maria once said "I can be whatever you want me to be". That means Maria created by Silent Hill, like guests was created by Ocean in Tarkovsky's movie "Solaris". Ideas from Solaris take a big part in making SH2 for Team Silent.

[@alextownsend3289]

I think she said "I am, if you want me to be", however, the meaning remain the same, as Maria being a creation of the town, after all.

[@TheKrossRoads]

That's my theory as well. Silent Hill, or at least the powers behind it, created Maria like all the other monsters; her specifically to tempt James. However, the powers recognized that if they wanted Maria to be effective at her task, she needed to seem and act like a real person. So the powers gave Maria free will and some fake memories. Then, the town conjured a scenario that would steer Maria into realizing that she wasn't a real person and that she had been created for a purpose. That scenario is what we see in "Born From A Wish". At the end of it, Maria contemplates ending her own "life"; she clearly is not a slave to the powers that made her. However, Maria seems to give in and accept the role that she was created for. She's chosen to tempt James and be an aspect of Silent Hill willingly. Even, happily.

[@raven_glass]

@@TheKrossRoads You're giving the town of SH way too much credit, projecting that there must be some sentient malevolent force behind it all. It simply is, like a force of nature, a whirlpool of souls, catching up anyone who wanders in there and dragging them down into darkness. Nightmares and dreams become real there. James created Maria with his mind, thus "born from a wish" of what he wished Mary could have been. Same as Angela's mind gave birth to Abstract as her father, only James couldn't see her father because he had never seen him before so he saw Abstract in his own way through the lens of his mind. The reason Maria has memories is because she is for all purposes "real" in the way that a painting of an imagined figure it "real".

[@Robert_D_Mercer]

I'm 29 years old. I have not met another person irl that have played the silent hill games. My lifes truly hell.

[@burglemyhead6838]

I feel u brother I don't think many made it threw the game those who wear younger anyway

[@MagnumEvolved]

So maybe Maria is the id, Earnest is the super-ego and James is the ego

[@raze667]

7:30 Just tossing this out here, you say "maria," but your screen text shows "mary."

[@SuperKreuzBurg]

In keeping with the theme, what are your thoughts on the various corpses that can be found around town? Because I assumed that James is in a kind of loop, dying again and again in different places and the messages are from himself. I really enjoy your work by the way, thank you!

[@kartoffelhonig8873]

thats scary. And also possible because we know of at least one corpse that is the same character model as james.

[@pumpkinpie7591]

This makes no sense when you think about how we killed Eddie.

[@deaconsyxx322]

You continue to impress me!

[@PackageCat]

I am sure not the only one but i would love to live there. Fog, monsters, nothing else and the beautiful silence. Yep, thats me.