Silent Hill 4 The Room Analysis | Walter Sullivan's Twisted Mind

[@lucasstrom8796]

Glad to see SH4 get more attention, definitely the most underrated game in the entire franchise.

[@wareforcoin5780]

It gets some love here and there.

[@danielmeredith4222]

I agree :)

[@wilderbeast9368]

lmao

[@billysmith1873]

Hey, if you love it then awesome. Got to say though, I always thought it didn't fit in with the rest of the franchise.

[@mrmuyagi9907]

The 1st half is great, the 2nd half of that game though oof

[@Chris_P_Bacon62]

It took me years to figure out most of the stuff in the silent hill games. The monsters we face in SH1 are Alessa's worst fears brought to life by the order's deity in her womb. The monsters in SH2 are manifestations of James' worst fears (except for abstract daddy) and now I know that the monsters in SH4 are not under Walter's command, they are actually there to torment him. That's why they attack him too.

[@ricodontworryboutit3296]

I like how that is the case how in 1 and 3 and 4 the nightmare is somebody else's

[@theMoporter]

The symbolism you explain so well here goes to show how puppetry and battery is the real theme of the game on every level. In the world Walter perceived, the only options he saw were defined by loss of power, to the point that even the goals he wants to achieve involved trapping his personality in the Otherworld, and his body in the apartment. Even Valtiel was imprisoned in Walter. The only time he wasn't being confined or confining someone, he became destitute and got nothing more than the pity of a little girl. Of course he would be unable to break through that paradigm.

[@sleepscience526]

Painfully well said

[@bernardo1133]

The element that has ever moved Walter is the wish to be with his mother, and the order brainwashed him claiming that room 302 is his mother and that the holy assumption would bring her back

[@nick0653]

Makes you wonder how many more tragedies in the Silent Hill universe were the result of their manipulations. How many Walters has the Order brainwashed for their own agenda.

[@ibrahimihsan2090]

They didn't brainwash him into believing room 302 is anything. He calls it his mother because he never knew his real parents and because he was born there.

[@B.coffin]

Really enjoyed this! Walter has always really fascinated me since he didn't come off like "normal" serial killers so this was super informative and interesting. Thanks for making it!

[@danielmeredith4222]

That was both chilling and warming to the soul. Knowing a bit more about our protagonist walter will help us all to understand silent hill 4 along more. Cheers and thankyou muse xo happy Halloween xo

[@agnosobosovo9775]

I hated Walter at first but later felt a bit sorry for him at the end. His bad upbringing is what led to his evil doing. Walter only wanted love.

[@NotAGoodUsername360]

If the rumors of a third Silent Hill movie being considered are true, I absolutely hope SH4 provides the base, Walter's story is ripe material for the big screen and the concept of visiting dozens of disconnected Otherworlds allows for so much creative freedom for film.

[@ABYSSWALKER.]

highly doubtful. they'll just do what they usually do and muck it all up.

[@Andriej69]

I don't think I'm even gonna bother pirating that movie even IF it comes out

[@nodeberiaestaraqui93]

I don't think there are any western directors there that can adapt SH4 appropiately

[@SMENECl]

I wish we could've had a game set around the time Walter was born, giving us a chance to learn about characters like Jimmy Stone.

[@saidbackfatullayev5887]

Hmm... I think Jimmy Stone is the most interesting character in SH4. In my theory he is main antagonist in SH4 and many details show it...

[@Reacher_2215]

The lore alone makes this one of my favorite horror games ever made (but second to my favorite Silent Hill game)

[@jorgecaimanque6951]

As a sidenote, I'm pretty sure SH4 mentions that the original 10 murders all had the name Walter Sullivan signed on them along with the XX/21 numbers Pretty cool video besides that! I like the idea of George Rosten becoming the wheelchair doll in the Forest World revisit, and the analysis on the escalating violence for each murder. I had never heard anyone analyze and wonder what actually the "Valtiel in his consciousness" is, I myself had only assumed it was like an intense session of making him think of Valtiel-related teachings constantly, but the concept of him being partially possessed/being broken psychologically is terrifying

[@PixelPotato]

There is also Joseph, I've been very curious why he is actually able to help the player and not be another mindless aggressive ghost like the others

[@vinhbao9738]

Joseph plays his role as the "Giver of Wisdom" to Henry.

[@nillynush4899]

Completely jacked up gameplay and levels aside - SH4 is my favorite after 2 due entirely to the characters, Walter as a villain, and the murder-mystery story. The atmosphere of the apartment segments and learning about the 21 sacrements and real world killings by Walter was fascinating.

[@zechy09]

“Completely jacked up gameplay” have you played the other games?? People have a bad double standard with this game

[@josemiranda-tf5lu]

​@@zechy09 sh2 has the worst gameplay and its considered the best 🤠

[@undyingsoul3949]

​@@zechy09I played each of the first 4. Only "Silent Hill 2"'s and 4's gameplay are a little hard to endure at times. 3 has the best gameplay by far, but 1 never feels boring to me, either.

[@toogoodlimegreen]

i just finished sh4! i loved it and i think walter is an extremely interesting antagonist. it makes sense why he was so divided. loved the vid!

[@777moths]

a new video about my favourite silent hill character? good way to start feeling halloweeny uwu

[@kumapark2105]

Such a wonderful analysis and loved the Cosplay as Walter 😘 I have a nerve disorder that causes me to shake and I’ve always loved contorting my body to seem like one of the silent monsters. It’s been years since I’ve played 4 but you have his mannerisms when you get stuck in the forest down so well 👌

[@SSEBBlue]

When told he would be able to see his “mother” again, even though it is clearly manipulation to get people to follow their will. The Order, like any fanatical religion (cult) truly believe in their god and paradise, so when they talk about the 21 Sacraments making him able to be with his mother again it could just be referring to the fact that it’s meant to bring “Paradise” and in that paradise he could then ‘be with his mother’. As for the whole killing himself in prison and then suddenly continue the killings afterwards, I see it as Valtiel (who is worshipped by the sect that Jimmy Stone aka The Red Devil runs) bringing Walter back to life to see that “god” can usher in their paradise through the completion of the 21 Sacraments. The reason he was “dead” a second time through crucifixion was because he himself is a sacrifice to bring forth god, so Valtiel has no reason to intervene in that death even more so since with Walter’s growing supernatural strength would still be able to continue the final sacraments by projecting the Otherworld and murdering his final victims. At least to me that’s the most I could make sense of his multiple deaths and the suicide not being the wrong killer. I believe it truly was Walter who killed himself in prison before Valtiel’s influence completely drove him into the lost monster he became. There’s even clearly a battle between his innocent child self and the beaten down angry self that Valtiel is known to help foster and grow since hatred is basically the fuel that’s needed to birth god as we see in SH3. Bringing painful memories to Alessa’s side of Heather with him torturing nurses etc in the background that gave her pounding headaches and more to grow the hatred side of Alessa 😔. Okay maybe this is too long of a comment heh, just wanted to share a take on something minor to all this 🥺

[@salazar556]

It's probably an unpopular opinion, but Walter has to be my favorite villain in the series. He's chilling and scary, but at the same time, you feel sad for him.

[@mastermarkus5307]

I don't think this is an especially high bar in Silent Hill games, but I think hes a great villain in general. But like, of course he's going to beat out evil witch Dahlia. Even Claudia, while technically more sympathetic, feels very detached and not all that compelling. She's just really hatable for killing Harry and making Heather go through hell.

[@dextrose4422]

Currently playing SH4!!! Thank you for this vid! Such an undeeappreciate game imo.

[@elizabethlovett4318]

Always glad to see any content about Silent Hill4: The Room. I don't think SH fans give it the credit it deserves. It may not be as good as other Silent Hill games for some, but I think SH4 is judged unfairly. Along with all other Silent Hill games that came out after SH2 which most fans compare all other SH games to with the possible exception being the first game.

[@JohnQ5]

I love that live action at the end Muse.

[@danielreynolds4716]

I used to joke about my interpretation of Walter's manifestations as being Walter the father(adult revenant)Walter the son(child form)and Walter the unholy abomination (giant monster in final boss room)

[@danielmeredith4222]

Muse is our number 1 and only I absolutely love all the hard fun work that is put into making these videos cheers and thankyou so much muse. Happy Halloween to you muse and youtube gang love always Dany xo

[@moth-cultist]

This was brilliant and highlighted things for me I hadn’t noticed! Thanks muse! Happy Halloween 🎃

[@GregoryElliott1973]

I always assumed Alessa was behind the help that the player gets. After all, the symbols of Alessa are the rotating fan, and the wheel chair.

[@danielmeredith4222]

I really love and appreciate all that mude does she is really the only person on KZbin and other than the creaters of the game. Muse is our best bet wen comes to horror games well i should say our silent hill.

[@ripleyjlawman.3162]

He*

[@trainyourdog7351]

Muse you kill it with your silent hill work.👏🏾

[@ExStepsister]

I thought he killed people because of his circumcision

[@Woombi]

Cool timing doing a serial killer for Halloween. Great content as always!

[@DozyDruid]

Bless you muse for uploading Your silent hill videos have been a go to for a long time when insomnia haunts me

[@Kagomai15]

I would totally read a horror oneshot of Sharon's attempt to save her family from the church

[@AFoxInFlames]

I love these Muse, like I thought I was a HUGE fan but you got me so beat. I think 2 is my fav followed by underrated 4... I think 6 is too that one was interesting.

[@joshmcallister4927]

It seems like walter is truly the main character and he's using henry to free himself from silent hill.

[@Semper_]

I just watched the original today and this video got uploaded, what a coincidence

[@babygirlmeows]

I had the hugest crush on him as a teenager playing this game 🙈

[@pristinepastel]

ok the halloween costume reveal was a funny surprise. you look great!

[@heretic3629]

I'm a catholic, so i loved it when you explained all the imagery relating to Jesus's crucifixion and the assumption of his mother Mary into heaven. He did not allow his mother's earthly body to decay here on earth because she had lived a perfect life without ever sinning just like her son of course. So he blessed her, and named her queen of everything. he gave his mother the greatest gift of all :)! we should all honor our mothers and fathers in ways that would make our savior smile. I also love when you showed the imagery relating to the spear, and the Roman soldier who stabbed Jesus with it. After he stabbed jesus water poured out of his wound onto the soldier's face and no blood spilled on him. The crucified savior chose not to splatter him with blood in that moment, but instead to bless him with water in that heated climate. That is beautiful that Jesus chose to give so much mercy to us in his life and even after death, especially to the man who impailed his body :). I saw a movie with my mom before she passed away from covid about that same Roman soldier choosing to follow Jesus's disciples through the desert as they fled away from other Roman authorities. He even protected them from the persuers and allowed them to carry on! the soldier started to doubt the gods they believed in, and it seemed he wanted something more meaningful in his life. this is what led him to desert Pilate, and to follow Jesus and his disiples. the soldier got to see jesus risen from the dead a day after executing him! i find that amazing. I love playing games that use things from the bible :). I know one day I'll make a game that's full of my life experiences and beliefs! just as they did when they made this game. Theyve totally inspired me a lot lol just like cry of fear when i got into that game.

[@doranstewartstewart6521]

Who else is watching this after super great friends play through

[@swarler]

always wondered about the spears. thank you!

[@megabuster3940]

Is that an Evangelion reference? /s

[@mrboy9658]

Something in the waay mmmm ... Oh wait the wrong person

[@ShootingRiser]

Alright then final part of Walter Sullivan creeped me out😭 knocking at the door 🚪

[@Kagomai15]

So the assumption created two opposing eldritch forces from the blueprints of Walter and Valtiel!Walter

[@MakenshiCritiques]

The xtian jesus parallels also matches up with walter dying and resurrected

[@dillpickles9146]

Fantastic video!!! Love this channel.

[@michaelbrousseau1075]

Happy Halloween muse

[@davidlilley2736]

Explains all the weapons of choice in the game as for the numbers maybe he had to start again because he was killed I think I could be around I haven't really done any research on it so if I am wrong I apologise for trying to correct it I wasn't really trying to correct it I don't think no :-)

[@Xehanort10]

Walter was Dahlia's backup plan if Alessa birthing the Order's god didn't work out.

[@mariotaz]

Great video as always. Can't wait for you to talk about the circumcision theory lol (just for the the sheer madness) or heck, just to see how the Art of Silent Hill can be interpreted in such a way.

[@ABrickinTime]

Why does Walter Sullivan look like Brendan Fraser in Tarzan 😄

[@nodeberiaestaraqui93]

I thought he ressembled Kurt Cobain

[@ABrickinTime]

@@nodeberiaestaraqui93 you might be right about he original intention. Sounds familiar

[@JacquesMesrine94]

Waltuh....

[@Andriej69]

Nice! The main antagonist and everything revolving around him is the only good thing about this game!

[@DiablitoKawaii]

Maybe he saw all the victims as monsters

[@VVallago]

Thanks for this amazing video

[@donkeydonk127]

Great job

[@RagnarokiaNG]

He just wanted to live in his Mompartment.

[@inthedepthofsadness]

Time travel is one of the theories

[@ShootingRiser]

Theory continues# The little Walter could be the real Walter and i believe he somehow is the one helping Henry stand up to the evil walter. I also believe that Metatron could be doing some protection in the background.so this whole time, i believe we have actually been facing Valtiel himself or atleast an avatar of him.

[@ShootingRiser]

That would explain why the evil walter has no control over the little walter.

[@angieqwq5126]

Your videos need more attention, very well formatted with good detail, and just enough to understand the story

[@MatthewBester]

Played SH4 a few times. Can't believe I can't remember the Valtiel part. Where is this revealed?

[@boldbearings]

Another gem.

[@waltersullivan2727]

Great video what were the songs used throughout it btw?

[@ShootingRiser]

So this is my theory on what happened based on the Muse's video. So i believe that after Silent Hill 3, Valtiel was waiting for the moment to return so that he can bring forth "God" again. The ritual happened where Valtiel was placed inside Walter. The first batch of killings happened and we get to the murder of Billy and Miriam Locane. The real walter Sullivan snapped becaue of the horrible killing. He was cuaght at the scene of the crime. Arrested and sent to prison. I believe he tried to kill himself to prevent Valtiel from taking over. He died and was buried by Toluca Lake. Valtiel(Walter) appeared even though Walter was dead. Valtiel dug up Walters body and his the one that crucified him in the room and performed the ritual of the holy assumption. Bam we got the games events.

[@sc716756]

No, you're wrong. This video have a few critical mistakes so it's not valid. The point is Valtiel was not inside Walter but inside the other cult guy who died in prison instead of Walter. Police arrested the other man like Joseph said in his notes, so Walter was free the whole time and committed his victims in right order and then appeared in SAH to perform HA ritual. And also SH3 plot goes after SH4 plot on the timeline.

[@ShootingRiser]

@@sc716756 hmmm interesting 🤔

[@ShootingRiser]

@@sc716756 🧐

[@NOTYOURPROJECT555]

MUSE I Actually dont have to say anything here today but I still will do so, maybe for you to think about the purpose of my speech.

[@Crystalsyrp]

Amazing, can i ask what are the gifs and pictures in the background of random ghosts and monsters in the game? İt feels really creepy as if someone has recorded them secretly lol

[@scrunglenut6222]

good content.

[@BelieveIt1051]

Wrong answer again, Muse. While there were no fibers or fingerprints left behind at the crime scenes, Walter did carve his FULL NAME into each victim of the 10 Hearts. That, as well as his confession, were enough to convict him. Wow. WOW! Ha ha! Wow. Also, he had plenty of reasons to travel between South Ashfield Heights, Pleasant River, and Silent Hill. His murders took place within a ten day span. So constantly being on the move would have been necessary to evade capture. And returning to the scene of the crime is typical in many criminals. This also explains why he would return to Silent Hill, which was his home town. He likely sought sanctuary from the cult. When Rosten refused to protect him (since he did outright murder Jimmy Stone), Walter snapped at him, adding him to the list. It was shortly after this that the "Pyramid Head/Red Devil" entity of punishment appeared to Walter. This was either due to killing Rosten, or because Walter had come across the Locane children and did not want to kill them. He likely remembered his friends at Wish House when he saw them. This feeling of remorse and guilt is likely what summoned the "Red Devil". And YES, the Red Devil is the same entity as Pyramid Head. Walter and James saw the same entity, but likely perceived it as two different forms. For James it was a twisted version of the red hooded cult leader in the Historical Society photo. For Walter it was the first-person memory of Jimmy Stone who wore the same hood. So even in this, the same entity they witnessed took similar forms, though each was different. This vision drove Walter to desperation to finish the 10 Hearts to escape punishment. Hence the Locane murders. From here he ran back to the Heights to claim two more victims. Gregory was an easy target who could not fight back, similar to the children. Walsh was capable, but he was caught by surprise. The final murder was an easy one because it doubled as a necessary step of evading the police. All Walter had to do was hide. As for why he returned to the Heights, two reasons: it was where his "mother" was, and because it was a move the police might not have expected. They may have thought Walter would continue in the direction away from the Heights after Silent Hill. Instead, he backtracked. This also explains how he was caught. Walsh's family likely walked in on the scene soon after and were able to get the police to swarm the area immediately. Again, Walter carved his name into each victim aside from taking their hearts, so the details would have let the cops know that it was indeed Walter. A fellow classmate observed Walter shortly before he was arrested. That is how his quote ended up in the news article James found in the dumpster. So no, Walter was not caught at the Locane murder scene. But these child murders were likely what kicked the police departments into high gear, whereas the other murders were not given as much priority. For example, the cult murders were likely never reported to the authorities. The two college students were likely the first. Which means the police were looking for Walter in Pleasant River. The murders in the Heights drew them there. But Walter had already left for Silent Hill. After the Locane murders the police likely coordinated a dragnet across multiple counties due to the tragic nature of child killings as well as the brutality with which Miriam was murdered. From here Walter's only options would have been to do the unexpected and return to the scene of the Heights murders, which was also where his "mother" was. So once Silent Hill was eliminated as a place of sanctuary for him, he no longer saw it as home, and naturally returned to thoughts of Room 302 being his true home. The only real questions about Walter Sullivan are regarding when he performed the Ritual of the Holy Assumption. The Walter they caught was the real and only one. And he did kill himself with the soup spoon. But had he gained the power to cheat death by then or not? The game states he was seen dragging something heavy up to Room 302 a few days after his suicide. This was either the Ten Hearts and ritual components, and maybe the refrigerator, or it was his own body. In any case, the Walter that Braintree and Sunderland saw was his ghost form. He either performed the ritual at that time, or he did it before getting arrested. The body that was buried was either removed, or it was just his ghost form. Schreiber was the one who exhumed his grave. Personally I think Walter went straight to Room 302 after the Walsh murder to do the ritual. He completed every step except for his own sacrifice. He was arrested and jailed, and that is where he sacrificed himself. His body was then buried. That body later showed up in Room 302, likely in the Otherworld (which Henry experiences in the game). An alternative is that he sacrificed himself in Room 302 and his ghost form allowed himself to be caught. But this doesn't seem likely. There's no purpose in it. In the above theory, getting caught is more in line with his state of mind. He may have not had the nerve to sacrifice himself at the time, and may have felt guilt. Getting caught both makes him face his crimes, and locks him into a situation where he MUST kill himself or else be executed by the authorities, in which case the ritual wouldn't work. That made it easier for him to take his own life. Later, after becoming trapped in Room 302, Schreiber discovered Walter's physical body. This again implies his body was in the Otherworld, which is where Joseph and Henry both get trapped. Joseph seals the back rooms off during this time, since there is nothing else he can do. This had an effect in the real world where the wall is also sealed off when Henry moves in. Sunderland doesn't seem to notice, since he's not really all there when it comes to that room. Another thing you may have gotten wrong was when Rosten implanted Valtiel into Walter. The Fandom Wiki says this happened when Walter was still young, not when he was an adult. Also, you neglected to mention Dahlia Gillesspie's involvement in making Walter think Room 302 was his mother. Lastly, it's obvious who was helping Henry during the game. Young Walter, who also saved Eileen from being killed. Hence Walter's creation of the death machine so Eileen would essentially walk into her own death. Also of help was Joseph Schreiber, who gave Henry all the information. Eileen herself also helped by trying to get Frank Sunderland to open the door, which led to Frank mentioning the umbilical cord. She also reads various messages left by Walter around Wish House. And of course there was Frank Sunderland, who saved the umbilical cord, without which Henry and Eileen would have been doomed. So yeah, rather simple explanations for these issues that you've needlessly over-complicated.

[@thegamingmuse]

The thing about interpreting media is, there is no 'wrong answer'. You have the wrong attitude to begin with. Everything is open to interpretation, it's not an equation with an answer, it's a conversation with threads and theories and ideas. I like my ideas. You're free to disagree with them.

[@BelieveIt1051]

@@thegamingmuse Right, right. No wrong answer. "All of Walter's victims were found with no trace of evidence" and "The only way he would have been caught and associated with these deaths, is if he were at the scene of the crime" and "lack of evidence" all totally fit with the fact that Walter CARVED HIS FIRST AND LAST NAMES into each of his ten victims! Wow! Here's your participation trophy, Muse.

[@slaughterhouseboy9809]

Tldr

[@BelieveIt1051]

@@slaughterhouseboy9809 You're incapable of reading two sentences? Sad.

[@BelieveIt1051]

@hfgfdfg tfyfffg Regarding what? The comment about my reply being too long, or the reply to TheGamingRuse? It's just annoying when people make a vid about one of my favorite game franchises and make such an obvious error. It's like she didn't even research the issue at all, which I know isn't the case, but that's what the mistake makes it look like.

[@masonr1666]

I am confused as to where this lore comes from, I haven't finished SH4, I don't remember this being in notes.

[@midnightriot2454]

I thought it was 11/21 as in 11 out of 21 not 11121?

[@wareforcoin5780]

I always had the impression that Walter was a little on the spectrum, which made him more vulnerable to manipulation from the Order. I don't think he exactly understood what was going to happen to him. I assumed that he killed himself because he really didn't want to hurt people. No real evidence for this, just the feeling I got.

[@theMoporter]

I'm not discounting your interpretation, but I don't really see how it follows from what you said here, lol. I doubt allistic people would have expected a demon getting planted in the head or that they're less prone to that kind of realisation.

[@wareforcoin5780]

@@theMoporter He obviously had to go along with a plan in order to get the implant... I think he was manipulated, obviously.

[@llipethiago]

Perfect game! ❤

[@davidlilley2736]

So Walter isn't his name? That John is that John the Baptist. Who's in control news helping Henry isn't that the guy Joseph scribbler that at the end isn't ingame how did you get that or did I miss that somewhere somehow

[@NotTomorrow1]

11:33

[@alanbilton2547]

Mom

[@pauld-qy9pl]

So is this that 4 skin thing.

[@humblegamer7876]

grest video but just a little too much uwufication of Walter going on for my tastes lol prioritising wanting to see his mother over the lives of other people still isnt ok simply because we can understand it on an emotional level. people talking like he's this sweet guy inside just because he's alluring. cmon yall lol

[@thegamingmuse]

He's not a real person, and neither are his victims. As a fan of horror, I get into the dark villainous characters because that's what I enjoy horror for - the darkness, violence, and the worst parts of humanity brought to life. His conflict and complexity is fascinating to me, moreso than the half dozen of his victims we never even see on screen, and that's fine, because he's not real, and neither are they.

[@satanamogila9251]

Ґ'’‘''

[@JacquesMesrine94]

*_Waltuh..._*