This nuanced perspective is woven into the fabric of Silent Hill f. Set in the rigid societal climate of 1960s Japan, the game reinterprets traditional expectations of the ‘ideal’ woman as cosmic nightmares. Players encounter grotesque, maternal tumors and ghostly, fog-shrouded brides. Amidst this floral decay, the protagonist, Hinako, must navigate her survival with nothing but grit and a blunt lead pipe.
“For me, women are figures of respect, adoration, and friendship, but also of deep-seated fear. They are enigmatic—I am forever captivated by them and equally intimidated,” Ryukishi07 elaborates. “Throughout my career, I haven’t written a single horror story that could have existed without the presence of female characters.”
Despite his extensive body of work, Ryukishi07 believes that women should remain somewhat of a mystery to men. To him, the horror he crafts is almost a form of veneration. “We can never truly claim to understand the opposite sex. To do so would be arrogant. We must respect the fact that we are destined to remain somewhat of a mystery to one another.”
“Exploring themes centered around womanhood is the ultimate gesture of respect I can offer as a writer,” he concludes.
Related: Why Silent Hill f’s brutal look at womanhood is a horror masterpiece.
