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Silent Hill 1 ReferencesNatural Born Killers Cafe 5 to 2 is the name of the cafe in Natural Born Killers. The sign with the name can be seen in the opening credits. Stephen King Stephen King was a columnist for the University of Maine's student-run newspaper, The Maine Campus. In 1970, he was close to graduating, so he and photographer Frank Kadi went out into the woods with a shotgun looking to make a memorable cover for the paper. The photo appeared with the words "Study, Dammit!" since it was for finals week, and was designed for students to rip it off and use it as a poster. However, there are many references to King in the series. Bachmann Road. is also a reference to Stephen King, who wrote some books under the pseudonym Richard Bachmann.   There are also Pet Sematary posters in Old Silent Hill. Medieval Madness Pinball Medieval Madness is a real pinball machine. 7/11 The Eight Convenience Store resembles the real-world 7-11 stores. Demons The Metropol Theater, next to Cafe 5 to 2, is the location where Dario Argento's movie, Demons, takes place. The tickets that the characters are given in the movie are also visible on the wall of the theater. There are also posters of the character Rosemary, who turns into a demon and spews green slime from her mouth. Blue Belle Roughly across the street from Cafe 5 to 2, there is a store called Blue Belle, referring the Andrew Vachss novel. It's apparently a true crime novel but I haven't read this one! Also look out for Vachss St. early in the second game! Coca Cola The station wagon in front of cafe 5 to 2 has a Coca Cola bumper sticker. However, the game isn't choosing a side in the "cola wars," because a Pepsi logo can also be found on a bench near the school! Silence of the Lambs "Bill Skins Fifth" is a reference to the character Buffalo Bill from Silence of the Lambs. His character is skinning women, and newspaper headlines referring to this are seen in the movie. Portishead There are Portishead posters near the door in the cafe. Burger King Queen Burger refers to Burger King. Boston Market Poston Market appears in SH1, Origins, and SHSM. Miller beer This sign refers to Miller Beer. Genesis P Orridge There are many references to Genesis Breyer P-Orridge and her bands over the years such as Throbbing Gristle and Psychic TV. Genesis was important in the founding of Industrial Records and the industrial music scene, and was a friend of William S Burroughs, and a writer and artist. I recommend the autobiography Nonbinary, as well as the Re/Search issue featuring Throbbing Gristle, William Burroughs, and Brion Gysin. Gen's 2003 book Painful but Fabulous was good but is out of print now. Shown in the picture is a painting I did of Genesis, my Psychic TV tattoo, and a copy of Throbbing Gristle's Third and Final Report. Psychic TV is written on the boxes in the hospital basement as well as in the room where you last encounter Lisa in Nowhere. If you check the bridge control sign, it's called Orridhe Bridge Control Room. Jack Finney Jack Finney wrote the novel The Body Snatchers, which was made into the film Invasion of the Body Snatchers. James Ellroy James Ellroy is not a horror writer, but a writer of "hard-boiled" crime fiction stories set. He seems a bit obsessed with the Black Dahlia, and is probably best known for writing LA Confidential. He has an easily identifiable prose style and also had a TV show on Investigation Discovery called LA City of Demons. Flowers for Algernon Flowers for Algernon was a book by Daniel Keyes about a laboratory mouse. The Shining "Redrum" spells "murder" backwards and refers to The Shining. The Stanley Hotel was also the basis for the Lakeview Hotel in Silent Hill 2. Konami Konami Burger in Central Silent Hill refers to the game company. Die Hard 2 The Crusher Dan movie poster resembles the Die Hard 2 poster. Indiana Jones The Shoot poster on Theater 3 resembles Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones. McDonald's Mec Burger is a burger joint with golden arches in the resort area. Kindergarten Cop The Astoria School was the basis for Midwich Elementary school, from the front area to the lobby to various posters inside. Harry's outfit is also similar to Arnold Swartzeneggar's. The name Midwich also refers to the Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham, the basis for Children of the Damned. There is a Wyndham statue in Silent Hill Shattered Memories. For a side by side comparison of Kindergarten Cop and Midwich Elementary, check out this video on YouTube. Pepsi Near the school, there is a bench with a Pepsi logo on it. Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 Cut Rite Chainsaws, where Harry can get the chainsaw weapon, is based on the shop where Dennis Hopper's character shops in TCM2. This movie also featured Bill Mosely as Chop Top, Leatherface's brother, long before he was in any Rob Zombie films. Carrie and 13 Monkeys The FAA store is from 13 Monkeys, which also has a character played by Brad Pitt which Vincent from SH3 was based upon. A Carrie poster can be seen on the store. Carrie is also relevant because it is about a young girl with supernatural powers. Shell Station A "hell" station with a shell logo is near Balkan Church. Jim Beam a Jim Beam logo can be seen near the redrum graffiti. Jack Daniels A faded Jack Daniels poster can be seen next to the redrum graffiti. Robert Bloch Robert Bloch is best known as the author of Psycho. The motel also references this. Ira Levin Ira Levin was the author of Rosemary's Baby. Richard Matheson Richard Matheson wrote I am Legend, Hell House (the film version was called Legend of Hell House), and 16 episodes of The Twilight Zone. Ray Bradbury Ray Bradbury was a prolific writer of science fiction, best known for the dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451. He also wrote a large number of short stories. Mark Twain Another book store is named after Mark Twain. Little Shop of Horrors Mushnik's Florist is from Little Shop of Horrors, and the sign on the window references the plant Audrey Jr. from the movie. Ernest Hemingway A cafe called A Moveable Feast refers to Hemingway, as do the cigarettes in SHSH, 0rigins and Downpour. The mansion owner, Ernest, in SH2 may also refer to him. |