Silent Hill f screenwriter Ryukishi07 believes fear and fascination toward women lie at the heart of the genre’s most powerful stories. The creator of When They Cry explains why female characters stand at the center of Konami’s latest chapter, rather than waiting to be saved.
After years of waiting, we can finally say that the first truly new, full-scale Silent Hill game has arrived, setting aside the smaller but excellent The Short Message. Developed by NeoBards Entertainment and written by Ryukishi07, Silent Hill f marks a bold departure not only in setting, but in its narrative focus as well. Themes such as harassment, broken families, social conservatism, and misogyny in mid-20th-century Japan form the backbone of a story shaped by an author who openly admits his fear of women.
Two months after release, Silent Hill f may have been overlooked by several awards shows, but players made their verdict clear: the game currently holds an “A+” rating on Steam. Its impact has secured NeoBards Entertainment a spot among studios worth watching, and Ryukishi07 has since reflected on how the project came together — one that even encouraged Konami to consider placing future Silent Hill stories outside the United States.
According to the writer, horror audiences are largely male, and emotional distance from women often produces a volatile mix of attraction, affection, and fear. “The emotions that emerge from the existence of women are what give rise to complex drama,” he explains, describing this tension as a cornerstone of the genre.
Ryukishi07 Says His Stories Wouldn’t Exist Without Women
Silent Hill f embodies this philosophy in its purest form. Set in rural Japan during the 1960s, the game turns social expectations imposed on women — to be obedient daughters, wives, or mothers — into cosmic horror. Monstrous imagery, such as grotesque pregnancies that spawn killers or spectral brides spreading fog like a disease, serves as a metaphor, while the young protagonist Hinako is forced to confront this world through raw, visceral violence.
For Ryukishi07, this approach stems from a deeply contradictory relationship with women. “Women scare me,” he admits, while simultaneously describing them as captivating, almost cosmic beings. He insists that none of his horror stories could exist without them, as they form the emotional and symbolic core of his work, even when the fear they evoke defies explanation.
The When They Cry creator goes even further, stating that working with female themes represents “the greatest act of respect” he can offer. This belief permeates Silent Hill f entirely. “Claiming that we understand the opposite sex would be arrogant,” he told GamesRadar, likening the horror he writes around women to a form of devotion. For Ryukishi07, these stories are not exploitation or provocation, but expressions of reverence, respect, and love.
Source: 3djuegos
