These quotes from Silent Hill icon James Sunderland have stuck with fans because of how eerie, memorable, and impactful they are.
James Sunderland has become one of the most recognizable protagonists in the video game horror genre ever since he first appeared in Silent Hill 2 back in 2001. What makes James so fondly remembered by horror fans is how relatable he is as a character. He isn’t a special agent sent in to clean up the streets of Silent Hill from monsters, but instead, is simply a troubled man whose overwhelming grief leads him down a long and very dark path.
Throughout this personal journey, James comes out with several quotes that have ended up being quite impactful, whether because they revealed a lot about the character or just the sick and twisted nature of Silent Hill itself. James has had his fair share of memorable lines throughout his respective game, but the ones listed below have stood the test of time as fan favorites since the release of the original Silent Hill 2. Before jumping in, please be advised that this list will contain minor spoilers for the story of Silent Hill 2.
Updated November 7, 2024 by Ewan Lewis:Though the Silent Hill 2 Remake didn’t take too many creative liberties with the story and characters, it still did an excellent job at improving upon everything that made the original so special. This most certainly includes James Sunderland himself who, while still very true to his original counterpart, has been fleshed out to feel a lot more relatable and sympathetic.
As a result, the man himself has thrown out a few extra quotes that go a long way in defining the character and providing a glimpse into why exactly he decided to wander back into Silent Hill in the first place.9 « I Guess I Really Don’t Care If It’s Dangerous Or Not »
Though he doesn’t realize it until much later in the story, Silent Hill 2 is all about James facing his guilty conscience, which includes him finding a way to punish himself for his past actions. Nowhere is this more clear than at the beginning of the game during James’ baffling interaction with Angela. At first, James seems cautious about whether the Silent Hill town is dangerous or not, but after a moment, he realizes deep down, he doesn’t care « If it’s dangerous or not. »
The truth is, James could be walking into a literal minefield, but the guilt that constantly hangs over his head has made him numb to the fear – pushing him to constantly put his life in danger as a form of self-punishment. It’s a haunting line that provides an early indication of James’ fractured mental state, and his numbness to the horrors that surround him.8 « She’s Not Here »
James utters this line during the new story cutscene between him and Maria in the Silent Hill 2 Remake. After saying that she would lead James to an area where Mary might be waiting for him, the pair ends up arriving at a gloomy-looking Lady of the Water statue, which Maria proceeds to discuss the history of to a pretty miserable-looking James.
Unsatisfied with the situation, James, in a moment of frustration, says bluntly to Maria « She’s not here », in reference to his late wife Mary. On the one hand, this is one of the rare moments in the remake where James shows raw emotion outside of his disillusionment, but it also references the fact that Mary isn’t in Silent Hill at all, something that James may have started realizing at this very moment.
