Talk:Grey Child

Symbolism
I was under the impression that the Grey Children represented the other children that tormented Alessa during her childhood, or does that only pertain to the movie? Xeno the Hedgehog 04:02, 8 June 2009 (UTC)
 * The way I see it, in the games they're the distorted perception of the children that ridiculed her. I see the movie more based on a burning Alessa, a manifestation of her own pain. --Faded-Myth 04:11, 8 June 2009 (UTC)
 * I'm pretty sure they represent the children that tormented her in both versions, at least that's what I've read on several fansites such as Silent Hill Media X and Translated Memories. Xeno the Hedgehog 04:17, 8 June 2009 (UTC)
 * It's possible, but manifestations of peoples pain in Silent Hill lead to multiple kinds of the same monster, such as many lying figures and many Nurses, rather than just one. If this is the case with the children, it's more than likely that Alessa's pain was so great she created many burning children, based on her own image and suffering. The burning skin and the fact they're on fire, as well as the screaming, help with that theory. Granted, you could also say that Alessa inflicted the same suffering she endured on the other children, who are now trapped in that state. --Faded-Myth 04:26, 8 June 2009 (UTC)
 * I find it doesn't fit to say the Grey Children represent Alessa's classmates because (at least in the movie) their burning bodies, screams, and methods of attack are so clearly symbolic of Alessa. The classmates theory simply brings up too many 'why's in the context of the movie. Such as, why are they screaming in pain if they represent Alessa's classmates and not Alessa herself? Why do they attack Rose by reaching out as if to hug her? That action is something that would be symbolic of Alessa's need for someone to care about her, not her classmates. Why do they burn from the inside out, something clearly representative of Alessa and not her classmates? The classamtes theory simply creates more questions than it answers. AlessaGillespie 00:05, 9 June 2009 (UTC)
 * I agree with that in the context of the movie, completely. However the game is a much different representation. They neither burn nor scream and merely roam the school. I think the fact they're located in the school in the game is the biggest indication as to what they represent. If they were a symbol of her burning, they would appear elsewhere. So I think keeping both is fine so long as its clearly distinct between the two. --Faded-Myth 01:53, 9 June 2009 (UTC)


 * Yeah, I was talking about the movie only, as I agree with that particular theory in the context of the game, but not the movie. AlessaGillespie 02:30, 10 June 2009 (UTC)
 * In the Silent Hill movie DVD making-of featurettes, it was stated that the monsters are in fact humans that are being punished in some way. This is made obvious by the presence of Colin the Janitor, and if I'm not mistaken, the filmmakers themselves clearly stated that the Grey Children, as seen in the film, were the other schoolchildren that tormented Alessa; she made them suffer as she had suffered. Xeno the Hedgehog 06:33, 10 June 2009 (UTC)


 * I think with the film, it's a combination of the two. Yes, they may represent the classmates and children, but if so then they've been given the same punishment that Alessa suffered. I think it fits the Silent Hill themes that Alessa's burning and suffering, great as it was to split her soul in two, would be manifested in some physical way. If the Grey Children aren't a direct representation of Alessa's suffering, then in the case of the movie, then they can only otherwise be children that made fun of her, suffering a permanent version of Alessa's own fate. --Faded-Myth 06:48, 10 June 2009 (UTC)


 * Gans has made several conflicting comments about the monsters, most likely because he wanted the fans to use the movie as a reference for deciding what they were, so his statements can't be used in this particular case. So, I repeat my questions about why Alessa's classamtes would be put into a form that so clearly represents Alessa herself, and act in a way that can't really be symbolic of anything except Alessa. Add to that, if each monster is a person Alessa killed, then how do you explain the thousands of Creepers? I highly doubt Alessa dragged thousands of people into the alternate dimension. AlessaGillespie 07:12, 10 June 2009 (UTC)

Here's a comment I deleted from my above paragraph before I posted it: It's a well trodden staple of the Silent Hill symbolism that the monsters formed are from a unique perspective, and not always borne from another existing person. Nurses for example represent hospitalization, not just nurses specifically. Many of Jame's monsters are a manifestation of his sexual desires and repression, not people at all. Frankly, I think most of the children are either dead, or theoretically, some of the younger adults seen in the movie. --Faded-Myth 07:21, 10 June 2009 (UTC)


 * Oh yeah, I definitely think Alessa pulled her classmates into the Otherworld and killed them, but I don't see where it's possible that they're either represented or literally are the Grey Children. Due to the sheer number of creatures in the Otherworld, it's impossible that any of them are literally a person's soul being tortured and twisted by Alessa. And since the grey children burn, scream, and reach out in a hugging motion, I don't see how they represent anyone but Alessa. AlessaGillespie 07:48, 10 June 2009 (UTC)

From the grape vine

 * The children in the game with the knives are called "demon children" and the harmless little ghosts that squeak when you shine the flashlight on them are called something else, but a lot of gamers call them "squeakers" or "spirits". Grey Children are only from the movie I believe... I could be wrong you guys may have to ask around.Cybil24
 * I think your referring to Larval Stalker, Mumblers and Claw Finger respectively. Mumblers were cut out of the Pal version because the censors thought they were too closely resembling to children. We'll have to get that cleaned up. I'd totally forgotten about their names. --Faded-Myth 07:00, 10 June 2009 (UTC)

Sympathy for the Grey Children
Reading their description for the movie, I feel extremely bad for them. I mean, they only want to be comforted, and they're crying out in pure anguish as they burn from the inside out. --Ryushu the Cat

Demon Child vs. Grey Child
I agree with a previous post by Cybil24; I think the creatures shown in the game are called Demon Children, and the ones shown in the film are the Grey Children. In fact, every guide I've read written prior to 2005 mentions them the first way; only the guides, reviews and walkthroughs written after the movie was released call them Grey Children. The Konami Official Guide, written when the game came out, doesn't mention them at all, though, and focuses only on Mumblers.


 * I am pretty sure I heard the term "Grey Children" well before the release of the movie. I don't know exactly where I would have heard it after all these years though, but didn't the PS1 manual list (some of the) monsters?  The fact that "Demon Children" was used prior to what I assume would be the release of the "Complete Works" (which I think was the name of the one for the Mega Man series, but whatever) would actually indicate it as a false name or nickname, for the same reason that Lying Figures were known as "Patient Demons" and Abstract Daddies were referred to as "Doormen" before the release of the book.  I don't think they've ever expressly termed any of the nightmares or night terrors (as I like to refer to them) as demons by name, just vague terms to represent ideas of their malformation.  -- Somarinoa 15:41, October 10, 2011 (UTC)