By The flowers in Silent Hill f are not merely an attractive addition.
By
Jessica Cogswell
on
Since the introduction of Silent Hill f in 2022, I’ve observed one query circulating online with considerably more intensity and regularity than any others: Does it link to the broader series? After extended anticipation and theorizing, we finally possess an answer.
Alert: Spoilers for Silent Hill f ahead.
If you’ve completed Silent Hill f, you’re aware of its startling initial conclusion. It unveils that the Hinako navigating Ebisugaoka is, in fact, a twenty-something-year-old Hinako experiencing profound, drug-induced delusions. While players witnessed what appeared to commence as a typical day for our adolescent protagonist, we ultimately reveal that, in reality, it is Hinako’s wedding day, and she has spent the last several hours taking the lives of her friends and family members. Her actions are undeniably horrific, yet become understandable with a little investigation.
As it happens, Hinako has been consuming Kakura-Makakura, a natural remedy crafted from crushed Hakkokusou seeds enclosed in small, crimson capsules. Initially prescribed by her acquaintance Shu to alleviate persistent tension migraines, it becomes apparent that the budding apothecary provided her the drug without adequately evaluating the dangers of its use or thoroughly pondering its reputation. A collection of diary entries on Shu’s desk provides minimal clarity regarding the medication, as he notes that he recommended it to her to “reduce her dependence” on conventional pharmaceuticals, blending peony and kudzu root to create it. Luckily, documents scattered across the town and spirit domain allow us to discover a bit more about the remedy ourselves.
According to scholarly articles discovered in Silent Hill f, Hakkokusou is also known as “the deity’s flower.” The documents continue to explain that the herb plays a significant role in mythology, granting those who ingest its seeds the power to communicate with deities, visit their domains, and unleash latent abilities—all of which transpire to Hinako. Ultimately, the writings depict Hakkokusou as “notoriously challenging to cultivate due to its necessity for an exceedingly specific environment for growth” and is “seldom located in nature.” It is thus logical that the sole instance of Hakkokusou in Silent Hill f is in proximity to Shu’s residence, which additionally functions as the town’s apothecary.
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Once you arrive at Shu’s residence, you’ll encounter a modest pond encircled by enormous, white blooms that are unlike any you’ve encountered in the town–and this is exactly where Silent Hill f illustrates its connections to the other Silent Hill titles. Although referred to as Hakkokusou in Silent Hill f, enthusiasts of Silent Hill will identify these blooms as White Claudia, a “perennial herb generally located near water” that boasts white petals and contains psychoactive seeds.
From the inception of the series, White Claudia has held a significant position in Silent Hill. In the inaugural game, the main character Harry Mason discovers various documents indicating that the cultists within the game have been consuming the flower’s seeds during their rituals, partially elucidating their strange actions. While exploring the town’s hospital, he additionally uncovers a shattered bottle of Aglaophotis–a viscous, crimson liquid later revealed to be processed White Claudia.
In Silent Hill 3, Heather Mason, Harry’s daughter, refers to a pendant that her father gifted her as one of her “most cherished possessions.” If you examine its item description, it states, “There’s a gem inside, resembling a little red tablet.” As the game progresses, it is revealed that this gem is in fact a small vial of Aglaophotis too. Most recently, White Claudia resurfaced in the remake of Silent Hill 2, where developer Bloober Team introduced a new conclusion that sees James consume the substance and start to envision his wife Mary prior to her terminal illness.
To further substantiate this theory, it’s beneficial to delve deeper into the liquid variant of White Claudia, Aglaophotis. As per Fandom’s Silent Hill entry regarding the in-game substance, “Aglaophotis may have been a tangible herb, sometimes associated with the identity of the European peony. The Greek physician Dioscorides classified Aglaophotis as a member of the peony family, Paeoniaceae.” This aligns directly with Shu’s journal notes, which mention him employing peonies to create Kakura-Makakura. Finally, Agura no Hotei-sama–one of the items needed to achieve Silent Hill f’s Fox Wedding conclusion–is described as a medicine container filled with a crimson liquid, akin to Aglaophotis. Subsequently, Hinako is compelled to ingest the processed “flower of the gods” to stabilize herself in the spirit realm.
Therefore, while Silent Hill f may not unfold within Silent Hill, it is safe to assert that it undeniably exists within the same universe and touches on the same threads and motifs as its forerunners. It is also important to highlight that it stands among the finest titles in the series, with our Silent Hill f review praising it as “a visual marvel, an exceptional piece in psychological horror, a narrative masterpiece, and a new standard for the Silent Hill franchise.”
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