Amnion
From Silent Hill Wiki
Amnion is the final boss of Silent Hill: Homecoming, and a possible manifestation of Joshua Shepherd's angry and vengeful side or Alex Shepherd's overwhelming guilt over his brother's demise. Amnion appears as an androgynous humanoid figure attached to a large mechanical apparatus that resembles a spider. The human body is pale and bloated, like a waterlogged corpse, or a woman in the final days of pregnancy. It has no arms and its eight spider-like mechanical legs are fused into the sides of its ribs. Another feature is a hose-like structure that comes out of its mouth and attaches between its legs, like an umbilical cord. However, it convulses and flows as if it has water circulating in it. Amnion's face (which greatly resembles Alex and Josh's mother) also extends forward in slices, all attached to a mechanical frame which fits back together. The spider limbs also end in very wicked claw-like instruments, much liken to that of the horrific surgical tools seen in the game's opening scene.
Contents |
Silent Hill: Homecoming
Amnion appears when Alex finds the same ritual chamber where The Order buried their sacrifices. After learning it was he who had accidentally killed Josh by taking him out to the lake, where he fell off the boat and drowned, he realizes that it was he, Alex, who was destined to be sacrificed, as stated on the sacrificial slabs plates. Josh's death did not ruin the ritual itself; it was the emotional strain of now lacking both children that broke Alex's parents, and so they refused to carry out the proper sacrifice. After this realization, Alex shifts back to the Otherworld and Amnion descends from the ceiling, initiating the final boss fight.
After its death, Alex slices its pregnant belly open, revealing Joshua's corpse, and the mechanical contraption collapses. Alex comes to terms with what he's done and begs his brother's forgiveness, leaving him with both the ring they fought over on the boat (the fight led to Josh's death) and the flashlight that Alex had given to Josh years before.
Character
Amnion has a wide attack radius, knocks Alex down with most attacks, and can take a good deal of damage before falling. It attacks with both wide, sweeping motions and vertical assaults with its front legs. Also, when it inhales and extends its face, it sprays gallons of water from its mouth to damage Alex. When Alex comes within melee range, it sometimes leaps straight up in the air and slams down, knocking Alex backwards if he hasn't moved out of the way.
After taking enough damage, it shifts its now-bloodied body to face forward rather than hanging downwards, and its two front legs shift as well to act more like arms than legs. Its attacks become more brutal and swift. It keeps its general attack pattern, with the addition of a few new attacks. It can slam both its arms down, which inadvertently pin its hands down and leaves it open for several moments. It also now sprays toxic water up in the air which rains down. Finally, it can also grab Alex when he's underneath its legs, lifting him up and throwing him down without giving him a chance to break free. Firearms aren't advised against this creature, as it takes too long to aim.
Symbolism
Amnion potentially represents Josh's anger towards Alex, wanting him to own up to Josh's murder. Another interpretation suggest that Amnion represents Alex's guilt.
Its form is derived mainly from Josh's death via drowning and his love of insects and arachnids (namely spiders), as evidenced by his collection and drawings. It is also representative of the fact that Josh was "babied" by his parents, and was in fact called a baby by Alex not long before his death; this notion is supported by the position of Josh's body (curled up) within the pregnant body.
Further symbolism of the theme of birth and Josh's death include: the name "amnion" referencing the amniotic sac that surrounds a fetus, the tube of water protruding from her mouth referring to the act of drowning as well as the imagery of an umbilical cord, and the iron lung component used for Amnion's "neck."
Trivia
- The photo found in the playground is foreshadowing of the final boss battle, the spider representing Amnion and the toy soldier representing Alex.
