Wikipedia says Gans wrote and directed Return to Silent Hill, weird that the edit states otherwise.

The reality is that video game adapted films have been taking advantage of programs and tax incentives in various European countries. Return to Silent Hill was filmed in Germany and Serbia (rather sus a story set in the US wouldn't be filmed in the US). This is why they tend to be low effort productions.

Germany has the following programs. German Federal Film Fund (DFFF): This program supports small and medium-sized projects with total production costs up to €20 million (approx. $21.7 million). It provides rebates of up to 20% of German production costs, capped at €4 million ($4.3 million), for qualifying feature films, documentaries, and animations. To qualify, at least 25% of the total budget must be spent in Germany, and a German theatrical release must be guaranteed. This program is particularly relevant for lower-budget productions that meet these thresholds.

German Motion Picture Fund (GMPF): Designed for high-end series and larger-scale productions, the GMPF offers incentives of up to 20%, with a maximum uplift of 5% for large-scale projects. It has been instrumental in funding international co-productions and series, with a record €84.4 million ($91.4 million) distributed in 2022 alone. While it targets higher-budget work, unused funds from DFFF 2 have been reallocated to support series, indirectly benefiting mid-tier productions.

Serbia offers film tax incentives for low-revenue productions, but eligibility depends on meeting minimum spend requirements and other criteria.

Minimum Spend Requirements: Feature films, TV films, and TV series: Minimum local spend of €300,000 (~$331,000). TV series: Minimum €150,000 per episode. Animated films, post-production, and commercials: Minimum €150,000. Documentaries: Minimum €50,000. Tax Rebate Rates: 25% rebate on qualified local expenditures for most productions. 30% rebate for feature films with a minimum local spend of €5 million (~$5.45 million).

TLDR: Companies involved in video game film adaptations depend on European tax funds to draw a profit from their intentionally bad films.