Can someone who has played the games fill me in on Pyramid Head's role or purpose in the games?
Long story short: Phead was the physical manifestion of a character named James In SH2 who had serious guilt ridden feelings regarding his wife. In one point in the game, he sees an image of an old Silent Hill executoner and takes that image and it ends up representing the characters feelings toward himself. (phead is seen going after James primarily)
Silent hill originally had no underground coal mines and all that. Its deserted because the characters enter a type of altered reality...this is loosely tied to Alessa...only explanation fans' have been sorta given to explain why there is an altered reality to start.....caused by the pain Alessa endured...they have gotten away from that now.
Interesting tidbit on the movie: Gans wanted to have the final battle be a bunch of Pheads attacking the Cult, but cut it due to time/budget issues. And the movie studio wanted the husband character in the movie as they didnt feel a woman could carry it alone...sad, but true!