“The Woman in Black” is your typical ghost story with all of the ghost story elements: an isolated mansion, mysterious deaths, a spooky graveyard, a woman in black whose appearance coincides with tragedies, frightened villagers, long-buried secrets. The story takes place in Victorian England, the house is haunted and the ghost is definitely unfriendly. Director James Watkins gets maximum atmosphere from his sets and there are plenty of ‘boo!’ moments. Daniel Radcliff plays Arthur Kipps, a London-based solicitor with a four-year old son whose career has been in a tailspin since the death of his wife in childbirth. His firm has given him a last chance – travel to the estate of the late Mrs. Alice Drablow, Eel March House, and settle her affairs. In the nearby town, Arthur in met with open suspicion and hostility. The only friendly couple is Sam and Elizabeth Daily (Ciarán Hinds and Janet McTeer), who greet Arthur with warmth and offer help. Upon arriving at Eel March House, Arthur’s beliefs in what is possible are challenged in a series of supernatural occurrences, whispers in the dark, music boxes that play, rocking chairs that rock, and the creepy Woman in Black.
Although Daniel Radcliff manages to do a creditable job, he seems too young for the role and his screen presence is less imposing than that of his co-stars, Ciarán Hinds and Janet McTeer, both of whom seem more at ease in front of the camera. And while the ending isn’t a conventional happy ending (which really wouldn’t fit with the previous dark and brooding 90 minutes), it ends in a way that’s lighter and offers a sense of closure. “The Woman in Black” will certainly provide some genuine scares if that’s what you’re after. For me, this genre isn’t my cup of tea. 2/12/12
1 comment:
This spooker was pretty predictable but it was a cut above the usual scary........worth seeing
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