Film: The Woman in Black

Director: James Watkins

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Ciarán Hinds, Janet McTeer

3/5

I will admit that I did not know there was a book on which this film is supposedly based; I was under the impression that it was based on the very popular West End play. As it turns out, this version in fact follows the original made-for-TV film adaptation from 1989 more closely than it does the book or the play and, I believe, suffers for it. However, it is important to try to appreciate it for its own sake first, and as an adaptation or copy second.

the film has all the action in the present and therefore falls back on standard horror film tricks

With that in mind, this film isn’t bad. The main character, Arthur Kipps (Daniel Radcliffe), has recently lost his wife and is in danger of losing his job at a law firm. To prove his dedication he must go to Eel Marsh House (a completely not ominous name whatsoever) and tie up the affairs of the widow that lived there. I’m not sure how such a menial task as collecting and reading someone’s paperwork will prove his dedication but, alas, I’m not a lawyer. He travels to the local village where he discovers that a vengeful ghost is offing the local children.

This film is not subtle. Unlike the play, which is done as a recreation of the events years later, the film has all the action in the present and therefore falls back on standard horror film tricks and, it might be said, shows its hand relatively early. The play has to be clever and subtle to achieve the same effects with less and actually achieves more than the film because of this. The film also cuts and changes a few key moments and details from the originals (book and play).

Granted, the film is actually quite frightening, and is successful in creating and sustaining tension (although I felt the music was a bit intrusive occasionally), and the jump-scares are executed well.  There was also no trace of the wizard wonder-boy in Daniel Radcliffe’s performance, or none that I could detect anyway. That said, although he does an acceptable job, he isn’t quite old enough for the role.

Overall, an enjoyable film with a disappointingly overindulgent ending.

Image: allmoviephoto.com