Mini Review
The Woman In Black is a film based on a play of the same name. For those unfamiliar with the play, it is a story of recently widowed Arthur Kipps (Radcliffe), who's wife unfortunately dies in childbirth, leaving Arthur with the baby. He is a young solicitor, trying to make partner at his firm. In order to prove himself to his employers, Arthur takes on the task of settling the estate of an elderly woman in a remote village. Upon arrival he is greeted coolly by the residents of the village and a number of attempts are made to get him to leave, before their secret, the woman in black, is discovered.
I rather foolishly watched this at an early evening show on the first day of release and the screening was packed with shrieking school kids. This is because, equally foolishly, the distributers made the film a 12A certificate! My main reason for disagreeing with the certification is that shrieking kids rather ruin the spooky atmosphere being created by the filmmakers. My second is that in my humble opinion, this is too scary for 12 year olds (or younger).
While the film is not particularly graphic or gory it is jumpy and the lady herself has quite grotesque features that stick in the mind long after the credits have rolled. The film itself is a good showcase for Radcliffe who quite sufficiently proves he can do more than Potter, even if he's not quite leading man material just yet - he's still a tad too young to be believable as a father and a widower. And as a horror it does everything it's meant to, makes you anticipate what's coming, makes you jump/cover your eyes in all the right places. But it's not a classic by any stretch. And even though I haven't seen the play I would put money on it being better and scarier.
On the whole, a satisfying spook-fest and a well told, interesting story. Just either see it at a late night screening with no children or wait for the DVD. 7.5 out of 10.
Viewing Date - 10th February 2012
UK Release Date - 10th February 2012
Cast Overview:
Daniel Radcliffe ~ Arthur Kipps
Ciaran Hinds ~ Sam Daily
Janet McTeer ~ Elizabeth Daily
Sophie Stuckey ~ Stella Kipps
Misha Handley ~ Joseph Kipps
Liz White ~ Jennet Humfrye
Director ~ James Watkins
Writer(s) ~ Susan Hill (Novel) and Jane Goldman (Screenplay)
I read the book when i was a kid and saw the Play in London about 7 years ago. Its been spooky in each medium! ooooooooooooooooohhhhhhh!
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