Horror films - I used to love the old slashers when I was a teenager but as I got older the films like Saw just didn't do it for me.
I do love a ghost story though and I heard a lot of good things about the stage play of The Woman in Black, so when the film version came out over the summer in the cinema I managed to convince my friend to come with me.
She had seen the stage play, so she had no excuse to have a go about it being scary.
The film stars Daniel Radcliffe as Arthur Kipps, a solicitor who after losing his young wife and with a young son has to prove to his boss he has what it takes to be a solicitor. He is sent away to Eel Marsh House to sort out a woman's affairs after her death including all her paperwork.
However, when he turns up the locals are less than helpful, probably not helped by the mysterious woman in black and the fact that whenever she appears a children dies in awful circumstances.
This film is the highest grossing British film so far, and when you watch it you can see why.
It is a true gothic horror, dark and eerie with a lot of fog. It isn't full of big jumps, the scariest bit happens over one night and probably takes up 20 minutes of the film. But it is terrifying, well I thought so anyway.
As much as I love Daniel Radcliffe I do have a little issue with him being a dad, only because I think he looks too young to have a son but other than that the pain and sorrow in his heart is portrayed perfectly on Daniel's face.
The film is just hauntingly good. I don't like certain things in horror films - creepy kids and creepy toys, this film has both...in the first few minutes.
This film is just a pure horror film, so blood, no torture-porn just a true Hammer horror of the golden age of cinema.
The screenplay was written by Jane Goldman who also wrote Stardust, so you know it is going to be good.
I also read the book, which is just as scary. It also has a different ending but worth a read before seeing the film. However, when I read the thud, thud in the book I stopped reading, if you have seen the film you will know why.
Now I just need to see the play!
Thank you, Charlotte for such a personalized review. I got the opportunity to see The Women in Black while on a business trip for Dish, fun fun. Like you, I truly loved the film, Radcliff does have a young face, but unfortunately he will be dealing with that throughout his career. I’m a movie watching junkie so I am logged on to Dish Online constantly, especially when I’m traveling, it calms me between appointments. Can’t wait for the next installment; I’m anxious to see what happens with Arthur Kipps afterlife.
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