The Woman In Black
"If we open the door to superstitions where does it lead?"
Can Susan Hill's 1983 novella which has been heralded as one of modern days greatest ghost stories be successfully adapted for the big screen and live up to what we have already built up in our heads?
The British horror thriller sees Daniel Radcliffe leave behind his Harry Potter role and step into the shoes of Hill's Arthur Kipps. The story follows young Victorian lawyer Kipps who has been sent to a recently deceased clients remote isolated home to clear out paper work. The villagers do not take well to Kipps arrival and want him to leave. Whilst working at Eel Marsh House he starts to uncover the tragic secret the villagers are trying to hide. He is soon in a desperate race against time when he is haunted by a vengeful ghost of a woman dressed only in black.
"Have you see her? The woman in black? She once lost a boy, and now she's back.
Our parents all worry, they make such a fuss: for if she can't find him, she'll take
one of us."
The eerie poem quoted by the children at the start of the film sets how the mood of the narrative will take, it also explains what is going on for those who are unsure of Hills story. A scorned spirit haunts Eel March House. Her presence is not one of joy, if you see her you die.
The eerie nature of the narrative is carried on throughout the whole story as the entire film is very bleak, shocking and terrifying. Throughout the film there are several disturbing deaths, most of these being children. The deaths of the children are a large part of the story. They appear regularly throughout and there to shock and scare. The main eerie point of this film obviously would be the woman in black herself who is also terrifying. When she appears you area aware something bad is going to happen, but also the fact she does not say a single word through the whole film is quite unsettling. Finally Eel March House, the setting of the majority of the film carries on the atmosphere. The house has clearly been lying empty for some time, creaky rooms are filled with creepy children's toys and it becomes completely isolated when the tide comes in.
"I do believe even the most rational of minds can play tricks in the dark."
Kipps comes across as a rational thinking guy until his thoughts run away with him when he gets wrapped up in the story unfolding at Eel Marsh House. Once he starts seeing things he can't explain he has to decide if they are real or just "tricks in the dark." Director James Watkins allows the viewer to be pulled into the story and start wondering along with Kipps if the woman in black is real. Watkins does this by his use of fear.
Unlike many horrors of the previous years this film does not rely on the narrative of a slasher with lots of blood and gore to shock and scare. The film is beautifully shot with lots of use of empty space to fill the viewer with dread. Watkins uses this style to the fullest by waiting to the last possible minute to scare the audience. The film also has all the signature styles of Hammer using close ups and suspense built up through the use of music and noise to scare its audience. With the story being of a traditional ghost story this style of filmmaking works well as the fear comes from the power of suggestion rather than a killer with a knife.
"I feel she's there, trying to reach me."
This film was always going to have a sizable success at the box office due to Radcliffe's fan base and Hill's novella selling steadily since its publication. Its not the most sophisticated and in-depth story but it does get the audiences jumping in all the right places. Overall the film is effective due to the terrifying woman in black appearing and getting adrenaline going, and Radcliffe's portrayal of a haunted man.
Unfortunately being a fan of Hill's work having read this story many times I was disappointed mainly with the film not sticking to the original story. In the book we are sharing Kipps looking back on one of the most terrifying moments of his life, but the film doesn't follow this. Another main difference was now Kipps is a widow which left we wondering though the whole film what they would now do with the ending. I realised that after being scared for a hour I did not enjoy the fact this film was given a Hollywood happily ever after ending.
Overall I enjoyed this film, but it may be better for people who have not read the book previously. Radcliffe has now successfully left his days of Harry Potter behind him with this more mature role. I would recommend this film for fans of scary films. Even though the Harry Potter star is the main lead I would not recommend taking a young audience member due to the nature of the film.
I would give this film 4 out 5 stars.
Sources:
www.hammerfilms.com
www.imdb.com
www.ranker.com
www.rottentomatoes.com
www.totalfilm.com
www.womaninblack-movie.co.uk
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