One of our loyal readers, a Mr. Brett Edward Stout, had the opportunity to see an early screening of The Woman in Black and has written a wonderful review about the upcoming horror starring Mr. Harry Potter himself. Thanks Brett!
At first glance, you might dismiss The Woman in Black as “Harry Potter and the Haunted Mansion,” and you’d be wrong. Watching TWIB is akin to taking a tour through a well-conceived fun house with expertly crafted spooks and scares around every corner. Best of all, the film successfully does what most horror movies fail to do; frighten you.
Arthur Kipps (Radcliffe), a widowed lawyer whose grief has put his career in jeopardy, is sent to a remote village to sort out the affairs of a recently deceased eccentric. But upon his arrival, it soon becomes clear that everyone in the town is keeping a deadly secret. Although the townspeople try to keep Kipps from learning their tragic history, he soon discovers that the house belonging to his client is haunted by the ghost of a woman who is determined to find someone and something she lost… and no one, not even the children, are safe
from her vengeance.
First, to tackle the Harry Potter feeling people have when they see the film’s star Daniel Radcliffe. Yes, congruencies can be made between the dark film style of the final ‘Potter installments but, the director succeeds in never letting it go further than that. In part, he does this by making the House itself the star of the show and Radcliffe the supporting character that allows the House to do its thing.
Second, TWIB follows a growing trend away from CGI ghouls or overworked latex masks and goes back to more traditional and subtle tricks. True, the movie does use the occasional loud noise to give you a good jolt, but for the most part, the film relentlessly delivers an onslaught of hauntingly spine-chilling images and perfectly timed moments of suspense.
As for the story of TWIB there is nothing particularly extraordinary. Lead character who is in perpetual morning for his dead wife.(check) Towering gothic Marsh House in “Nowheresville.”(check) The townsfolk who are unpleasant and always trying to make the lead leave.(check) Rich man who befriends our lead, doesn’t believe in the supernatural, and has a cracked-out spirit-communing wife.(check, check, and check) But, horror movies are never about the story as much as they are about the delivery. On this the director commits fully with a great old house, great costuming, a relentlessly dark mansion, and a story that, for the most part, takes place in the bright light of day. (If you were already scared of the dark, this movie might ruin your days as well.)
But, best of all, the director goes all in on the simple fact that children are creepy. TWIB is filled with creepy living children, creepy ghost children, creepy entranced children, and creepy dolls of children. Add a shrieking woman to keep the ranks replenished and what you end up with is the world’s creepiest daycare. But it works.
If you’re a horror fan, The Woman in Black is a must see. Even though it’s January, even though it’s cold, even though it’s Harry Potter, get over it. You won’t be disappointed but you might piss your pants.
Rating: 8/10
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