Cinema: The Woman In Black 7/10
Director: James Watkins
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Janet McTeer, Ciaran Hinds
Plot: a town is haunted by, “The Woman In Black,” although residence fail to realise this. It’s only when a young lawyer; Arthur Kipps (Daniel Radcliffe) arrives, that it is decided, something needs to be done.
The Woman In Black, originally written by Susan Hill and published in 1989 became an international bestseller, from there it became a successful stage production on the West End and also had numerous television adaptations. In this film production, James Watkin’s take on Hill’s novel is wonderful, it’s everything you’d want from an old-school ghost story with blunt jumps, simmering scares and enormous danger.
The landscape of the murky marsh that surrounds the haunted house is pure genius; it really brings across the feel of the Victorian-era and makes you realise how vulnerable the characters are. Daniel Radcliffe surprisingly delivers as a father, Arthur Kipps, who, following business enquiries, has to visit the house in order to sort out various paperwork, left by its last owners. On inspection, Arthur immediately knows that something is wrong; a rocking chair moves on its own accord, a “Woman In Black” appears in the distance and a body rises from the marsh on a rainy day, he is left wondering if his presence is welcome! Ciaran Hinds is perfect in his role as Radcliffe’s supervisor, trusting him to finish the paperwork and to leave before dark. The lack of visual effects in this film is what makes it unique and far different from most far-fetched American slasher flicks. The film instead relies on the audience’s imagination and use of prosthetics to scare and never really shows you too much. It does however, unlike other ghost story flicks, give enough to satisfy its audience whilst ensuring that they get answers and some conclusion by the end of it. The horror cliche’s are still here though; the creaking floorboard, a figure appearing in the distance and a hesitant barmaid who insists on Mr Kipps returning home. These are all done and dusted by the second half, giving way for new techniques to scare for the final 45 minutes.
The final scene in the film is brilliantly done. The idea of innocence and safety is at its peak, yet changes so drastically, without feeling like a last-minute script change. The slowly chiming nursery rhyme begins and ends here – it’s a thrilling conclusion.
In conclusion : The Woman In Black is a fresh, renewed genre of film that features new, unique scares whilst sustaining original horror themes and targeting a modern audience and suitably maintaining a 12a certificate. It’s also a wonderful return for HammerFilms.
Director: James Watkins
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Janet McTeer, Ciaran Hinds
Plot: a town is haunted by, “The Woman In Black,” although residence fail to realise this. It’s only when a young lawyer; Arthur Kipps (Daniel Radcliffe) arrives, that it is decided, something needs to be done.
The Woman In Black, originally written by Susan Hill and published in 1989 became an international bestseller, from there it became a successful stage production on the West End and also had numerous television adaptations. In this film production, James Watkin’s take on Hill’s novel is wonderful, it’s everything you’d want from an old-school ghost story with blunt jumps, simmering scares and enormous danger.
The landscape of the murky marsh that surrounds the haunted house is pure genius; it really brings across the feel of the Victorian-era and makes you realise how vulnerable the characters are. Daniel Radcliffe surprisingly delivers as a father, Arthur Kipps, who, following business enquiries, has to visit the house in order to sort out various paperwork, left by its last owners. On inspection, Arthur immediately knows that something is wrong; a rocking chair moves on its own accord, a “Woman In Black” appears in the distance and a body rises from the marsh on a rainy day, he is left wondering if his presence is welcome! Ciaran Hinds is perfect in his role as Radcliffe’s supervisor, trusting him to finish the paperwork and to leave before dark. The lack of visual effects in this film is what makes it unique and far different from most far-fetched American slasher flicks. The film instead relies on the audience’s imagination and use of prosthetics to scare and never really shows you too much. It does however, unlike other ghost story flicks, give enough to satisfy its audience whilst ensuring that they get answers and some conclusion by the end of it. The horror cliche’s are still here though; the creaking floorboard, a figure appearing in the distance and a hesitant barmaid who insists on Mr Kipps returning home. These are all done and dusted by the second half, giving way for new techniques to scare for the final 45 minutes.
The final scene in the film is brilliantly done. The idea of innocence and safety is at its peak, yet changes so drastically, without feeling like a last-minute script change. The slowly chiming nursery rhyme begins and ends here – it’s a thrilling conclusion.
In conclusion : The Woman In Black is a fresh, renewed genre of film that features new, unique scares whilst sustaining original horror themes and targeting a modern audience and suitably maintaining a 12a certificate. It’s also a wonderful return for HammerFilms.
No comments:
Post a Comment