The Woman in Black (2012)

Directed by: James Watkins | 95 minutes | drama, horror, thriller | Actors: Daniel Radcliffe, Ciarán Hinds, Janet McTeer, Sophie Stuckey, Roger Allam, Alisa Khazanova, Shaun Dooley, Sidney Johnston, David Burke, Liz White, Aoife Doherty, Alexia Osborne, Victor McGuire, Mary Stockley, Alfie Field, Tim McMullan, Daniel Cerqueira, Teresa Churcher, Misha Handley, Paul J. Dove, Lucy May Barker, Ashley Foster, Emma Shorey

It must be difficult for Daniel Radcliffe to ever shake off the image he has acquired from his starring role in the ‘Harry Potter’ films. Few actors are as closely linked to a movie character as the young British actor is to Harry Potter. With his starring role in ‘The Woman in Black’ (based on Susan Hill’s 1983 book of the same name), he makes his first serious attempt to gain fame as an actor in other films (roles in TV movie ‘My Boy Jack’). and disregarding ‘December Boys’ (both 2007). And while it takes some getting used to at first to see Daniel walking around without the signature glasses, this is something you get over after the first few scenes.

Arthur Kipps (Daniel Radcliffe) is a British lawyer. For work, he is sent to a small village where he has to search an empty house so that it can be sold. Upon arrival in the village it is immediately clear that there is more going on. No one is really waiting for Arthur’s arrival and when they notice that he wants to go to the old, abandoned house, they try to change his mind with all their might. Only Mr. Daily, whom he met on the way there, seems to really want to help him. It soon becomes apparent that there is much more going on with the house. The house is in the possession of an old evil spirit who has cast her curse on the inhabitants of the village.

From the first second ‘The Woman in Black’ manages to grab you because of the terrifying atmosphere. As soon as the nervous music in the opening scene starts, you know that this film is not going to be fun. The atmosphere in the village also feels very uncomfortable, both during the day and of course at night. Yet this is nothing compared to the remote house where Arthur does his research. It’s one of those typical old, abandoned mansions that a normal person doesn’t like to enter. When Arthur announces during the film that he does not have to be picked up before dark but that he will continue to work in the house for the night, you know that this is going to be a long night, both for Arthur and for you as a viewer. The film knows how to time the many scares perfectly every time. It is often not so much the events that startle you, but the build-up to it. An empty rocking chair moving violently up and down is as scary in ‘The Woman in Black’ as the ghosts and memories of the past of the house itself. Not to mention the many toy dolls in all shapes and sizes that suddenly seem a lot scarier than usual.

This film definitely won’t win the originality award. For example, the setting is not really original. You could also say that the ghost of the deceased woman resembles the girl from ‘The Ring’ a little too much. And while the story is well put together, you can question the ending. Because even though the ending isn’t bad at all, it’s clear that the film reaches its peak during the earlier scenes in the old mansion. In that respect it is a pity that the tension that characterizes the film during the big climax is a lot less present (the final scene is certainly worth it). Nevertheless, both actor Daniel Radcliffe, who is certainly suitable for a (leading) role in a horror film, and director James Watkins (with only his second film!) deliver a fine performance. ‘The Woman in Black’ is horror in its purest form and manages to grab the viewer from start to finish. It is a very tight, uncomfortable grip.