Marking Daniel Radcliffe's first film since finishing the Harry Potter series, The Woman in Black is one of the most chilling ghost stories to hit theatres in recent years. Filled with scares, thrills and chills; it's sure to make you believe in the vengeful spirit of those that moved on and the frightening stories behind them.
A young lawyer from London named Arthur Kipps (Daniel Radcliffe) is sent on a trip to a remote village in England to recover the paperwork of a deceased owner who lived in a house that the locals believe to be haunted. Arthur hopes to be able to finish his duty without any delay, prompting him to move briskly in his search of the house. He has plans for his son to come visit him at the village for a short vacation, in search of finding happiness after the death of his beloved wife. After visiting the house for the first time, he sees a black figure of a woman on the property and becomes curious about the history of the manor. The village residents urge him to leave the place urgently so as not to upset her spirit. After witnessing the death of two children, and a couple of disturbed parents whose children have died some time ago, he decides to fall deeper down the rabbit hole and help the woman in black recover what she is looking for. Will his efforts anger her or please her, only God knows; but maybe it will make him realize the most important things in his life and the need to let go of the past in hopes of a better future. Their stories intertwine, but are they ready to let go of the past just yet?
Many horror films that came out in recent years required gore and violence to please the audience, but this film is one of the more unconventional horror releases of the 21st century that stick to the art of storytelling. Replacing gore and violence, for chilling apparitions and the horrifying stories behind their grudges is an admirable step in the outlying minority of horror films. Taking a risk has always been a perpetual part of making movies, and the persistence of everyone taking part in this production has not been done in vain. When it all comes down to what we think about horror, pictures of blood and raw violence pop into our heads; but this film chose to take on a story set in the early 20th century about the spine tingling mystery of a woman who has lost something that was precious to her, and never receiving any recognition from it, even in death. That is what fascinates me most about her past. It's a jab at our constant fascination with death and the constant thoughts we have about the afterlife and if it in fact exists.
The cinematography was presented luridly but at the same time neutrally, with the harsh juxtaposition of stark whites and blacks being mixed together in montage to create an eerie feel of a portending spirit and the relentless task she has pursued for so long. It comes down ultimately to the score to pull off a one-two punch and send us on a trip to hell and back. The unwanted silence and the fear that builds up to any moment of fright, is never truly relieved by the feeble murmurs and wailing sounds of music. The tension is everlasting and makes the film so much more compelling and captivating to watch.
Daniel's acting was surprisingly impressive and very daring. I especially liked the part where it's just him walking around the house and there is no dialogue whatsoever. The only downturn for me was probably the ending, because it seemed so abrupt and almost like it was cut short. You expect a happy ending and in a way it probably was, but it didn't seem that way at all. The woman in black will still continue haunting children and brutally killing them because of her continued belligerence and grudging mindset. She will ultimately never be at peace and she has herself to blame for the devastation she caused to the residents of the town who did nothing wrong. Besides all the gloominess and ghastly surroundings, there is a point that is conveyed in this story. First of all, you must let go of the past and live in the present and for the future. The woman in black and Arthur's situations correlate and ultimately define their actions. Except Arthur chose to live for the benefit of his son, while the ghost chose to make other people's lives miserable because of her green-eyed jealousy and agro towards the death of her long lost son. Everyone has a choice when they are dealt a loss, and unfortunately some can't handle it as well as others. The most important thing is to not let yourself wallow in your pity for too long, letting the loss devour you whole. It's a bit of a cautionary notice, but something we can all relate to nonetheless.
Overall, it's a surprise hit that's sure to be popular with horror fans all over the world even if it doesn't include the quintessential attributes of a typical horror. Expect your eyes to be wide open for even the most shocking revelations, and squinting in the quietest of moments because that's when she will strike. Adrenaline will rush through your veins when dead silence approaches, and that's when you know the film has achieved its desired effect. Your senses will guide you on the journey ahead, and stop you dead in your tracks during the last minutes of it. Classical in tone, but revolutionary in genre and the current movie scene.
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