I’ll be the first to admit, I’m no trooper when it comes to scary movies. So after weeks of living in terror of the creeptastic trailers for The Woman in Black, I bucked up the courage to face my fear and see the movie. While the film was not outright terrifying as the trailers made it seem, it was chilling in a way that kept me jumping at every bump in the night.
The Woman in Black follows widowed lawyer Arthur Kipps, played by Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe, who travels from London to the remote village of Crynthin Gifford to sort out the affairs of the recently deceased Isabelle Drablow at her isolated home, Eel Marsh House. Skeptical Arthur is troubled when he is met with mysterious opposition from the villagers who keep their children locked up like prisoners. Arthur soon realizes that he is not alone at Eel Marsh as he begins to unravel the mysterious history of a vengeful ghost who terrorizes the entire village.
Unlike most horror films that skimp on the storyline in favor of gore and scary monsters jumping out at you, The Woman in Black, based on the novella by Susan Hill, offers an intriguing story that could give even the most courageous viewer goosebumps. I don’t enjoy scary movies at all but even I could get into this movie.
The Woman in Black has everything you could want in a conventional ghost story: mystery, suspense, a scary, deserted mansion full of sinister-looking toys, and, most importantly, the spirit of a scorned woman who is out for vengeance.
Though, on the whole, I found The Woman in Black chillingly enjoyable, there were some problems with the movie that I couldn’t overlook.
First, there was the acting. Everyone wants to know if Daniel Radcliffe will be able to shed his Potter past. While world-weary Arthur Kipps does have some Potteresque angst, Radcliffe’s performance was too stoic to be believable. Radcliffe acted frightened and creeped-out at the appropriate moments, but the presence of a potentially deadly spectre is cause for outright, no-holds-barred terror that Radcliffe’s performance lacked. Also, Radcliffe, or perhaps director James Watkins, missed the opportunity for some interesting character development in areas where Kipps and the woman in black shared some important similarities. Not to say that Radcliffe did a bad job, his performance was effective and he definitely takes a step away from Harry Potter, but it could have used more oomph to make his character seem a little less cold and a little more dynamic.
Second was the various infodumps that took place away from Eel Marsh house. Though they were filled with pertinent information, Kipp’s ventures to Crynthin Gifford were, with the exception of a few harrowing moments, a little lackluster. The absence of imminent danger left me drifting between boredom and wondering when the ghost would return to inevitably scare me out of my wits. The voice-over technique used to tell the woman in black’s story were effectively disturbing, but they left me with still more questions about her motives and her history. I think that info could have been revealed in a less predictable, more interesting way, perhaps with some visual representations of the story.
Perhaps the film’s biggest issue–for modern horror fans at least–is that the stakes are never very high. Unlike most horror films in which the main characters are the prey of the ghost/demon/monster/psycho, the ghost only seems interested in harming children. After learning the ghost’s M.O., it becomes unclear whether Arthur himself is in danger. If he isn’t, that kind of puts a damper on the whole thing. Not that we aren’t concerned about the children of Crythin Gifford, but they aren’t really movie’s the focus.
In fairness, I should look at the movie for what it is: a good old-fashioned Gothic ghost story that forgoes modern gore in favor of more traditional fireside spooks. The beautifully eerie sets are marvelous and the slamming doors and disembodied noises achieve the desired effect of spine-tingling creepiness. It isn’t the fast-paced horror we’re used to, but it does have it’s own special, chilling charm. Collegiettes, since you probably won’t want to see this one alone, this movie might be a classic excuse to hang onto your guy for protection from the menacing ghoul or a good reason for you and your friends to get away with squealing like little girls.
Image source: Internet Movie Poster Awards, http://www.impawards.com/intl/uk/2012/woman_in_black_ver3_xlg.html