three stars
Reviewed by Daniel E. Jennis
Daniel Radcliffe cannot be Harry Potter forever, even if throngs of screaming fans would beg to differ. Casting aside his robe and wand for Edwardian era garb and a stack of legal documents, Radcliffe takes on the role of Arthur Kipps, a solicitor handling the estate of a woman who used to reside in the haunted Eel Marsh House. When Arthur’s prodding reveals the specter of a vengeful ghost known as the Woman in Black, a plague of juvenile suicides is unleashed upon the isolated village where the sins of the past are buried in a gothic swamp. Arthur must uncover the disturbing truth and set free the spirit before the next child to die is his own son.
“The Woman in Black” is a horror film in the most traditional sense of the word. Bleak scenery, murky interiors, shaky camerawork and a chilling atmosphere substitute for the normal helpings of gore and torture porn. The scares come often, even if they seem cheap. Unlike in more subtle pictures, the titular ghost is more than willing to jump out at the audience or appear behind Radcliffe in any of the conveniently placed mirrors that occupy the haunted mansion. The direction is competent, but the explicit attempt to keep the audience spooked through sleight-of-hand is quite obvious.
Despite the lack of more deep-seated thrills, I found myself drawn to the story and the film’s skittish and tortured characters. The townspeople avoid any sort of contact with outsiders and live as haunted souls worn down by the weight of tragedy. Instantly the viewer is thrust into a morbid world that makes little sense, and so we feel the despair and urgent confusion that plagues the film’s young hero. Tension is built as the rules of horror are clearly established, and the supernatural becomes the inevitable.
Radcliffe’s performance is adequate, but I do question whether he was the right choice for this role. He is often inexpressive or passive in the face of danger, and it is easy to question the motivations or resolve of his character. But at same time, he has to prove that he can embody a character not named Harry Potter on the big screen, and at least in this movie, his mannerisms, demeanor, and motivations are very different from those of the “boy who lived.” Though Radcliffe may never be an Oscar winning star, he does seem poised for a long career acting career.
“The Woman in Black” is nothing special, but die-hard horror enthusiasts will be pleased by the film’s eerie tone and constant thrills. There are only so many ways to tell a ghost story, and the film meets expectations by playing it safe.