The Woman in Black (1989) (TV)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Herbert Wise

Writers:

Susan Hill (book)
Nigel Kneale (writer)

Release Date:

24 December 1989 (UK)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery

Tagline:

A spine-chilling ghost story

Plot:

When a friendless old widow dies in the seaside town of Crythin, a young solicitor is sent by his firm to settle the estate...

Plot Keywords:

Based On Book

Awards:

4 nominations

Cast

Adrian Rawlins	...	Arthur Kidd
Bernard Hepton	...	Sam Toovey
David Daker	...	Josiah Freston
Pauline Moran	...	Woman in Black
David Ryall	...	Sweetman
Clare Holman	...	Stella Kidd
John Cater	...	Arnold Pepperell
John Franklyn-Robbins	...	Reverend Greet
Fiona Walker	...	Mrs. Toovey
William Simons	...	John Keckwick
Robin Weaver	...	Bessie
Caroline John	...	Stella's Mother
Joseph Upton	...	Eddie Kidd
Steven Mackintosh	...	Rolfe
Andy Nyman	...	Jackie (as Andrew Nyman)

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:15

Filming Locations:

Church of The Holy Cross, Sarratt, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Central Films Limited

Trivia:

A sign saying "H. Wise" can be seen in the train station when Arthur Kidd is there. 'Herbert Wise (I)' is the director.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Mr. Kidd is in the nursery for the first time, just before the toy soldier is supposed to magically appear in his hand, you can see the actor reach into his pocket and retrieve said object then conceal it in his palm.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Craft (1996)

The best TV ghost story ever? No contest

The Woman in Black (1989) is a TV adaptation of Susan Hill's modern classic ghost story, published only a few years earlier than the film was made. Sadly, this film has not been released on DVD, and as far as I am aware it has been deleted on VHS. It's availability is in direct contrast to it's popularity amongst those in the know about horror films. The story revolves around events in a seaside community in the early 20th century where a young solicitor is sent by his firm to conclude the affairs of a recently deceased widow, who died on her isolated marshland estate. What he thought would be a routine and probably tedious task turns into a nightmare as he discovers that the old woman was haunted to her death, and that the ghosts of her past are not content to rest. The story is told in a subtle but concise way, never being self-indulgent, flashy or over-expositional. The obviously tight budget may have contributed to the no-nonsense approach, but it's just what the story needs, and why it works so well. It's what you don't see that scares. Having said that, there is one particularly terrifying scene that relies on the visual, and it works to perfection. I watched this film during the day, and it still gave me nightmares nearly a week later. If you love being terrified, do what you must to get hold of and watch a copy of The Woman In Black.