The Woman in Black (1989) (TV)

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)

A forgotten gem

The book is sinister. The stage play is scary.

The film is devastating.

Pauline Moran's brief appearances as The Woman fill the whole film with a sense of doom and terror. She's seen in the background, almost out-of-focus, a few times. The leering, grimacing expression, white face and red eyes, on the rare occasions they fill the screen, will make your heart stop with terror.

No gore and splatter. No blood, swearing and screaming. This is an old-fashioned ghost story. It has a perfect, atmospheric representation of an isolated community, haunted by something so awful that the locals cannot bear to mention it. The innocent newcomer landed in the middle of this terrorised community quickly gains the audience's sympathy but ... wait ... is that the ghost? No. It's only a shadow. ... Hush ... is that the ghost? No. It's only a creaking floorboard. Here she comes. She's coming to get you. You have no escape.

She is the very image of evil, and she wants to make others as unhappy as she herself was. She can pick her moment. She can pick her place. One you are in her sights, you will not get away. The Woman In Black does not rush to tell you the whole story. It doesn't spoil the shocks by revealing everything at once. Little hints to The Woman's origins sneak out one by one, and taint the entire film with dread.

Several other reviews mention The Woman's biggest appearance, and I can only repeat the other comments. One of the most frightening, shocking, unexpected, sudden moments that telly has ever produced. I found myself pushing further and further back into my chair, trying to get away from the television screen.

Simple, old fashioned story telling, with a great story and great performances. Unforgettable.