The Woman in Black (2012)

Director:

James Watkins

Writers:

Susan Hill (novel)
Jane Goldman (screenplay)

Release Date:

3 February 2012 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Do you believe in ghosts?

Plot:

A young lawyer travels to a remote village where he discovers the vengeful ghost of a scorned woman is terrorizing the locals.

Plot Keywords:

Village | House | Lawyer | Marsh | Ghost

Awards:

2 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Emma Shorey	...	Fisher Girl
Molly Harmon	...	Fisher Girl
Ellisa Walker-Reid	...	Fisher Girl
Sophie Stuckey	...	Stella Kipps
Daniel Radcliffe	...	Arthur Kipps
Misha Handley	...	Joseph Kipps
Jessica Raine	...	Nanny
Roger Allam	...	Mr. Bentley
Lucy May Barker	...	Nursemaid
Indira Ainger	...	Little Girl on Train
Andy Robb	...	Doctor
Ciarán Hinds	...	Daily
Shaun Dooley	...	Fisher
Mary Stockley	...	Mrs. Fisher
Alexia Osborne	...	Victoria Hardy
Alfie Field	...	Tom Hardy
William Tobin	...	Charlie Hardy
Victor McGuire	...	Gerald Hardy
Cathy Sara	...	Mrs. Jerome
Tim McMullan	...	Mr. Jerome
Daniel Cerqueira	...	Keckwick
Liz White	...	Jennet
Alisa Khazanova	...	Mrs. Drablow
Ashley Foster	...	Nathaniel Drablow
David Burke	...	PC Collins
Janet McTeer	...	Mrs. Daily
Aoife Doherty	...	Lucy Jerome
Sidney Johnston	...	Nicholas Daily
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lu Corfield	...	Jennet (voice)
Angela Jobson	...	Concerned Mother
Neil Broome	...	Villager (uncredited)
Paul J. Dove	...	The Village Butcher (uncredited)
Dennis Hewitt	...	Village Doctor (uncredited)
Lee Steele	...	Fisherman (uncredited)
John R. Walker	...	Archer (uncredited)
Patricia Winker	...	Villager (uncredited)

Directed by
James Watkins

Writing credits
Susan Hill		(novel)
Jane Goldman		(screenplay)

Produced by
Tobin Armbrust	....	executive producer
Vic David	....	line producer: additional photography
Neil Dunn	....	executive producer
Guy East	....	executive producer
Ben Holden	....	co-producer
Jonathan Hood	....	assistant producer: additional photography
Richard Jackson	....	producer
Roy Lee	....	executive producer
Xavier Marchand	....	executive producer
Simon Oakes	....	producer
Brian Oliver	....	producer
Paul Ritchie	....	co-producer
Marc Schipper	....	executive producer
Nigel Sinclair	....	executive producer
Todd Thompson	....	co-producer
Tyler Thompson	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Marco Beltrami

Cinematography by
Tim Maurice-Jones		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Jon Harris

Casting by
Karen Lindsay-Stewart

Production Design by
Kave Quinn

Art Direction by
Paul Ghirardani		(supervising art director)
Kate Grimble

Set Decoration by
Niamh Coulter

Costume Design by
Keith Madden

Makeup Department
Alexandra Brock	....	hair stylist: additional photography
Alexandra Brock	....	makeup artist: additional photography
Sidony Etherton	....	makeup assistant
Renata Gilbert	....	hair stylist
Renata Gilbert	....	makeup artist
Paul Hyett	....	prosthetics supervisor
Nicola Matthews	....	hair stylist
Nicola Matthews	....	makeup artist
Alex Rouse	....	wigmaker
Jeremy Woodhead	....	hair designer
Jeremy Woodhead	....	makeup designer
Stuart Conran	....	special makeup effects technician (uncredited)

Production Management
Jeanette Haley	....	post-production supervisor
Lottie Mason	....	unit manager (as Charlotte Mason)
Fiona Morham	....	head of production: UK Film Council
Jennifer Wynne	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Eric Berkal	....	first assistant director: additional photography
Tom Browne	....	third assistant director
Dominic Fysh	....	first assistant director
Emma Stokes	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Mark Adams	....	supervising painter
Huw Arthur	....	standby art director
Rachel Atherton	....	painter
Ian Bee	....	hod carpenter
Paul Beeson	....	stand-by carpenter
Paul Bowring	....	construction manager
Leigh Chesters	....	carpenter
Nicholas Clayton	....	carpenter
Nigel Crafts	....	carpenter
John Davies	....	hod painter
Quentin Davies	....	prop storeman
Simon Duric	....	storyboard artist
Kevin Fowler	....	stagehand
John Fox	....	assistant property master
Stella Fox	....	assistant set decorator
Jack Garwood	....	dressing props
Joe Hawthorne	....	carpenter
Ben Johnson	....	stand-by props: additional photography
Alan Jones	....	standby props
Alex MacDonald	....	painter (as Alex McDonald)
Danny Montague	....	painter
Daniel Nussbaumer	....	art department vision trainee
Andrew Palmer	....	assistant art director
Alan Payne	....	graphic designer
Geraint Powell	....	prop buyer
Simon Robilliard	....	carpenter
Mark Sasahara	....	swing: additional photography
Mary Pat Sheahan	....	standby painter (as Mary-Pat Sheehan)
Jessica Sinclair	....	assistant art director
Geoff Stainthorp	....	supervising carpenter (as Geoff Stainthorpe)
Kate Stainthorp	....	painter
Amanda Waddington	....	painter
Damian Léon Watts	....	art department assistant (as Damian Leon Watts)
Alex Wells	....	carpenter
Jamie Wilkinson	....	property master
Simon Wilkinson	....	supervising standby props
Tina Charad	....	visual research (uncredited)
Anthony Szuch	....	drapes master (uncredited)
Toby Wagner	....	dressing prop (uncredited)
Craig Whiteford	....	greensman (uncredited)
Ian Whiteford	....	greensman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Hugo Adams	....	foley editor
Niv Adiri	....	sound effects editor
Mark Appleby	....	adr mixer
Ben Barker	....	supervising sound editor
Sandy Buchanan	....	foley mixer
Andrew Caller	....	sound re-recording mixer
Simon Diggins	....	adr mixer
Gillian Dodders	....	supervising dialogue editor
Glenn Freemantle	....	sound consultant
Michael Gassert	....	sound mixer: additional photography
Andrea King	....	foley artist
James Kum	....	sound assistant
Emilie O'Connor	....	assistant sound editor
Richard Pryke	....	sound re-recording mixer: premix
Tom Sayers	....	sound effects editor
Timothy Siddall	....	sound mix technician
Jack Stew	....	foley artist
Ivor Talbot	....	sound mixer
Ian Tapp	....	sound re-recording mixer
Michael Wallach	....	boom operator: additional photography (as Mike Wallach)
Tarn Willers	....	boom operator
James Hyde	....	adr recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Kingsley Fryer	....	special effects technician
Adam Hollow	....	special effects technician
Bob Hollow	....	special effects supervisor
David Woods	....	special effects technician
Elle Baird	....	fabricator (uncredited)
Chris Fitzgerald	....	special effects makeup (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Fiorenza Bagnariol	....	digital film bureau
Alan Banis	....	compositor: Filmgate
Håkan Blomdahl	....	visual effects supervisor: Filmgate
Urban Forsberg	....	compositor: Filmgate
Neil Harrison	....	digital intermediate systems administrator: Deluxe 142
Dan Helme	....	digital intermediate data manager: Deluxe 142
Marcus Hindborg	....	on set visual effects supervisor
Andreas Hylander	....	compositor: Filmgate
Timothy P. Jones	....	digital film bureau
Yadim Konov	....	compositor: Filmgate
Elin Kothe	....	matte painter: Filmgate (as Elin Lindahl)
Mathias Larserud	....	3d artist: Filmgate
Malin Leuchovius	....	visual effects coordinator: Filmgate (as Malin Persson)
Linus Lindbalk	....	matte painter: Filmgate
Martin Malmqvist	....	compositor: Filmgate
Daniel Nielsen	....	compositor: Filmgate
Timo Närhi	....	compositor: Filmgate
John Palmer	....	digital film bureau manager
Damien Pawle	....	visual effects editor
Rob Pizzey	....	digital colourist
Gordon Pratt	....	digital film bureau
Alexander Pridkho	....	compositor: Filmgate
Daniel Reidler	....	3d artist: Filmgate
Nirakar Sethy	....	lead matchmove
Sean Wheelan	....	visual effects producer: Filmgate
Tim Caplan	....	visual effects producer: Union VFX (uncredited)
Peter Collins	....	digital intermediate (uncredited)
Mitch Crease	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Adam Gascoyne	....	visual effects supervisor union vfx (uncredited)
Kaveh Montazer	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Mervyn New	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Ruchira Sharma	....	compositor (uncredited)
Noga Alon Stein	....	visual effects coordinator (uncredited)

Stunts
Gary Arthurs	....	stunt coordinator
Lloyd Bass	....	stunt performer
Lloyd Bass	....	stunts
Andy Bennett	....	key stunt coordinator
Nellie Burroughes	....	stunt double: Liz White
Annabel Canaven	....	stunt performer
Marc Cass	....	stunt performer
Danielle da Costa	....	stunt performer
Lyndon S. Hellewell	....	stunt performer (as Lyndon Stuart Hellewell)
Derek Lea	....	stunt performer
Paul Lowe	....	stunt performer
Marc Mailley	....	stunt performer
Sam Parham	....	stunt performer
Marc Mailley	....	stunt double: Daniel Radcliffe (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Graham Baker	....	hod rigger
M'Wasi Berkley	....	key grip: additional photography
Dan Brosnan	....	video assist operator: additional photography
Ramulas Burgess	....	first assistant camera: additional photography
Inyoung Choi	....	best boy electric: additional photography
Martin Conway	....	best boy
Rana Darwish	....	camera trainee
Terry Eden	....	electrician
Francesco Ferrari	....	second assistant camera: dailies
Rob Gilmour	....	clapper loader: "b" camera
Christopher Gough	....	rigger
Guy Hazel	....	focus puller: additional photography
Ave Hughes	....	electrician
Nathan Mann	....	focus puller: "a" camera
Cassius Mcabe	....	grip: "b" camera (as Cassius McCabe)
Tom McFarling	....	focus puller: "b" camera
Sean Monesson	....	gaffer: additional photography
Gennaro Morrone	....	best boy grip: additional photography
Julian Morson	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Steve Murphy	....	electrician
Alfonso Pollard	....	second assistant camera: additional photography
Clive Prior	....	focus puller: "b" camera
Núria Pérez	....	video assist operator (as Nuria Perez)
Kat Spencer	....	clapper loader: "a" camera
Pat Sweeney	....	gaffer
Lyle Vincent	....	director of photography: additional photography
Michael Wacker	....	grip assistant
Nick Wall	....	still photographer
Billy Webster	....	rigger
Danny Webster	....	rigger
Frankie Webster	....	supervising rigger
Terry Williams	....	key grip
Charlie Wyldeck	....	assistant grip
David Armstrong	....	key grip: splinter unit (uncredited)
Jeremy Braben	....	aerial director of photography (uncredited)
Luke Cairns	....	additional second assistant camera (uncredited)
Darren Flindall	....	rigger (uncredited)
Ian Franklin	....	rigging gaffer (uncredited)
David Holliday	....	key grip: second unit (uncredited)
Alex Howe	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)
Julian Morson	....	steadicam operator (uncredited)
Brett Parnham	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)
Gary Parnham	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)
James Perry	....	second assistant camera: second unit (uncredited)
Felix Pickles	....	camera trainee: dailies (uncredited)
Maiya Rose	....	daily spark trainee (uncredited)
Basil Smith	....	additional first assistant camera (uncredited)
Alan Stewart	....	director of photography: second unit (uncredited)
Alex Teale	....	camera trainee: second unit (uncredited)
Robert Walisko	....	pursuit arm operator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Carolyn McLeod	....	casting associate
Abigail Barbier	....	adr voice casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Yandra Howard	....	standby wardrobe
Emma Hutton	....	wardrobe mistress
Nikia Nelson	....	wardrobe supervisor: additional photography
Holly Smart	....	standby wardrobe
Allison Wyldeck	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Rob Farris	....	digital intermediate producer
Marie Fernandes	....	digital intermediate producer
Cheryl Goodbody	....	assistant digital intermediate producer
John Gray	....	laboratory contact: Deluxe Laboratories
Emily Greenwood	....	digital on-line editor
Tamsin Jeffrey	....	assembly editor
Katie Looney	....	laboratory contact: Deluxe Laboratories
Patrick Malone	....	digital intermediate head of department
Alexandra Montgomery	....	post-production coordinator
Clive Noakes	....	laboratory contact: Deluxe Laboratories
Erline O'Donovan	....	editorial assistant
Alex Parrett	....	telecine services
Jamie Payne	....	colorist: dailies
Rob Pizzey	....	digital colorist
Rose-Ellen Saunders	....	telecine services (as Rose Saunders)
Aurora Shannon	....	digital intermediate assistant
Lance Spindler	....	color timer
Justin Tillett	....	digital on-line editor
Laurent Treherne	....	digital film technical supervisor
Natasha Westlake	....	first assistant editor
Jon Ellis	....	digital intermediate editor (uncredited)

Music Department
John Kurlander	....	music recording engineer
Tyson Lozensky	....	assistant score mixer
Tyson Lozensky	....	assistant scoring engineer
Brandon Roberts	....	composer: additional music
Buck Sanders	....	rock wrangler
Marcus Trumpp	....	composer: additional music
John Warhurst	....	music editor
Tony Lewis	....	music editor (uncredited)
Jordan Seigel	....	music preparation (uncredited)
Joel Sill	....	music consultant (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Danny Brown	....	facilities captain
Alex Conway	....	driver: minibus
Peter Harvey	....	driver: Mr. Radcliffe
Pete McQueen	....	driver: minibus
Peter Soteriou	....	driver: Mr. Hinds
Mark Cutler	....	driver: minibus (uncredited)

Other crew
Jamie Atkins	....	caterer
Giles Barron	....	production assistant
Caroline Bowker	....	script supervisor
Daniel Budd	....	first assistant accountant
Mary Carol Bulger	....	business affairs coordinator: Exclusive Media Group and Hammer
Neil Calder	....	completion guarantor: Film Finances
Gabby Canton	....	assistant: Mr. Armbrust
Robert Carling	....	caterer
Kate Caton	....	tutor
Annie Clapton	....	production secretary
Joel Clarke	....	production assistant
Rosanne Coker	....	floor runner
Dan Connolly	....	location manager: Yorkshire (as Daniel Connolly)
John Constable	....	tutor
Alison Cornwell	....	chief financial officer: worldwide, Alliance Films
Crispy Cox	....	horse wrangler
Tom Cox	....	horse wrangler
Jon Croker	....	story editor: UK Film Council
Matt Curtis	....	title designer: main titles
Joshua De Lisser	....	trainee floor runner
Nazmeen Dhansey	....	second assistant accountant
John Doherty	....	assistant: Mr. Oliver
Timothy Edwin	....	stand-in: additional photography (as Tim Edwin)
Will Evans	....	head of business affairs: UK Film Council
Elizabeth Every	....	tutor
Lennon Ficalora	....	production associate: additional photography
Lee Francis	....	assistant: Mr. Watkins
Holly Gardner	....	floor runner
Sasha Gibson	....	unit publicist: Freud Communications
Paul Glennan	....	medic: additional photography
Harry Greaves	....	trainee floor runner
Sara Hall	....	tutor
Wayne Han	....	key production assistant: additional photography
Clare Hardwick	....	completion guarantor: Film Finances
Julie Harris	....	assistant: Mr. Sinclair
Ruth Hodgson	....	completion guarantor: Film Finances
Vince Holden	....	head of production: finance, UK Film Council
Takina Holloman	....	travel coordinator: additional photography
Matthew Infante	....	production assistant: additional photography (as Matt Infante)
Aliza James	....	assistant: Mr. Oakes and Mr. Schipper
Kevin Jenkins	....	assistant location manager
Tim Johnson	....	legal services: Field Fisher Waterhouse
Saher Kahn	....	financial director: UK, Alliance Films
Sheerin Khosrowshahi-Miandoab	....	production secretary: additional photography
David King-Taylor	....	health and safety officer (as David King Taylor)
Clyde Lane	....	head chef
Victor Loewy	....	chairman: Alliance Films
Victor Loewy	....	chief executive officer: Alliance Films
Noel Lohr	....	business affairs: Exclusive Media Group and Hammer
Jillian Longnecker	....	vice president: physical production, Exclusive Media Group and Hammer
Rebecca Lundgren	....	production assistant: additional photography
Emily MacKintosh	....	legal services: Field Fisher Waterhouse
Spyro Markesinis	....	vice president: business and legal affairs, Europe, Alliance Films
Andy Mayson	....	chief financial officer: Exclusive Media Group and Hammer
Andy Mayson	....	managing director: Exclusive Media Group and Hammer
Marc McGowan	....	rushes runner
John Miles	....	production accountant
Chris Moore	....	supervising location manager
Sam Morris	....	security: Mr. Radcliffe
Hamish Moseley	....	vice president: theatrical sales, UK, Alliance Films
Gerard Naprous	....	horse wrangler
Ryan Newberry	....	stand-in
Owen Oliver	....	legal services: Field Fisher Waterhouse
Cora Palfrey	....	chief financial officer: Europe, Exclusive Media Group and Hammer
Peter Parker	....	assistant to producer
Terry Paskins	....	caterer
Daniel Pavoncelli	....	assistant: Mr. Mayson
Nick Pearson	....	paramedic
Becky Phillips	....	production assistant: additional photography
Mike Pike	....	horse wrangler
Pita Rawamila	....	security: Mr. Radcliffe
Jennifer Ruper	....	assistant: Mr. Armbrust
Jamie Schwartz	....	vice president: theatrical marketing, Alliance Films
Patricia Scott	....	assistant: Mr. Sinclair
Tanya Seghatchian	....	head of film fund: UK Film Council
Catherine Seymour	....	location assistant
Barry Smith	....	legal services: Field Fisher Waterhouse
Kate Stephenson	....	assistant: Mr. Oakes and Mr. Schipper
Adele Steward	....	production coordinator
Alice Syed	....	assistant production coordinator
Jason Tamasco	....	executive assistant: Ms. Longnecker
Edward Taroghion	....	accounts assistant
Julie Tottman	....	animal wrangler: Birds and Abinals
Derek Townshend	....	insurance broker: Totally Entertainment
Charlotte Turnbull	....	assistant: Mr. Oakes and Mr. Schipper
Robert Walak	....	senior vice president: acquisitions worldwide, Alliance Films
Sam Weeden	....	stand-in
Natascha Wharton	....	senior development executive: UK Film Council
Natascha Wharton	....	senior production executive: UK Film Council
Charlotte Wilde	....	animal wrangler: Birds and Abimals
Maria Zubiuk	....	caterer (as Maria Zubuik)
Thom Berryman	....	media transfer engineer (uncredited)
Ian Evans	....	helicopter pilot (uncredited)
Elton Farla	....	medical coordinator (uncredited)
Mátyás Haraszti	....	lead translator (uncredited)
Vinnie Jassal	....	location scout (uncredited)
Ian Lisi	....	on-set security (uncredited)
David Seaton	....	location scout (uncredited)

Thanks
Claire Comiskey	....	special thanks
Lucy Fawcett	....	special thanks
Jason Koerner	....	special thanks
Sue Latimer	....	special thanks
Hannah Layton	....	special thanks
James Selman	....	special thanks
Michael Start	....	thanks: automata

Production Companies

• Cross Creek Pictures (presents)
• Hammer Film Productions (as Hammer) (presents)
• Alliance Films (presents)
• UK Film Council (presents)
• Talisman Productions (as Talisman)
• Exclusive Media Group (in association with)
• Film i Väst (as Film i Vast) (in co-production with)
• Filmgate (in co-production with)

Distributors

• Alliance Films (2012) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2012) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Audio Visual Enterprises (2012) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Aurum Producciones (2012) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Broadmedia Studios (2012) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Budapest Film (2012) (Hungary) (theatrical)
• CBS Films (2012) (USA) (theatrical)
• Concorde Filmverleih (2012) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Diamond Films (2012) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2012) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Empire (2012) (Lebanon) (theatrical)
• KT&G Sangsangmandang (2012) (South Korea) (theatrical)
• Kinepolis Film Distribution (KFD) (2012) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Metropolitan Filmexport (2012) (France) (theatrical)
• Momentum Pictures (2012) (UK) (theatrical)
• Nu Metro Cinemas (2012) (South Africa) (theatrical)
• Paris Filmes (2012) (Brazil) (theatrical)
• Roadshow Film Distributors (2012) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Sam Film (2012) (Iceland) (theatrical)
• Shaw Organisation (2012) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2012) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Svensk Filmindustri (2012) (Denmark) (theatrical)
• Videocine S.A. de C.V. (2012) (Mexico) (theatrical)
• Audio Visual Entertainment (2012) (Greece) (DVD) (blu-ray)
• Concorde Home Entertainment (2012) (Germany) (DVD)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2012) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2012) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• EuroVideo (2012) (Germany) (DVD) (Rental)
• Front Row Filmed Entertainment (2012) (United Arab Emirates) (all media) (Middle East)
• Home Box Office (HBO) (2013) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Long Shong Entertainment Multimedia Company (2012) (Taiwan) (all media)
• Mongkol Major (2012) (Thailand) (all media)
• Prorom Media-Trade (2012) (Romania) (all media)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2012) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2012) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Sun Distribution (2012) (Non-USA) (all media) (Latin America)
• Walking Dead Films (2012) (worldwide) (DVD)
• Zon Lusomundo Audiovisuais (2012) (Portugal) (all media)

Special Effects

• Filmgate (visual effects)
• Union Visual Effects (additional visual effects) (as Union VFX)

Other Companies

• Advanced Camera Cars - Pursuit  pursuit camera car
• Advanced Camera Cars - Pursuit  tracking vehicles
• Angels  costumes
• Audiolink Radio Communications  walkie talkies (as Audiolink Communications)
• Birds & Animals UK  animal wrangling (as Birds and Animals)
• Company 3  digital intermediate
• Cosprop  costumes
• Cutting Edge Group  music services (as Cutting Edge Music Services)
• De Lane Lea  ADR recording
• Deluxe 142 Features  digital intermediate
• Dolby Laboratories  sound mix
• Fatts  post production script services
• Field Fisher Waterhouse  legal services
• Film Finances  completion guarantor
• Fugitive Studios  end title animation
• Goldcrest Post Production London  adr recording facility (as Goldcrest Post)
• Helicopter Film Services  aerial filming services provided by
• HireWorks  editing facilities and equipment
• Intelligent Media  international monitoring agency
• J & J International Catering  catering (as J & J International)
• Kodak  film stock
• Motorhouse Hire  action vehicles
• Nuttin To It  catering and craft service: additional photography
• On Set Facilities  facilities
• Panalux  lighting equipment
• Panavision UK  camera equipment
• Pinewood Studios  sound re-recording facility
• Production Copier Company  production equipment and services
• Pursuit Europe  pursuit arm & camera car
• Scallywag Travel  travel agent
• Silva Screen Records  soundtrack
• Sound One  adr recording facility
• Sound24  sound design and post-production
• Totally Entertainment  insurance

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for thematic material and violence/disturbing images

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

UK | Canada | Sweden

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | Datasat | SDDS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #47187) | UK:12A (cut) (theatrical version) | Sweden:15 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Ireland:15A | South Korea:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:PG13 | Netherlands:16 | Portugal:M/16 | Australia:M | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Argentina:16 | Malaysia:PG-13 | Germany:12 (cut) (theatrical version) | France:12 | Germany:16 (uncut) (DVD) | Hong Kong:IIB | Japan:G | Spain:16

Filming Locations:

The Causeway to Osea Island, Maldon, Essex, England

Company:

Cross Creek Pictures

Trivia:

(at around 20 mins) Arthur opens the curtains and the light reveals three statuette monkeys. These are the Japanese "three wise monkeys," Mizaru, Kikazaru, and Iwazaru, who "see no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil." Although their origins (and the phrase accompanying them) are disputed, it is generally believed that they are part of a Japanese (particularly Buddhist) "Golden Rule" to avoid spreading evil.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Arthur emerges from the muddy marsh, his entire head should be covered in mud. However, there is a clean outline around his mouth where he had obviously been breathing through a snorkel.

Quotes:

Daily:I believe the most rational mind can play tricks in the dark.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Bad Movie Beatdown: Review of 2012 (#4.29)" (2013)

Old fashioned spooker delivering on its perilous period promise.

The Woman in Black is directed by James Watkins and adapted to screenplay by Jane Goldman from Susan Hill's novel of the same name. It stars Daniel Radcliffe, Ciarán Hinds and Janet McTeer. Music is scored by Marco Beltrami and cinematography by Tim Maurice-Jones. Plot has Radcliffe as young London solicitor Arthur Kipps, who is sent to the North East village of Crythin Gifford to clear up the affairs of deceased woman Mrs. Drablow. When he arrives he finds that the memory of Drablow, and her remote house of Eel Marsh, holds the village in a grip of fear, particularly those who have children.....

It's fitting that that bastion of British horror, Hammer Studios, should be behind this delightful period ghost story. For this positively oozes old fashioned values, harking back to all those wonderful spookers set around a creepy village that featured an even creepier castle or mansion at its core. More presently, the film has kindred links to the likes of The Orphanage, The Others and The Changeling, while the vengeful spirit acting out of Eel Marsh House is pumped by J-Horror like blood and Darkness Falls' Wraith bitch nastiness. So clearly The Woman in Black is not a fresh arrival to the horror splinter where the ghost story resides. However, great period ghost story films are in short supply, and Watkins' film most assuredly is a great entry in the sub-genre.

Propelling it forward is Watkins' (Eden Lake) excellent sense of mood and crafting of palpable unease. Quite often the better ghost story films are better because they operate on a what you don't see is what scares you more level, Watkins has managed to keep that aspect of his film whilst also giving us enough of the truly terrifying spirit to jolt us in our seats; often showing her to us and not to Radcliffe's Kipps! When the shocks come, and there are many and they are bona fide underwear soiling, they act as merciful releases from the built up dread, but then when Watkins doesn't deliver a shock, we are left waiting uneasily, darting our eyes all over the expansive frame, searching fruitlessly for a glimpse of something troubling. Did that wind up toy move? Is that a pallid face we just glimpsed in the shadows? That damn rocking chair is the scariest there has ever been! And on it goes....

A film such as this is only as good as the production design and setting for the story. Thankfully Watkins and his team have nailed it there as well. Eel Marsh House exteriors are Cotterstock Hall in Northamptionshire, perfectly foreboding, while the beautiful village of Halton Gill in the Yorkshire Dales gets a Hammer Horror make over to become Crythin Gifford. But it's with the interior of the house where the makers excel, an utterly unforgiving and upsetting place, brilliantly under lit by Tim Maurice-Jones for maximum scary effect.

On the acting front the film rests solely on the shoulders of Radcliffe, and he comes up trumps. Initially its awkward accepting him as the father of a young boy, and once he gets to Crythin Gifford he is dwarfed by all the other adults who live there, but once the Victorian setting envelopes him the awkwardness evaporates and the characterisation becomes more realistic and easy to sympathise with. The character is changed from the book, meaning Radcliffe has to carry inner torment as well as exuding an outer coat of trepidation blended with stoic fear. It should be noted that for much of the picture he is acting on his own, reacting to the house and the overgrown gardens and marshes, in short he is terrific and it augers well for his adult acting career. In support Hinds and McTeer are pillars of professionalism, with McTeer's Mrs. Daily a creepy character in her own right, but it's also another neat meditation on grief that sits alongside Arthur Kipps'.

The ending is also changed from that in the novel, and it's already proving to be divisive. How you react to it, and it is up for a two-fold interpretation, may dampen your overall enjoyment of the picture? Personally I have no issue with it, I was still sunk in the cinema chair breathing heavily at that point! The certification and the presence of Radcliffe ensures that a teenage audience will flock to see it, many of whom will not get the "horror" film that they are after. Hopefully the word will get out that this really is only a film for those who love a good boo jump ghost story of old, that's its target audience, and that's the people whose reviews you should trust. 9/10