The Woman in Black (2012)

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

Director:

James Watkins

Writers:

Susan Hill (novel), Jane Goldman (screenplay)

Stars:

Daniel Radcliffe, Janet McTeer, Ciarán Hinds

5 wins & 14 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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	...	Sam Daily
Shaun Dooley	...	Fisher
Mary Stockley	...	Mrs. Fisher
Alexia Osborne	...	Victoria Hardy

Storyline

In London, solicitor Arthur Kipps still grieves over the death of his beloved wife Stella on the delivery of their son Joseph four years before. His employer gives him a last chance to keep his job, and he is assigned to travel to the remote village of Crythin Gifford to examine the documentation of the Eel Marsh House that belonged to the recently deceased Mrs. Drablow. Arthur befriends Daily on the train and the man offers a ride to him to the Gifford Arms inn. Arthur has a cold reception and the owner of the inn tells that he did not receive the request of reservation and there is no available room. The next morning, Arthur meets solicitor Jerome who advises him to return to London. However, Arthur goes to the isolated manor and soon he finds that Eel Marsh House is haunted by the vengeful ghost of a woman dressed in black. He also learns that the woman lost her son, drowned in the marsh, and she seeks revenge, taking the children of the terrified locals.

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Plot Keywords:

afterlife | ghost | woman in black | 1910s | ghost child | 

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Taglines:

The angel of death

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy | Horror | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

UK Canada Sweden

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 February 2012 (USA)

Also Known As:

La dama de negro

Filming Locations:

The Causeway to Osea Island, Maldon, Essex, England

Box Office

Budget:

$17,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$20,874,072, 5 February 2012

Gross USA:

$54,333,290

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$127,730,736

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cross Creek Pictures, Hammer Films, Alliance Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital Datasat SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

One big difference between this and the source novel is that Arthur Kipps is happily married in the book, not a widower.

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Goofs

(at around 16 mins) The ground level views show the carriage on a winding/curving causeway/road whilst the ground level shots show it on a straight one.

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Quotes

Mrs. Elizabeth Daily: [in an entranced chant, simulating voices of dead children] She makes us... She makes us do it. She makes us... They took her boy away, so now she takes us.

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Alternate Versions

German theatrical release used the cut UK version to secure a more commercial "Not under 12" rating. DVD release is uncut and was rated "Not under 16".

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Connections

Followed by The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death (2014)

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Soundtracks

Die Frau in Schwarz - Titel
(uncredited)

User Reviews

A Good Ghost Story Developed at a Slow Pace and Beginning Similar to Bram Stoker's Dracula

In London, the lawyer Arthur Kipps (Daniel Radcliffe) still grieves the death of his beloved wife Stela (Sophie Stuckey) on the delivery of their son Joseph (Misha Handley) four years ago. His employer gives a last chance to him to keep his job, and he is assigned to travel to the remote village Cryphin Gifford to examine the documentation of the Eel Marsh House that belonged to the decently deceased Mrs. Drablow (Alisa Khazanova). Arthur befriends Daily (Ciarán Hinds) in the train and the man offers a ride to him to the Gifford Arms inn.

Arthur has a cold reception and the owner of the inn tells that he did not receive the request of reservation and there is no available room. On the next morning, Arthur meets the solicitor Jerome that advises him to return to London. However Arthur goes to the isolated manor and soon he finds that the Eel Marsh House is haunted by the vengeful ghost of a woman dressed in black. He also learns that the woman lost her son drowned in the mush and she seeks revenge taking the children of the scared locals.

"The Woman in Black" is a dramatic horror film by Hammer with a good ghost story developed at a slow pace. The beginning is very similar to Bram Stoker's Dracula, when the young lawyer Jonathan Harker is sent to a remote village to a real estate business and has a cold reception by the villagers.

The vampire is replaced by the evil ghost of a woman in black that takes the children from the dwellers. The conclusion is a little disappointing but the film certainly makes the viewer startle many times along 95 minutes running time. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "A Mulher de Preto" ("The Woman in Black")