12/07/2012

Film Critic: The Woman in Black

By Martina Bookaholic

The Woman in Black

Official English Trailer
(All rights belong to Momentum Pictures)

German Titel: Die Frau in Schwarz

Puplishing Year: 2012

Production: Hammer Film Productions

Regie: James Watkins

Cast:
Daniel Radcliff, Ciarán Hinds,
Janet McTeer, Liz White

English Website: »»

German Website: »»

Novel written by:
Susan Hill.

Synopsis:
A young lawyer, struggling with work after the death of his wife, is sent to a remote village to settle the estate of a deceased eccentric woman who owns an English manor. The village residents want him to leave as they are trying to conceal a deadly secret. But he refuses, and soon discovers that the house of his client is haunted by the vengeful ghost of a woman dressed in black. (Quelle: imdb.com)
.

My thoughts about the movie:
After I’ve read the book, I also had to watch the film for ‘Book2Movie’ Challenge. Of course I was curious about the movie and now I don’t know whether I should regret it or not.

In my opinion the movie is built up like also all the other spooky-/ghostmovies, in which less storyline but more effects seem to appear, which should frighten the audience. Suitably to that of course also the right sound is added; at first the subdued background music, then the creepy tones which announce ghosts and other supernatural things, while loud rumbling or a loud scream underline the shocking, frightening pictures.

Therefore the producers are not using lot of special effects or a big ballyhoo, but the more subtle fear is demanded and the foreboding, that something is going to happen soon and then horrifying pictures of dead children, dark rooms or a desolate wood or area do their add to build up an uncanny atmosphere throughout the whole movie. .

Unfortunately, the storyline is very foreseeable, as well as in the book, and often I already know in advance what will happen next. But to be honest that was not so bad, because hence I could hold up my hands before my eyes, so I don’t have to watch every terrifying thing in it. Although I must admit that I was really frightened, nevertheless, 2-3 times during the movie, where I also screamed and got almost a heart attack. But such films are simply not meant for me and this move has shown me that simply fact again.

The end was also easy to guess and has reminded me, although it was sad, very much of a typical Hollywood-end, in which everything is done to get a great highlight for the audience and to leave a remaining impression.

I didn’t like the movie very much, as well as the book hasn’t worked for me, and also the actors couldn’t persuade me. Actually, I usually like Daniel Radcliff and I’ve expected more of him, but throughout this movie he had the same agonizing and distorted, if not even a sleepy, expression on the face and unfortunately he also didn’t vary it.

In addition the actors were very flat and behaved weirdly and strangely, not only because of the ghosts, but they didn’t seem real at all. The same was with the plot in the move, which seemed to me as blank.

Differences to the book:
The film keeps to a few details and the basic mood of the book and the movie is same, but the rest is completely different. These are virtually almost two different stories, only that in both the ghost of a black woman is up to no good. The beginning, the middle and the end are different than in the book and I didn’t completely like one of these two ends. Also the character of Arthur Kipps was changed completely, who was a fun-loving, curious lawyer at the beginning of the book, although also a little arrogant but nice. But in the movie he was presented as a broken father, who has already lost his beloved woman during childbirth.

Soundtrack:
There was no real soundtrack included, because rather creepy noises were in the background or a melancholy, mysterious music were dominant. But all in all, it was what everybody expect in a horror move and hence also very suitably.

All in all:
For me it’s not a movie which I would watch again and I also wouldn’t like to recommend it to anybody, except to those who are great fans of horror movies and ghost stories and who like it to be frightened to death without thinking too much about a great, unpredictable storyline.

Rating:
2,5 of 5 points – (It was okay).