Directed by: James Watkins
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Ciarán Hinds, Janet McTeer
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Distributed by: Sony Picutres Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: May 22, 2012
Running Time: 95 minutes
Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars
“The Woman in Black” is Daniel Radcliffe’s first major role since the “Harry Potter” series and really gives him a chance to shine. The film is very dark and atmospheric. It is released by Hammer and resembles its charm and very well. Since it was PG-13 though, a few of the good scare moments are tamed a little but there are still some decent spooks. The film’s score is so fantastic and really helps drive the film. Overall, if you are fan of classic Hammer films, this is as close as you are going to get and you should not be disappointed.
Daniel Radcliffe plays as Arthur Kipps, a lawyer, who travels to the English countryside in order to manage the estate of a newly deceased woman, while also still grieving the loss of his own wife. Arthur realizes that their is a deadly secret that is plaguing the local villagers and does not get a warm welcoming. While in the estate, he seems the ghost of the woman and tries to figure out what happened to her in order to help and stay alive.
The DVD comes with some decent but not spectacular extras. There is a commentary track from director James Watkins and screenwriter Jane Goldman, worth checking out. Lastly, there two behind-the-scenes featurettes. The first is called “Inside The Perfect Thriller: Making The Woman in Black”, it is worth checking out if you enjoyed the film. “No Fear: Daniel Radcliffe as Arthur Kipps” is self-explainatory and focuses on the film’s role.
