The Woman in Black

An atmospheric and effective horror film, The Woman in Black is based on the eerie novel by Susan Hill. Starring Daniel Radcliffe in his first post-Harry Potter screen role, the movie unabashedly embraces its dark, dreary aesthetic and Edwardian setting, resulting in a surprisingly suspenseful period chiller. Offered one last chance to hold on to his job as a lawyer, young widower Arthur Kipps (Radcliffe) departs London for the remote coastal town of Crythin Gifford, where he must settle the affairs of the late residents of the secluded Eel Marsh House. Shunned by most of the locals, except for the wealthy Mr. Daily (Ciarán Hinds) and his unstable wife (Janet McTeer), Kipps slowly uncovers the tragedy of Eel Marsh and begins to see unsettling visions of a black-clad woman (Liz White), leading him directly into grave danger. Director James Watkins, who previously helmed the disturbing thriller Eden Lake, manages to sustain a remarkable level of tension throughout the film, thanks, in part, to wonderfully eerie locations and the solid performance of Radcliffe, who ventures through foreboding corridors in extended wordless stretches that feature an impressive accumulation of scares. With its dearth of over-the-top gore and CGI effects, The Woman in Black proudly carries on the tradition of England's legendary Hammer Films and portends well for the careers of both Watkins and Radcliffe.