The newly resurrected Hammer Studios is in desperate need of a hit following some less-than- inspiring offerings (the needless ‘Let Me In’ and the dreadful ‘The Resident’). Thus they have teamed up with a 21st century superstar - Daniel Radcliffe. Hot off the heels of a multi-billion dollar franchise, the man who was Harry Potter is looking to establish himself outside of the films, with the first stop being a remake of the horror classic ‘The Woman In Black’.
Set in Edwardian England, lawyer Arthur Tipps (Radcliffe) is charged with handling the estate of a recently deceased woman in a small village. Tipps begins to see a mysterious woman in black haunting the estate. He soon surmises that it is the vengeful ghost of the former owner’s sister, who targets the children of the village by possessing them and making them commit suicide. With Tipps’ young son the next victim, Tipps must find a way to appease the spirit.
The film’s traditional, almost old fashioned feel is the best and worst thing about it. A return to the old machinations of the genre is, ironically, quite refreshing and new. Director James Watkins opts for chills over the modern fascination with blood and dismemberment, and whilst there is the odd jump it’s mainly the anticipation that causes the tension. As novel and appealing as it is, however, it feels slow and, let’s be realistic, in a world where ‘Saw’ and ‘Final Destination’ exist this is frankly a little bit tame for modern audiences. It’s more intelligent and elegant than all of those franchises put together, but in a world where we’ve seen pretty much everything being done to any imaginable victim, the risk isn’t quite so present.
Radcliffe clearly wants to rid himself of the typecasting of ‘Potter’, but can he deliver a great performance and make us forget the franchise? The answers, rather unhelpfully, is yes and no. It’s a subtle and capable performance, but one that feels out of place. He looks too young for the role, especially in the scenes with his onscreen son, and one can’t help but think if he were not attached the role would have gone to a slightly older actor. That’s not exactly a damning verdict- he is only 22, and despite that disconnect he ably carries the film with the help of strong support such as Ciaran Hinds and Janet McTeer.
As spooky as the best ghost house fairground ride, it may not make you run from the cinema screaming but ‘The Woman in Black’ is a subtle (perhaps too subtle) horror that crawls under your skin. It may be a while before he shakes off the spectre of his most famous role (if he ever does), but Radcliffe was right to choose a role that relied on a performance rather than spectacle.
Released in cinemas on February 10.
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