True Gothic Horror

Rating: 8/10 (3 February 2012)

I don't normally write reviews but with all the horror films coming out these days and so many opinions about them, I figured it was a good time to start. I think there needs to be clarification about what type of horror movie The Woman in Black really is. It is "Gothic Horror". We, especially those of us in the US, have associate horror with blood, guts and scary monsters. Gothic Horror is dark, suspenseful without the great amount of blood and gore. I've grown up on horror films of all kinds and it is rare that one will make me jump or feel creeped out anymore but The Woman in Black did just that. From the opening scene of the three little girls playing and to the end when, in a ending much like "The Ring", you know it's not over I was engrossed and yes, I jumped quite a few times. The dolls, which were period appropriate for the children of that time, added a good amount of creepiness to this dark story. The acting was well done. I was especially impressed by Daniel Ratcliffe's performance. The location and scenery were very well filmed. I highly recommend this movie, but be sure to go in with the correct expectation. Sometimes the scariest things are not monsters but the things that make us feel the most uncomfortable because we can identify with them.