Superb chiller that is a breath of fresh air for the horror genre.

Rating: 8/10 (1 June 2012)

As an avid fan of the novel of which this film is based, and a big fan of Hammer, I was very excited to hear that it was finally getting a big screen adaptation, and in my opinion it's an extremely fine adaptation of an extremely spooky story.
The story is about a young lawyer named Arthur Kipps, who is still fragile after the recent death of his wife, because of his grief his work has suffered, so as a final chance to prove himself he is sent to Eel Marsh house to settle the affairs of a recently deceased woman, it's here at Eel Marsh house that all the chills, thrills, jumps and bumps start beginning, a mysterious woman dressed entirely in black is seen throughout and around the house, taunting Arthur, this sends Arthur on a mission to find out who the woman in black is and why she haunts Eel Marsh house.
I really loved this film, it simply must be seen on the big screen, the moodiness/darkness/dreariness is suited so well to be seen in a dark cold cinema. The production is top notch all the way, the eerie score, the dilapidated house, the almost barren town are all presented terrifically, in particular the trail that leads to Eel Marsh house, it totally has an overwhelming feeling of dread around it, everything in this aspect is done to perfection. The acting is stellar, Daniel Radcliffe is extremely fine in his performance, his emotions and the way he expresses himself are all done very well, not cheesy or overdone, also worth a mention is Janet Mcteer, who is always great, she is almost another mystery worth solving, her character is certainly intriguing and she is great in every scene.
The Woman In Black works very well as a horror film as well as a mystery, even though I knew the outcome as I'd read the book, you still get very interested in how it's all going to end, the ending is a tad different from the book but I do actually think this ending films a bit better. An all round excellent movie which is well worth the time, I would recommend it to anyone who loves decent cinema.
Here's hoping this is the first in a long string of great new Hammer films. :)