Not as good as the original but still effective

Rating: 7/10 (22 January 2015)

The original movie was very quiet, creepy and had very less special effects. The remake, while being effective, is obviously of the new style of American horror with the over the top jump scares sometimes. Thankfully it doesn't go as over the top as some other recent British horror movies (example being Descent part 2).
The biggest problem I find with the remake is Daniel radcliffe. The guy is too young for this role. No way he seems mature enough to do such a role and he seems overwhelmed by it all. I can't take him seriously as an adult (yes I know he is) and certainly not as a father of a kid. I think there are far more mature and good looking actors in Britain who could have done this role.
But disregarding that fact, it is quite an effective horror film. Honestly though, it reminded me most of recent American horror such as Insidious and Conjuring. Which means constant jump scares, with faces in the window, loud music, screaming ghosts (now why would they do that?). I don't mind the style though, I enjoyed it quite a bit. Just that people coming to watch the movie for the old atmospheric British style would be disappointed. I didn't mind the changes that were done. Why is the wife dead in the remake? It doesn't make any difference except it makes the ending happier I guess. Also the whole "The Ring" style searching for bodies and all - I think we have seen enough of these plots where you need to find the body to make the ghost happy or whatever. I think even this aspect is not there in the original. Also about the other guy's wife - I don't remember this at all. It has been a long time since I saw the original of course.
In terms of atmosphere, it does do a good enough job. I did think the music is a little overdone at points but that is to be expected in the Insidious school of film making. My favourite scenes were the scenes where they show the woman in black in the distance and also the scene in the fog. And of course there is a scene with, ugh, the dead body of a child...I hate stuff like that.
I liked the movie, an enjoyable modern horror movie.
7/10