One of the better British efforts

Rating: 7/10 (16 March 2014)

The Woman In Black is a very good film. There isn't a lot more to say about it. Watch it and there's a distinct possibility that you'll enjoy it ... very much.
I have to admit, I was keen to see it at the time but didn't expect too much (British drama, and all that). After watching it the first time, I thought "Nice .... good film. A classic ghost story reminiscent of old Hammer films" (which is essentially what it is), but it left me feeling a bit indifferent. I had to watch it another couple of times to really appreciate it.
The makers obviously realised that focusing merely on visual aspects isn't enough; that they would have to come up with a pretty sophisticated storyline (although not very original) and create a gripping atmosphere or it would be a pointless exercise. Well, they've succeeded. You can tell that a great deal of thought went into making the film, which is also mirrored by the impressive attention to detail. Although being the film's only real strong points, they're enough to make it an enjoyable experience, because they're so crucial.
Daniel Radcliffe, I'm sorry to say, often seems out of his depth in the film, seemingly not knowing how to really play his character (clearly too many years of playing Harry Potter), with the only notable performance here being Ciaran Hinds' (closely followed by Janet McTeer), a seasoned and very talented actor. The film is often painfully slow paced and there is a substantial lack of action. Script and score do what they need to do, although Radcliffe's script is so sparse at times, it borders on a silent performance.
Yet, all this somehow doesn't really matter, because the film still works ... and works very well. A very enjoyable and atmospheric Gothic horror flick that's well worth a couple of hours of your time.