As a summer tradition that started when we were in grade school, my brothers and sisters and I would stay up 'til the wee hours of the morning and talk or watch a movie. Our youngest is already 16 years old but we have continued with the tradition, when it allows. This week we watched "The Woman in Black" featuring Daniel Radcliffe.
The actor plays Arthur Kipps, a young lawyer haunted by the memories of his wife who died in childbirth. He takes care of his son Joseph (Misha Handley) with the help of a nanny (Jessica Raine). He is assigned the case of Alice Drablow, the owner of a large estate called the Eel Marsh House situated in a distant village in the marshes. In this small village he encounters an ominous presence that stalks children and casts a shadow on the entire community.
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| On the way to Eel Marsh House (that's on the little island up ahead) |
The movie was fairly entertaining. It elicited a few squeaks and one good scream from me and my sister.:) I thought the plot unfolded at just the right pace. Radcliffe, though not one of my favorite actors, delivered a strong performance. You can really see the longing in his eyes when he remembers his wife. He makes the fear and terror that underlies the entire movie come alive. The only letdown to his portrayal of the character was that there were a few instances when I thought he was waiting for Voldemort to emerge from one of the old buildings in the misty village. It was too reminiscent of the wizard boy who rid the world of said evil noseless creature.
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Don't call me Harry!
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Nevertheless, it's a good movie to watch in the middle of the night with the lights off (which is what we did exactly) with people you're comfortable enough with to admit you're scared of the dark. In fact, there were several scenes where, I'm not ashamed to admit, I had one eye covered as if that would keep my heart from stopping whenever the ghost showed itself. I'd give it 3 out of 5 stars. :)
Trivia!
- Eel Marsh House is actually Cotterstock Hall. It sits in the village of Oundle in Northamptonshire in central England.
Pictures aren't mine. Sources:
http://www.filmofilia.com/new-the-woman-in-black-poster-and-uk-quad-poster-86027/
http://borg.com/2012/02/05/opening-weekend-review-the-decently-creepy-woman-in-black/
http://theshakespeareblog.com/2012/02/daniel-radcliffe-and-the-story-of-child-actors-young-roscius-comes-of-age/
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37034.The_Woman_in_Black
http://www.dicamillocompanion.com/Houses_detail.asp?ID=4553
http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/details/default.aspx?id=232612
