Yesterday night I attended a special preview of The Woman In Black followed by a Q & A session with the film's director, James Watkins. The Woman in Black is a tale based on the classic ghost story written by Susan Hill and starring Daniel Radcliffe as Arthur Kipps, a lawyer who is forced to leave his young son and travel to a remote village to attend to the affairs of the deceased owner of Eel Marsh House. The house stands at the end of a causeway, wrapped in fog and mystery, but it is not until Arthur glimpse a woman dressed all in black that a creeping sense of unease begins to take hold of him, a feeling deepened by the reluctance of the locals to speak of the woman in black and her terrible purpose. I cannot reveal more about the plot without spoiling the view.
I had a great night watching a very good film that I recommend to anyone. I have always wanted to see the play which has been running on stage in London for over 23 years, but I have never found the time (and the tickets!) to go. Now the film, adapted for the big screen by Jane Goldman, scares the mind without the gore. You are constantly waiting for the next jump out of your seat moment, but you cannot predict when it's coming. Daniel Radcliff is excellent as the lead and proves that there still acting life for him after Harry Potter. I think it is a great British film, made with a limited budget but still beautifully produced with an unsettling atmosphere and exquisite period details.
This preview was part of the VW See Film Differently campaign to sponsor independent cinemas across the UK. We were also treated to free drinks and popcorn and we also found a free copy of Susan Hill's book on every seat. York was chosen as The Woman In Black’s preview venue not only because of its reputation of the most haunted city in England - if not in Europe - but also because Susan Hill was born in Scarborough, Yorkshire and where the play was shown for the first time.
The film opens nationwide in the UK next Friday 10th February.
