The Woman in Black

Rating:
Summary: An awesome ghost story in the old tradition
Review: I bought this movie because I love Horror movies and I read all the glowing reviews about it here. Well, I have to agree that this is top-notch. It's a ghost story that is right up there with the best ghost story movies I've ever seen. There was not one actor that I had ever heard of in this movie; nonetheless the acting was great. The plot was solid, and the movie suceeded without needing any unique special effects. This is a scary movie, and I give it a thumbs up.

Rating:
Summary: The Scariest Movie I Have Ever Seen..
Review: I ordered this movie after reading the reviews on how scary it was. After thinking about it, I was sure I was going to be let down knowing so many movies have let me down before, but boy was I wrong about this one. This movie scared me to death, it haunts me to this day. It is not possible for me to watch this alone and I would not suggest it to new viewers. The first time I watched it I, of course, was alone in a big house when it was dark. My house makes all kinds of creaking noises so I was LITERALLY SCARED STIFF! There is one scene in particular, that makes me shudder into terror everytime I see it. I brought this to my friends house to see if she got the same reaction, and when THAT SCENE came on, she grabbed my arm so tight I was almost in tears. We couldn't watch the rest of the movie in the dark, and no she did not sleep well at all that night. I can't put into words how much this movie haunts me, NEVER EVER has a movie been able to do that to me. The face of the Woman In Black scares me so much, I can't even look at the actress who plays her without getting a chill. I am not exaggerating, this movie is THAT SCARY. Watch it alone, if you dare, you have been warned!

Rating:
Summary: A big disappointment
Review: This has been recommended by so many people who like the same sorts of ghost films I adore that my hopes for this were really high. It has a magnificent setting (most of it is set in an abandoned marshland mansion on the English coast, cut off from the mainland for most of the day by high tides), and the idea of the recurring ghostly figure of the woman in black--staring, hating, but never speaking--is pretty eerie. But the movie is very poorly done--you can tell it was filmed for television (the compositions seem underwhelming), and the scary quality of the mansion is never used to its full potential. In particular, the direction and screenplay adaptation are very poor: as many have noted below, we never find out fully many key details in the backstory, and the "rules" the film seems to establish about where and when the ghost may appear don't seem to be followed through to the end (yet even so, you can guess exactly what will happen). At other times information is doled out much too late: Adrian Rawlins, as Arthur, seems to be overdoing it quite early in the film when he sees the woman near the house, but later we find out that it wasn't overacting (as it seemed at the time), but rather that the apparition filmed him with an unreasonable and overwhelming sense of dread (which could have been conveyed more easily by a close-up or by a quick explanatory line before he goes to the house). I think this material could make a good film, but I also think this wasn't it.

Rating:
Summary: Scariest story ever told...
Review: This movie scared me silly in my teens. I just returned from London where I had the great pleasure of seeing this performed on the stage. Before attending, I wondered how they could possibly make this story as scary in real life as in the film. After attending, I found myself in a half run on my way home from the Tube. I decided to see if I could purchase the DVD for my boyfriend who has the unfortunate distinction of having missed the play and never seeing the movie. Remembering the story, I am sitting here in my darkened office feeling a little nervous. While it is somewhat redundant to remark on the lack of gore, I must point out that it is the psychological horror factor behind The Woman in Black will stay with you for a long time. I have sat through and forgotten most of the slasher flicks ever made and this one continues to make me feel that chill down my neck just thinking about it.

Rating:
Summary: The Woman in Black
Review: This movie was entertaining, but I thought it would be scarier. There were several scenes that left me with a chill down my spine, but not as many as I like in a ghost story. The last scene was the creepiest to me and kept me awake for a while the night I watched it! I just kept picturing this woman standing in my bedroom!! It is somewhat like The Changeling, but I think the Changeling had a better story line.

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Superb!!
Review: Skepticism doesn't run deep in me, yet in the past I have purchased movies only to be dissapointed by them. Not the case here. This movie was exactly what was promised by other reviewers...It scared the daylights out of me! The story is wonderful, the atmosphere brilliant, the score...chilling. I enjoyed the pace of the film, and found myself astounded that I was terrified by the end. I don't get scared often, but this one floored me! Ranks up there with The Haunting (1963). If you enjoy Ghost Stories...this one will knock your socks off! Turn the lights off, pull the couch out from the wall and make sure you wathc it at night when you are alone...you won't be disappointed!!

Rating:
Summary: Do you believe in ghosts - Never have? - Why not ?!?!
Review: Do not watch this film either on your own, or at night!! I just wish someone had told ME that before I watched this film for the first time. Without a doubt in my mind, this superbly brilliant English film is the scariest and creepiest film ever made. The darkness of the story literally sends shivers up your spine, with its haunting soundtrack and disturbing scenes of a hating female ghost that wants nothing but revenge, causing grief to the citizens in her village. Just the sight of her face is enough to make any young child go straight to bed!! An absolute MUST BUY for anyone who appreciates a truly brilliant suspense/thriller.

Rating:
Summary: can a film be TOO frightening?
Review: If only this were available in England. A low budget, made for t.v. version of Susan Hill's novel, the only down side to this astonishing little gem is the tacky ending, which is a betrayal of the book's plot, and is thematically ridiculous (the whole point is that the adults live to suffer their loss - it's the children who are in mortal peril). However, the performances are spot-on, the tension builds to an unbearable level, and then there is THAT SCENE. Those of you who have shuddered through it will know what I mean. Those of you who haven't...Well, I can honestly say that this is the only scene in cinema history that I am physically unable to watch due to sheer terror. WATCH THIS FOR THE FIRST TIME ON YOUR OWN, WAIT UNTIL ARTHUR IS TAKEN SAFELY BACK TO THE HOTEL, WAIT UNTIL HE IS WOKEN BY THE CHILD'S VOICE CALLING "HELLO?", AND THEN.... DISCOVER A WHOLE NEW WAY OF NOT BEING ABLE TO SLEEP FOR MONTHS, IF NOT YEARS. Absolutely the most traumatic film I own. Enjoy, but you have been warned. Heh heh heh....

Rating:
Summary: SHOCKING!
Review: This film is not thrilling or scary, but extremely creepy. The kind of creepy that causes you to squirm in your seat and the hairs raise on the back of your neck and arms. Extremely well done film with fine acting and some memorable shocking scenes. There is no gore! All of the creepy scenes are done with camera angles and very shocking close-ups. What makes it so creepy is the desperation and sadness that comes out in the haunting Lady in Black. Extremely effective. A+

Rating:
Summary: Turn down the lights....
Review: "The Woman in Black" is a fantastic movie for people that like to be scared. You are not scared because of terrific special effects, instead you are haunted by deadly gazes and great acting. This movie was put together with a small budget, but the acting, directing and story all come together to make "The Woman in Black" a success. The story is about a lawyer that goes to settle an estate out on England's coast. When he arrives he finds that virtually nobody wants to go out to the house of the deceased located in the costal marshes. Forced to go out by himself he learns the real reason that nobody wants to go out there. I won't ruin the remainder of the movie, but let's just say that the lawyer becomes ill mentally and physically from his experiences. Some scenes from this movie will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. Again not because of special effects but because of great acting and directing. I really recomend that horror movie lovers see this movie. If nothing else see it so you can appreciate the fact that a low budget movie can still be good. If you are like me you will have certain immages from this movie imprinted in your memory for a while to come.