The Woman in Black (2012)

Running Time: 1 Hour 35 mins
Genre: Horror/Thriller
Estimated Budget: $17, 000,000
Estimated Gross: $127, 730,736 

Director: James Watkins
Writer: Susan Hill (Novel) Jane Goldman (Screenplay)
Stars: Daniel Radcliffe, Ciaran Hinds, Janet McTeer

My Rating: 8/10

Hammer, the studio synonymous with Horror in the 1950's and 60's with classics like The Curse of Frankenstein (1957), Horror of Dracula (1958) and countless more opened its doors again to terrify a whole new generation of audiences. It's chosen subject; The Woman in Black a novella written by author Susan Hill in 1983 well known for scaring multitudes of readers with its ghostly subject matter. If that wasn't enough for curious cinema-goers already intrigued, it happened to be the first post-Potter film for Daniel Radcliffe and this had people turning out in droves to see if the film would triumph or sink.

The Woman in Black novella is a chilling read, I recommend no solitary reading and daylight is essential, read after dark at your own risk. It has been written in the style of a traditional Gothic Horror piece and certainly delivers. The movie has been adapted by Jane Goldman who has previous success with screenplays for Starust (2007), Kick Ass (2010) and  X-Men: First Class (2011). There are small changes made but the premise remains the same. A young father and widower Arthur Kipps (Radcliffe) is sent by his London firm to order the affairs and paperwork for the selling of Eel Marsh House an estate in a small country village. On the train he befriends a native of the village Sam Daily, but on his arrival at the inn he is staying at he receives a very cold reception. Everyone he meets in the town is hostile and weary of his presence there is obviously more going on here than meets the eye; a town secret they intend to keep. Nobody seems keen on Kipps getting to Eel Marsh house, but determined he pays to be taken across the remote causeway that cuts the estate off from the rest of the world by a changing tide and dangerous marsh land.

The house itself is in a state of disrepair, depressing and haunting it's isolation makes it an ominous place to be left alone. Once inside Arthur starts his work only to be stopped by noises around the house, looking out of the window he sees the figure of a woman completely in black in the grounds, when he looks back she has disappeared. He goes outside and hears voices in distress out in the mist of the causeway, searching he sees nothing until suddenly his driver appears through the fog. The longer Arthur stays in the town the more distressed the villagers become and tragic things begin to occur. The death of a child seems to confirm everyone's worst fears but Kipps is still fairly in the dark about the house and it's inhabitant.

He finally learns about the woman in black, Jennet, a mother mentally unstable and unable to take care of her son, when her relatives take the boy and he suddenly dies in the marsh she kills herself and vows to seek vengeance. Her victims; the children of the residents, whenever she is seen. Her child was taken from her so she will take the children of others. It is now clear why the town were so adamant against Arthur's coming, they knew that he would glimpse the ghostly vision and one of their children would die a violent death. Through a spiritual drawing Arthur is given a haunting message; the woman is after his son. Arthur tries to send a message to his son's nanny who is bringing him on the train reuniting him with his father for a weekend holiday. However the telegram office has been destroyed in a fire, Arthur has only one choice; try and rid Eel Marsh house of the woman haunting it. With the help of Sam he discovers Jennet's son's body and reunites him with his mother. He thinks this will give her closure and she will rest in peace, he is however, mistaken. She never forgives and she will never forget.

Daniel Radcliffe is surprisingly good as Arthur Kipps, there is no hint of the bespectacled boy wizard and he is thoroughly believable as a young dad. More impressive though was his portrayal of loss and dealing with that pain. He is a man not dealing with his grief but drowning in it, he is not with the living but stuck in a past that he cannot get back to, this is painfully apparent to his young four year old son, who can see quite clearly his father's distance and unhappiness. This link to death already for the young father is I feel what keeps him in the house despite what he knows and sees of the violent occupant; a morbid curiosity about life after death. The supporting cast; mainly Ciaran Hinds and Janet McTeer as the Daily's; a couple in a state of grief and denial over the loss of their own child years before and dealing with Mrs Daily's fragile state of mind, are vital to the realism and believability of the film. They are fundamental to creating the world that the audience are visiting, with horror especially it is important to believe the characters are real and down to earth. Without that you cannot invest in them, and if you don't care about the characters the scares lose their edge.

The cinematography, lighting and set design in particular remind me very much of another great British horror film; The Innocents (1961)  Like that film the look of this feature is so important to the atmosphere which is being created, it is obvious the film-makers were incredibly thorough and detailed in this department. The sets where so gothic and period dressed that you immediately feel you have been transported to that Victorian era. The lighting here is critical to creating the best scares, however they are not that obvious in design. Like The Innocents a lot of the structure of the film is the build of tension and suspence in the audience; administering the thrills only when least expected. There are numerous dark over the shoulder shots, where you assume something is going to appear, but cleverly director Watkins chooses these moments to simply build the suspense, leaving the audience to simmer over a scare that is overdrawn in its appearance. Suddenly when you least expect it, the scare is delivered. This technique is used to great success throughout.

An integral part of any horror picture is the music and with The Woman in Black there is no exception, the tone is chilling, ghostly children's music boxes added to an eerie score. This sets the mood for the entire film, this is so important for horror films especially. You can experiment with any horror film; watch a normally terrifying scene without the sound and see the difference it has on you. It falls flat, proving that the image is nothing without the sound that accompanies it. Even in the silent era it was never truly silent; there was always a small orchestra or piano accompanying the film.

There is a bitter-sweet ending to The Woman in Black without giving anything away, it is a shock for those expecting a resolved ending. However I think the final scene is acceptable due the protagonists disposition from the beginning. On the other hand in today's modern, franchise world the studio was naturally hoping for a hit so they could expand the story, there are many places to go with this supernatural tale. As proved by The Woman in Black: Angel of Death the anticipated sequel due in theatres February 2015. Set 40 years later during world war 2 Eel Marsh house sees a collection of evacuated children take up residence and unfortunately wake up the spectre who never left.

Whatever you may have heard, The Woman in Black is a very effective horror film, creating an entertaining and thrilling atmosphere. If this is what we can expect from a revitalised Hammer Studios then we are in for some exciting treats.

The Innocents (1961)

Running Time: 1 Hour 40 mins

Genre: Horror

Awards: Nominated for a BAFTA for Best British Film

Director: Jack Clayton

Writer: Henry James (Novel) William Archibald, Truman Capote (Screenplay)

Stars: Deborah Kerr, Peter Wyngarde, Megs Jenkins

My Rating: 9/10

I have been a fan of Deborah Kerr for many years, I greatly admire her work and The Innocents has long been one of my favourite in her catalogue of stunning performances (Kerr also regarded it as her finest performance). I had the pleasure to re-watch this film and enjoy again the superb acting, lighting, sound and dialogue that, put together, makes this film a classic.

The Innocents is loosely based on The Turn of the Screw by Henry James and was directed by Jack Clayton. It stars Deborah Kerr as Miss Giddens who takes up the post of governess to two children in the country. All is not right in the house and she soon begins to suspect that both the grounds and the children themselves are being haunted by previous staff members who have died at the house.  The Innocents has an unusual start, there is a black screen that holds for several seconds and a child’s voice begins to sing an eerie tune, this becomes a theme throughout the picture. This then passes and the Twentieth Century Fox Sign fades on and off the screen. People running the projection actually thought this was a mistake left on the film and often cut the song from the beginning of the picture. The credits begin in front of a black background along the right side of the screen and we see a pair of hands in prayer and begging alongside on the left amid sobs and moans. The camera then pulls back to reveal Kerr’s face; eyes closed, head facing the sky. An atmosphere has been created without a single word being uttered. There is a disturbing mood in place and the audience is pulled in immediately.

 Deborah Kerr’s Miss Giddens basically adopts the two children Miles (Martin Stephens) and Flora (Pamela Franklin) when their bachelor uncle hires her. She immediately feels a sense of duty and is bound to the children and this is only strengthened with time. Fairly early into her employment Miss Giddens begins to see things, unsure if it is her imagination she brushes it off at first, but the audience is convinced and are waiting for her to join us in our realization that something is very wrong in this house.

                           

The performances given by Stephens and Franklin are beyond what could be expected of children so young, there is so much meaning and subtlety to their performances. We truly believe along with Kerr’s character that there is something unwholesome about them. At first she is nothing short of thrilled at their charm and amiability but we are told of Miles expulsion from school before he arrives and this fact alone is very strange. There is something sinister about Miles and there is always a look of doubt in Giddens eyes when they are together. He is old before his time, he calls her my dear but it is no term of endearment, it comes across as patronizing, as if he were the one talking to a child. There is an extremely controversial kiss on the lips, but this is no child’s kiss it is mature and sexual; there were thoughts of cutting it from the film. This thankfully was decided against, it is a shocking moment, uncomfortable and indecent; it only adds to the awareness that the governess has about the corruption surrounding and enveloping her charges. She can’t know exactly what is really going on behind those old eyes but she is not convinced with his act and neither are we.

It is not long after Kerr begins to see apparitions in the grounds and house, the housekeeper simple and kind and with a continuous look of holding something back, reveals that the masters old valet died on the steps of the house and the previous governess who was in love with him killed herself in the lake. Miss Giddens was growing weary already and with this revelation her attitude to both the house and the children shifts; she becomes distracted by the thought of these malevolent spirits wondering around. She becomes convinced that they are linked to the children, after hearing worrying stories about the connection between the valet and Miles and the governess and Flora. There are hints throughout the film that the children are not as innocent as they seem and they appear to be linked not just in body but in mind; Flora has a premonition that Miles is coming home before the letter even arrives confirming it. The audience is almost in certain agreement with Miss Giddens that these children are communicating with the dead and are perhaps even as far as being possessed by them so they can be together again.                   

                        

What is clever about this film, is the more the past is revealed and the more Kerr comes to understand what is happening in the house, the more she seems to be the one becoming unhinged. It is such an ingenious performance, we have distrusted the children from the beginning but suddenly for a split second we doubt ourselves. These children are playing mindless games with the dead lovers against the governess and it is only her love of the children that powers her determination to save them and keep her horror at bay. This is a film shrouded in suspicion and doubt, the scares are very subtle no big shocks needed here, the acting is enough to unsettle anyone; incredibly ominous there is a definite macabre created for this film with its Victorian setting very important to the atmosphere. The tone is really created not with any conventional horror tricks and jumps but with dialogue. There are double meanings to many of the conversations and predicting what is really being said is what makes the film so intriguing. The film benefits completely from being in black and white, there are so many beautiful shots in the picture; the effort that has gone into the lighting alone is mind-blowing.

The film would not have been the same without the black and white format used; cinematographer Freddie Francis used so many lights on the set, Deborah Kerr reportedly wore sunglasses in-between takes and he was jokingly accused of trying to burn down Shepperton Studios. But without this lighting The Innocents would be entirely different film, it creates a mood so ghoulish that there is no need to shock the audience into being horrified, it is a feeling they keep with them from the moment the theme starts until they leave their seats at the end of the movie.

The horror is created with sound effects as well as lighting, these effects become clearer and louder the further into the film we get they build into a crescendo as the threat grows larger. The elements themselves (wind and rain) seem to be in on it and help to create one of the greatest psychological thrillers Britain ever produced. For any film fan this is a must-see, if your a fan of Horror, British Film-making, Deborah Kerr or simply a classic from a great period of cinema this is one for your collection.

Top 10 Animated Films

When people think of animation the first thing that immediately comes to mind is Disney and Pixar, the dominant studios in the industry. But there are many other studios who are hot on their heels in recent years, turning out great features that both children and adults can enjoy. So lets not forget the likes of Dreamworks, Aardman, Ghibli and many more.

10 - Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs (2009)

Running Time: 1 Hour 30 mins
Genre: Animation/Comedy/Family
Director: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller
Stars: Anna Faris, Bill Hader, Bruce Campbell

A loud and buzzing film with a great concept; a rather useless scientist. But in trying to create a machine that turns water into food he accidentally sends his invention into the atmosphere. The results; it literally rains food, hence the title. A fun, colourful film with a recognisable voice cast this was a great success on release. It has also since rendered a sequel in which the food in their town has taken on a life of its own with food-animals such as tacodiles and shrimpanzees.

09 - How to Train Your Dragon (2010)

Running Time: 1 Hour 35 mins
Genre: Animation/Adventure/Fantasy
Director: Dean DeBlois, Chris Sanders
Stars: Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Christopher Mintz-Plasse

A surprisingly huge hit for Dreamworks, HTTYD was not a film I was enthusiastic to see, and I didn't for a few years. However when the moment struck me to finally watch it I thoroughly enjoyed the excitement and the heart that fills this film. Set in the Viking era Hiccup is the son of the Viking leader but he just doesn't fit in with their violent dragon killing ways. When he sets out to prove he can kill one he ends up finding his soul mate. Toothless is a rare breed and it becomes Hiccups task to train him and teach his people that dragons do not need to be feared. A great movie for the whole family.

08 - The Croods (2013)

Running Time: 1 Hour 35 mins
Genre: Animation/Comedy/Family
Director: Kirk De Micco
Stars: Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds

I'm not ashamed to say this animated movie made me cry. Most animated movies today deal with very real and deep subjects in this case it is father daughter relationships and the issues with growing up and letting go. All set hilariously within a family of cavemen, with an all star voice cast this film is packed with jokes, the most successful those integrating modern world jokes into this primitive setting. Great animation, fantastic colour palette, delightfully funny and a compelling story this is a great animation from Dreamworks, again proving that not only Disney and Pixar can make animation movies.

07 - Howls Moving Castle (2004)

Running Time: 2 Hours
Genre: Animation/Fantasy/Family
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Stars: Christian Bale, Jean Simmons, Emily Mortimer

Not considered the best, but definitely my favourite from the Studio Ghibli cannon. This fantastical story centres on a young girl called Sophie who has an ageing spell cast on her, she seeks out a young Wizard named Howl who is her only hope to break the spell. She finds him in his moving house (the image to the left) and becomes part of the unconventional family living there. Quirky and filled to the brim with the strange and magical, it is hard not to enjoy this movie from the genius Hayao Miyazaki.



06 - Coraline (2009)

Running Time: 1 Hour 40 mins
Genre: Animation/Fantasy/Mystery
Director: Henry Selick
Stars: Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, John Hodgman

Coraline is a vivid, imaginative tale from the unmistakeable talent found at Laika Entertainment Studio. Dakota Fanning voices the title character of a young girl who has just moved into an old dingy apartment house. She is frustrated with her boring life and the lack of attention or intimacy she gets from her parents. When she discovers another identical world behind a door in her living room, and finds another mother and father who lavish her with treats and attention she is tempted to leave one world for the other. However all is not as it seems, the buttons for eyes should be a clue all is not right.

05 - The Polar Express (2004)

Running Time: 1 Hour 40 mins
Genre: Animation/Family/Fantasy
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Stars: Tom Hanks, Chris Coppola, Michael Jeter

The Polar Express is one of those movies that just makes you feel warm inside. Our protagonist a young boy doubting the existence of Christmas boards a magical train on Christmas Eve bound for the North Pole and a meeting with Santa. Through a action packed adventure getting there and then a captivating exploration of the North Pole this is a great Christmas movie for the kids (and fun-loving adults). Displaying perfect motion-capture techniques we get to see one of our best loved movie stars Tom Hanks in a selection of roles. Christmas, animation, Tom Hanks; what more could you want.

04 - Despicable Me (2010)

Running Time: 1 Hour 35 mins
Genre: Animation/Comedy/Family
Director: Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud
Stars: Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand

A major success when it was released it has now spawned a sequel and a spin off due for release 2015. One of the greatest premises for an animation in years. Gru (Steve Carell) is your stereotypical evil villain, except he isn't very good at it. Everything changes when he gets involved with three orphaned girls who through their sheer personality and dependence on him, change him for the better. This is a great film, one that adults can easily sit through without falling asleep. With a perfect voice cast it is incredibly funny and introduced the world to minions (who can imagine one without them).


03 - The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Running Time: 1 Hour 25 mins
Genre: Animation/Family/Fantasy
Director: Henry Selick
Stars: Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, Catherine O'Hara

This has been a favourite of mine since a very young age, I have always been drawn towards the gothic. It also happens to meld two of my favourite things; Christmas and Halloween. Jack Skellington is king of Halloweentown but he is feeling bored and depressed. On discovering Christmastown he decides that this year he will take over the beloved holiday. Unfortunately he doesn't quite get the idea and his scary presents are not to peoples liking. Awesome film, great songs and the animation is superb.

02 - The Snowman (1982)

Running Time: 26 mins
Genre: Animation/Short
Director: Dianne Jackson, Jimmy T. Murakami
Stars: (Aled Jones singing - in the original)

As a person of tradition and sentiment, I get a lot of joy from watching The Snowman at Christmas every year. The style in which it has been made makes it look like the drawings are magically coming to life on the page. Without any dialogue apart from an introduction from Father Christmas himself, this short animation is all the better for it. Simple and effecting with great charm and innocence, the inclusion of the now infamous christmas staple 'Walking in the Air' makes this a must see. I can't imagine not watching this one at least once in December.

01 - Shrek (2001)

Running Time: 1 Hour 30 mins
Genre: Animation/Comedy/Adventure
Director: Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson
Stars: Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz

With Shrek, animation was given a modern kick, with the use of so many familiar star voices and a fresh vibrant comedic script incorporating pop culture, there was little chance this could fail. Shrek is an ogre who's peaceful swamp is disturbed by fairytale creatures. To return it to it's previous state he agrees to go on a quest to rescue a princess from a dragon. This goes more or less to plan, with the help and hindrance of a talking donkey (Eddie Murphy's best role in years) however he didn't plan on falling in love with the Princess in the process. Action packed and hilarious you can't not like Shrek, I challenge you.


So if you're wondering how to spend a rainy afternoon or you fancy something a little lighter and brighter than your dramas and thrillers then these are the perfect collection of animated films to fill your day with. Enjoy.