
“A spine-chilling ghost story”
A lawyer travels to a small seaside town to settle the estate of a recently deceased woman, but soon becomes ensnared in something much more sinister.
Release Date: 12/24/1989
Runtime: 100 minutes
Languages: English
Director: Herbert Wise
00Companies: Capglobe, Central Films Limited, Granada Television
Countries: United Kingdom
John Chard
Top draw TV movie spooker. The Woman in Black is directed by Herbert Wise and adapted to screenplay by Nigel Kneale from the Susan Hill novel of the same name. It stars Adrian Rawlins, Bernard Hepton, David Daker, Pauline Moran, David Ryall, Clare Holman and John Cater. Music is by Rachel Portman and cinematography by Michael Davis. When a friendless old widow dies in the seaside town of Crythin, a young solicitor is sent by his firm to settle the estate. Once their though he finds the townspeople reluctant to talk about or go near the woman's home. Even worse is that he keeps seeing a woman in black but no one will explain or even acknowledge that she exists. The play was a monster success so it was no surprise that it would be transfered to screen. Sedately paced but hugely effective as a chilling story, it's safe to say it's not one for those searching for boisterous shock and awe tactics. The setting is wonderfully Gothic in textures, and thus with the number of sightings of the titular title character, there's added sinister flavour - even in daylight! Smartly performed by the cast, this pulls the viewer in and keeps you hooked, right up to the unforgettably crushing finale. 8/10

Adrian Rawlins
Arthur Kidd

Bernard Hepton
Sam Toovey

David Daker
Josiah Freston

Pauline Moran
Woman in Black

David Ryall
Sweetman

Clare Holman
Stella Kidd

John Cater
Arnold Pepperell

John Franklyn-Robbins
Reverend Greet
Fiona Walker
Mrs. Toovey

William Simons
John Keckwick

Robin Weaver
Bessie

Caroline John
Stella's Mother
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