ryan-10075 Adrian Rawlins plays Arthur Kidd a solicitor who has been sent by his firm to settle the estate of Alice Drablow who has just passed away. Kidd looks at this as a chance to impress the firm with dreams of receiving a partnership. Soon thereafter he witnesses a dark and mysterious woman in black. He also hears horrible noises and voices when near the Nine Lives Causeway (aptly named) that leads to the isolated house. Kidd works on unwinding the mystery of the home.This is a TV movie, but I actually find it scarier than most over done Hollywood horror movies. They don't do it with buckets of blood, but rather with perhaps more subtlety, with sounds and a ghost story that takes time to develop, but is well worth the wait.I really do give screenwriter Nigel Kneale and director Herbert Wise credit for taking the Susan Hill novel which was a pretty darn good horror story and creating this great horror movie that does not stray that far from the novel (if my memory serves correct). I do apologize as I certainly do not remember everything from the novel as I read it a few years back, but I do remember that I really enjoyed it. Had me on the edge of my seat, which this movie does.Highly recommended to those who love a good ghost story.

Johan Louwet This was obviously a TV-movie with a small cast and the focus mostly on lawyer Adrian Rawlins (played by Arthur Kidd) who goes to investigate a house so it can be sold. He gets intrigued by the mysterious fog, the apparitions of the woman in black, the sounds of childish laughter. Even though the movie really dragged in some parts I thought it was done way better than the remake. Everything was way more threatening even if there didn't really happen much. The inclusion of the little doggie as his companion was great too. He eventually goes crazy, who wouldn't. I missed however that the village and the children lived in fear of this spirit, she seems to only haunt poor Adrian.Even though enjoyable I don't think I would re-watch it. The mystery is interesting but it stays pretty vague, the motives of the woman in black too, but that could be me not having understood everything. Still I know much more than when I watched the remake. I do remember very little of the remake only that I was totally unimpressed by it and had a pretty stupid ending. Radcliffe as the lawyer seemed to go pretty emotionless through the scenes while Kidd showed genuine feelings of fear. I think it's just the story which isn't interesting enough for me to give it a high rating.

vishnuvijayan225 its truly scary..the caption in the posters"Do you believe in ghosts?" is what firstly attracted me towards 'The Woman in Black'..I have been searching for good horror movies that can cause true scary impact on me feeling weary of conventional puppet horrors created by Evil Dead like movies..This movie didn't minimized my expectations even a little..While watching this film,alone in my room at night in surround sound system I felt the real affect of 'ghost fear' after a long time in my life..This movie has gone unrecognized in the big screens around my city although its a must watch to those who seek good horror movie experience.The lengthy scene in which the hero feels the ghostly presence and paranormal actions in his new home offers breath pausing moments and abnormal heart pounds to the viewers..The climax is unexpected..The theme is conventional but the cinematography is special that it brings true perfection of horror for 'The Woman in Black'.

Rickting This has a good reputation so I was very interested to see it. It's based on a very good book and has terrified many since its release. I was a bit disappointed, but it's still better than many TV movies out there. The story is simple but effective: A lawyer goes to a creepy house to work through some legal papers and gets haunted by a ghost where every time she is seen a child dies. It's very atmospheric and has an effective musical score which makes the movie pretty scary at times and the title villain is only shown a few times which is good as it makes the movie more effective. However, I felt they could have shown her a bit more as the slow building suspense really does test the patience at times.It has some more boring bits in it, but there are a couple of scenes which will terrify even the most well viewed horror movie buff. The cast and script are all fine though, and the direction is smart. Overall, a good TV movie but a slightly disappointing one. Comparing it to the modern film, the modern one is scarier but this is probably superior on a cinematic level.7/10