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AN INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SERVING THE GW COMMUNITY SINCE 1904

The GW Hatchet

Serving the GW Community since 1904

The GW Hatchet

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Officials name senior vice president, chief of staff
By Fiona Riley, Assistant News Editor • March 26, 2024

What We’re Watching

Photo used under the Creative Commons License

Hatchet reporter Arich Morales shares his latest movie experience.

The Woman in Black” (2012)

“The Woman in Black” follows Arthur Kipps (Daniel Radcliffe), a young but struggling lawyer mourning the death of his wife. When Kipps receives a new assignment to travel to a remote village, he expects another routine task. But nothing can prepare Kipps for the dangers he encounters as he discovers a scornful ghost is haunting the locals.

Though the story follows a progression stereotypical of most horror films, it executes the formulaic plot structure in a fresh and exciting way. The plot includes the cliché of murdered children but the film manages to incorporate this arguably overdone theme without creating a cheesy flop. Though we’ve seen the concept before, it still fits the mood of the film perfectly.

The makers of the film could have included some more genuine scares, but the most frightening moments are definitely effective. The film uses suspense to its advantage and does not rely solely on cheap scares. The set and dark lighting also contribute to an overall eerie mood that is present throughout.

The first half of the film starts off slow, but this could have been a tactical choice by the director to lure the audience into a false sense of security. Kipps’ transition from the comforts of urban society to the strange uncertainties of the rural village is apparent and does not seem forced.

And where many horror films fail to deliver, “Woman in Black” is a standout success. The filmmakers knew exactly when to stop in the sense that the story comes to a close before the scares become repetitious.

Genre: Drama, Horror, Thriller
Director: James Watkins
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Janet McTeer, and Ciarán Hinds
Release Date: Feb. 3

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