THE WOMAN IN BLACK: ANGEL OF DEATH

UK, 2014, 98 minutes, Colour.
Phoebe Fox, Helen Mc Crory, Jeremy Irvine, Oaklee Pendergast, Adrian Rawlins.
Directed by Tom Harper.

The Woman in Black was a very successful in play written by Susan Hill, performed on the London stage for several decades. There was film adaptation in 2012 starring Daniel Radcliffe. It was quite successful and lead to this sequel.

The action in this story takes place 40 years later. The film shows, quite graphically in its opening, the impact of the Blitz. Eight orphan children are taken to the countryside by two teachers, one played by Phoebe Fox, the older, played by Helen Mc Crory. In the district, they encounter a young man from the air force, Jeremy Irvine, grounded, in charge of a false decoy aerodrome in the area.

The setting for the film is the old house, this time quite dilapidated and in disrepair. An obvious setting for this kind of horror film. However, the film is eerie and creepy rather than the emphasis on the horror. The younger of the teachers has nightmares involving herself, has a sense of the presence of the evil woman, considered in the title as an Angel of Death. One of the children, Edward, played by Oaklee Pendergast, does not speak, has a mysterious drawing, is under the spell of the woman.

There are various strange experiences, the young teacher becoming more anxious, Edward going into the water, her going to rescue him, the young airman arriving and diving in, but unable to save the two from the mysterious people Angel of Death.

A partly happy ending, teacher and boy saved, but the airman drowning – and then said to be looking down to protect them.


1. The popularity of the original film? (And the long years of its theatrical presentation in London?)

2. 40 years later, World War II, the presentation of the Blitz, the children’s move into the countryside, the train travel, the bus, going to the abandoned house, the disrepair, unsuitable for orphans?

3. The countryside, the island, the road and the causeway, the incoming tide? The house, the grounds, the water? The interiors, the dormitory, kitchen, upstairs, corridors, closed rooms, downstairs, the basement, ominous signs? The musical score?

4. The atmosphere of the Blitz, the station, the bombings, the devastated homes and streets? The railways?

5. Eve, Jean, their personalities, the age differences, Jean in charge? The eight children? The boys and girls? The travel, Dr Rhodes, the dark, no lights? The house itself, the detail, the settling in, the dormitory, the beds and the bedding? The meals?

6. The children, their age, characters, Joyce and her responsibility, the two boys and their teasing Edward, Edward not talking?

7. Eve, the encounter with Harry, his story, the air force, grounded, looking after the centre, his jeep? Driving across the causeway? The attraction to Eve? Their confiding in each other? Driving with the tide coming in? Jean and her disapproval?

8. Life in the house, Eve and the sense of the sinister presence, her dreams, going to the room, watching, yet her giving birth, the taking of the baby? The basement? The sinister message an accusation? Eve and the growing sense of the presence of the woman in black?

9. The ghostly presence, images, her taking possession of Edward? The two boys, their taunting him, his drawing? The death of the boy and drowning? Reaction of the other children?

10. Eve, wanting to save Edward, trying to protect him? Jean and her reactions? Her own story, discussions with Eve?

11. The buildup to the final confrontation, the doctor, the dark, Harry? The water, Edward in the water, Eve going to rescue him? Harry and his diving into the water, his attempts to save Eve and Edward? His drowning?

12. The final appearances of the woman, her being conquered? Peace for Eve? Edward speaking? Eve reassuring him – that Harry would continue to protect them?