In Edwardian times, a widower named Arthur Kipps (Radcliffe) is struggling to cope with life as a single parent. He reluctantly leaves his son with a nanny and heads to a backward village to assess the value of, and try to sell, a Gothic mansion on behalf of the law firm for which he works. The isolated house sits upon a peninsula that is only accessible at low tide, surrounded by an eerie bog. Not the most picturesque of locations, but Kipps has been warned that any failure will not be treated lightly by the firm.

Upon his arrival he is spurned by the superstitious locals, who see his arrival as a bad omen. Kipps is taken in by the only local man of wealth, Sam Daily (Hinds), who explains that the reason for his hostile reception is that many locals have had their children die in mysterious circumstances and blame the titular spirit that legend claims haunts the mansion Kipps is trying to sell. General scariness ensues.

The Woman in Black marks an excellent rebirth for Daniel Radcliffe, post-Harry Potter, and the legendary Hammer horror studio. It captures the general mood and style of classic Hammer fare remarkably, yet also plays well to modern sensibilities. The film is genuinely creepy. It builds tension in a manner that most modern horror films simply do not have the patience, or skill, for and repeatedly offers a rewarding payoff for its chills. Squeamish viewers will also be pleased that it avoids cheap gore in doing so.