The Woman in Black: Angel of Death

A seriously underwhelming sequel, The Woman in Black: Angel of Death follows a group of children and their two minders (Phoebe Fox’s Eve and Helen McCrory’s Jean) as they arrive at the original film’s secluded estate to wait out the Second World War – with terror ensuing as it becomes more and more clear that said estate is haunted by a vengeful spirit. It’s clear immediately that filmmaker Tom Harper is aiming to replicate the look and feel of James Watkins’ mildly superior predecessor, as The Woman in Black: Angel of Death progresses at an often unreasonably deliberate pace and transpires within a series of excessively dark environments – which ensures that the movie is unable to capture one’s interest virtually from the word go. Harper spends far too much time dwelling on Eve’s investigation into the mysteries of the creepy mansion, with the less-than-engrossing vibe compounded by a plethora of tedious sequences in which the characters explore their grim surroundings. Such interludes are rife with many of the hoariest staples one could possibly envision, as the protagonists come face-to-face with spooky sounds, the sudden appearance of random animals/creatures, and, inevitably, ghostly apparitions. It’s ultimately the absence of both a compelling plot and well-developed characters that spells The Woman in Black: Angel of Death‘s downfall, with Harper overlooking such essential elements in favor of a dogged attempt to establish and cultivate an atmosphere vibe (ie the movie looks great, but who cares?)

*1/2 out of ****