Woman in Black-UK-1989

(Not Rated)(No Subtitles)

Made-for-TV Movie

This version of Susan Hill’s The Woman in Black is technically a made-for-tv movie, but I just had to add it because it is one of my favorite ghost stories of all time and similarly, one of my favorite movies.  

The Woman in Black begins with Arthur Kidd, a young lawyer who has been given the task of going through the papers of a recently deceased, elderly client of his law firm.  The elderly client, Alice Drablow, had no living relatives and lived alone in an old home isolated from the rest of her village by a causeway that in the past had proven deadly.  While attending the funeral of Mrs. Drablow, Arthur spots a woman dressed in black and assumes that she is a mourner.  Arthur asks the villagers about her and his inquiry is met with fear and suspicion.  The villagers tell Arthur that he has seen the spectral Woman in Black, and believes her to be a harbinger of death in that every time she appears a child dies. Arthur does not believe the villagers and to prove this, he endeavors to spend the night in the remote Drablow home. What he encounters is an evening of isolation and terror, and is soon convinced the the Woman in Black is very real.  

I can’t say enough that this is one of my favorite ghost stories...EVER! The first time I read this book, I thought that it had been written in the 19th century.  It had that quality about it.  I was amazed to learn that it was written in the 80’s...the 1980’s. Also, the made-for-tv version stays pretty true to the book, except for a few instances.  It also stays true in the sense that, for me, it evokes that same bygone feeling, while still giving you the chills.  So if you are looking for a truly spooky movie for a dark and stormy night, The Woman in Black (1989) is a definite must!

Side Note:  The feature film version that came out just a few years ago was produced by Hammer Studios.  In the new version Daniel Radcliffe stars as Arthur Kidd.  In the 1989 version Adrian Rawlins plays Arthur Kidd.  Adrian Rawlins would later play the deceased James Potter in the Harry Potter films, which as everyone EVERYWHERE knows stars Daniel Radcliffe.

And now you know.  

Devil’s Pass-UK/Russia-2013

(R-for some violent/disturbing images and for a sexual reference)(No Subtitles)

Genre- Horror, Found Footage

So my latest obsession is Devil's Pass.  It is one of the latest in the "found footage" genre that seems to have permeated the world of horror films.

Devil’s Pass was originally called The Dyatlov Pass Incident and was directed by Renny Harlin, who is known for directing many movies including Die Hard 2 and Exorcist: The Beginning.  It is the story of five American college students who recreate a failed 1950’s expedition in the Ural mountains in Northern Russia where nine hikers mysteriously died.  With cameras in hand the college students embark on their adventure, interviewing various people involved with the original group, along the way.  Once the students get to the mountains and begin their arduous trek, things begin to go wrong.  They discover that they are not alone and soon fear that their fate may be the same as the group who died fifty years earlier.

I liked this movie much more than I thought I would.  It combines the found footage aspect, which when done well is very provoking, with events ripped out of Unsolved Mysteries.  There actually was a Dyatlov Pass incident where nine hikers died mysteriously.  Their bodies were found near their campsite, each with various injuries that were inconsistent with how they were found to have died.  Several of the hikers were found not wearing sock, shoes or any outerwear.  Some said it  was as if they fled their tents in haste. In addition, a couple of the hikers were found with internal injuries consistent with a major fall, yet had to external trauma.

Over the years there have been numerous theories on what actually happened, including Bigfoot, angry natives, aliens and a military cover-up.  What I liked the most about this film is that it is essentially Renny Harlin’s theory on what happened to the nine hikers.  I can’t say that I 100% agree with him, but found his theory to be interesting, thought provoking and asks the viewer to expand their perspective on the paranormal just how much governments are willing to cover up.  

The Haunting of Helena-US/Italy-2013

(UNRATED)-No Subtitles

     The Haunting of Helena is the story of Sophia. A recently divorced woman who moves with her young daughter, Helena,  into an old apartment building in Italy.   Sophia soon becomes concerned when Helena, after losing her first tooth, becomes obsessed with her loose teeth and says that the Tooth Fairy wants them. Helena then gets into trouble in school when she buys teeth from her classmates. At the same time, Sophia discovers the dark history of their new home, which includes a murder that took place in the 1940's. Before too long, it becomes clear that Helena's obsession with her loose teeth and the macabre history of the house are intertwined. And when the full scope of the haunting is revealed, the results are deadly.
     In the most frightening scene of the movie, Sophia pushes a heavy bureau against the closet door before going to bed because she hears a strange banging coming from inside the closet. Several hours later she wakes up when she hears the bureau being dragged away from the closet and into the hallway. When she gets up to move it, unseen hands push the bureau against her and pinning her against the wall.  She then watches helplessly as the ghost of a murdered woman makes her way out of the closet and slowly moves down the hallway toward her.  Sophia is able to move the bureau just in time to escape the ghost, grab Helena and run out of the house. The next scene picks up 18 months later.  Sophia and Helena are struggling mentally and still trying to come to terms with what they saw on that frightening night.
     Overall, I  liked The Haunting of Helena.  I can't say it's the scariest movie that I've ever seen, but it did have it's moments. The sound quality was not great, but so many horror movies are now made that way. The conversations are barely a whisper, so when you turn the volume up the action/scares are are so loud you jump out of you seat!  I hope that people watching this movie will get past the fact that even though it's not an original story-line (single-mother-with-peculiar-child-living-in-a-haunted-house), it has enough scares (and a twist at the end) to keep them interested and wanting more.