THE WOMAN IN BLACK

RYAN: I was so eagerly anticipating Dan Radcliffe’s first post-Potter movie I could barely stand it. And I’m happy to report that 1. It’s a good film and 2. I didn’t sit and think, “That’s Harry Potter!” during the movie.

CAROLINE: That’s excellent news.

RYAN: I did think he’s awfully short a couple times, which he just is. And I also thought he’s very young to have a four-year-old child, but this movie does take place at a time when people did marry and have children much younger than today.

CAROLINE: It does look super spooky. I didn’t see it. How many times didja jump out of your skin?

RYAN: Several. I literally, physically, jumped a bunch of times and the thought did cross my mind once, “What if someone had a heart attack whilst watching this?” But I don’t think that would really happen. You never know…

CAROLINE: That would be terrible. Was it really that scary?

RYAN: It is rather frightening. The titular woman in black has a super-freaky face and girl does tend to pop out of nowhere quite a bit. If you don’t like things jumping out at you at haunted houses, then this really isn’t for you. Although I don’t like haunted houses but I did get into the groove of this movie.

CAROLINE: So break it down. Aside from Harry, who else is in it?

RYAN: No one particularly noteworthy, aside from Albert Nobbs‘] Supporting Actress nominee, Janet McTeer, and Ciaran Hinds, who I actually wish hadn’t been in this because he played Aberforth Dumbledore opposite Dan in the last Harry Potter film and their scenes together were the only times I thought about the Potter-verse.

CAROLINE: Janet McTeer’s having an exciting month. What’s with the kids’ eyes scratched out on the poster, or can’t you comment on that?

RYAN: I don’t want to give anything away… but the movie does explain that.

CAROLINE: So how did this compare to The Others?

RYAN: There was one foggy scene ala Nikki Kidman’s in The Others and there are some noises in the creepy house but otherwise it actually reminded be quite a bit of the classic Bela Lugosi Dracula.

CAROLINE: Wait, is she a vampire?

RYAN: No it’s not that… just some elements of the film and the story sort of parallel the Dra-cool’ya.

CAROLINE: Now you’ve lost me.

RYAN: [laughs’ I’m just entertaining myself. It’s not derivative, just a lil reminiscent at moments. I really enjoyed this movie. I’m trying to separate the fact I’m a ginormous HP fan and judge it solely on entertainment merit – and at the achievement of actually being a very moody, scary thriller, it wins.

— RATING —