Excellent ITV adaptation of the Susan Hill ghost story classic that was originally aired at Christmas 1989. The story sees young solicitor Arthur Kidd (Adrian Rawlins) being sent by his firm to a lonely seaside village to tidy up the affairs of a recently deceased and friendless old woman. Arriving in the village he finds the villagers reluctant to talk about the old woman and fearful of her home - the imposing Marsh House. Ignoring warnings from the villagers and dismissing the strange figure of a woman in black he keeps seeing, Arthur makes his way to Marsh House where he begins to uncover horrific secrets from the past - not all of which may yet be at rest.
The screenplay for this adaptation is by the ever-excellent Nigel Kneale who brings a subtle and delicate touch to the story that cleverly allows an everyday sense of the Gothic to infuse the narrative. There are no big effects moments (although there is one clever jump scare), rather a growing sense of chilling and the weird, all suffused with a tangible feeling of dread. Director Herbert Wise tells the story slowly and carefully with small revelations incrementally building on each other against a highly atmospheric backdrop of swirling sea mists and the desolate screeching of gulls. The acting is impeccable throughout - Adrian Rawlins is very good in the lead role, but it is the various villagers, with their cryptic fears and unspoken terror that really capture the mystery and terror of the situation. Pauline Moran is creepily chilling as the titular Woman in Black. Despite its made for television status this is a superior piece of work - it is a powerful, but simple old-fashioned ghost story that is full of style and atmosphere. ( )