Daniel Radcliffe, renowned particularly for his on-screen depiction of the titular character of the Harry Potter films, has engaged in a wide range of cinematic endeavors that span a variety of genres and classifications. In 2012, movie-going audiences, along with the fans of the actor, were offered an expansive glimpse into Radcliffe’s embodiment of the notable character Arthur Kipps in James Watkins’ film adaptation of The Woman in Black—Susan Hill’s acclaimed 1983 gothic horror novel.
In this particular pursuit, the world witnessed the skilled actor’s exploration of the horror genre. Susan Hill’s novel has seen various adaptations across different media. However, the 2012 project is best known for having deviated from the source material, involving a narrative that significantly contradicts the original. In an interview, Daniel Radcliffe pointed out a specific scene from the movie that left him exceptionally frightened. He also revealed whether or not he believes in the existence of bloodcurdling otherworldly beings.
Daniel Radcliffe Does Not Believe In The Supernatural
Despite starring in the ghastly premise, the actor does not hold a strong belief in the paranormal. Talking to Screen Rant, Daniel Radcliffe was questioned about his affinity towards horror films and whether or not the talent harbors an inclination towards the supernatural. In regards to the latter, the Jungle alum asserted that he doesn’t think ghosts exist. “I don’t have any belief in ghosts or the supernatural or anything like that, unfortunately,” concluded the Hollywood star.
To address the question of whether he enjoys watching horror films, Radcliffe stated the following:
“I would [consider myself a fan], but I wouldn’t consider myself an aficionado in any way. I’m not one of those guys that will just see a trailer and [say], ‘Oh, I’m going to go see that.’ […] I’m like that about some [genres], but not about horror, I’ve never had that [obsession] about this particular genre.”
Additionally, he claimed that his non-fixation on the genre results from his distaste for gore and bloodshed. While the actor is not specifically against the genre, he also does not have a strong, overpowering fascination for it. Despite his non-belief and skepticism surrounding the subject matter, the 2012 horror endeavor did not fail to leave the Harry Potter star screeching in fear and dread.
The Woman in Black (2012) Scene That Terrified Daniel Radcliffe
Upon its release, the 2012 cinematic adaptation of the Susan Hill novella was met with mostly neutral but generally favorable reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, The Woman in Black enjoys an approval rating of 66%. The film’s box-office reception was extremely promising, as well, becoming the U.K.’s highest-grossing British horror film in 20 years.
Some viewers thought that the movie distinguished itself from other notable ventures for its reliance on old-fashioned horror themes and an eerie, spine-chilling ambiance. The film didn’t depend on the cheap, shock horror elements (through meaningless gore, and repetitive jump-scares) we often witness in modern Hollywood horror flicks. This became its strong point. The endeavor received further acclaim for having an unexpected, subversive resolution, which only served to accentuate the conceptual allure of the James Watkins film. Therefore, the movie’s terrifying premise was successful at garnering audience attention.
In the Screen Rant interview, Daniel Radcliffe was asked which scene from the 2012 movie manages to be its “biggest scare.” To this, he stated the following:
“I think it’s the hand going up to the window. When I touch the window and the face [of the Woman in Black] appears [in the reflection]. And that was one I knew was there, and it still got me … Actually, when I was filming, I didn’t know–you know that shot in the trailer [where I’m looking out the window and she appears behind me]? That shot, which is brilliant—I had no idea that that’s what was eventually going to happen … so when I saw the trailer for the first time, I did go [lurches backward, makes indescribable frightened noise].”
Despite not believing in the paranormal, the leading actor in the film was easily frightened by the scene recounted above. This goes to show the film’s caliber in scaring the audiences with its compelling use of otherwise conventional horror tropes and elements. When asked to share his opinions on the film’s overarching message, Daniel Radcliffe affirmed, “For me, the film was about what happens to us if we don’t move on from a loss.” This adaptation, despite differing from the narrative initially presented to readers in the source material penned by Susan Hill, dabbles in “strong themes” and a spine-chilling tale that is character-driven and framed to fit the medium of motion pictures.
From this, we can conclude that the Daniel Radcliffe-starrer managed to achieve exactly what it set out to do: petrify the movie-goers with a narrative that is intriguing, to say the least.
The Woman in Black is available via renting or purchasing on Prime Video and Vudu.
Source: Screen Rant
