Review: 'The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death' starring Phoebe Fox and Jeremy Irvine

What is it that anybody remembers about 2012's gothic-style horror, The Woman in Black? First and foremost was star Daniel Radcliffe, whose first post-Harry Potter venture was a dark change-of-pace that likely played a big role in the film's surprising $120M success. Much was also made of it as a comeback for venerable old horror studio, Hammer Film, and it definitely was. That kind of cash influx can't be tossed aside so easily, even if it means providing a lousy, derivative sequel like The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death, that features none of the scares, allegory, or star power that made the original work.

It sucks to boil a film down to simply being a cash grab, but this is one case where it applies perfectly. There was nothing about the original movie that screamed for a follow-up; the story of Radcliffe's character and the grief-inspired haunting he underwent at the dreaded Eel Marsh House was over and done with. But apparently the vengeful spirit was not satisfied and has settled for less compelling subjects to terrorize this time around, and less compelling ways to terrorize them. 

Ditching the Edwardian digs of the last story, this one takes us to 1941 during the Blitz, as schoolteachers Eve (Phoebe Fox, plucky and appropriately mortified) and ol' battleax Jean (Helen McCrory) evacuate a bunch of kids to the Eel Marsh House. Not the wisest course of action, and it should have been apparent given the ominously foggy, marshy, and crucifix-heavy path they took getting there. Eve is the heroine of this story, but she's got a past riddled with guilt over some mysterious transgression. That's something the woman in black can feed on, using it to spook not only Eve but the children. Following all of the typical horror tricks, there's one child who is abnormally troubled and creepy. He also takes a liking to a certain hideously ugly doll left in the Eel Marsh House. Of course it's possessed, and soon people start dying. The bland Jeremy Irvine plays a handsome, seemingly-roguish fighter pilot who falls for Eve. He's also got some guilt to contend with, but he's mainly there as a chemistry-free romantic partner for Eve. 

BAFTA-nominated director Tom Harper takes over behind the camera, and every image comes shrouded in a thick haze; there's haunting going on before the haunting actually goes on. The film looks good, in particular the early images of the London bombings, and Harper knows how strike up a mood of impending dread. But what's the point if there's no payoff? Sticking to bland genre formula is all the screenplay offers, giving Harper little to work with but lame jump-scares, evil dolls in creaky playrooms, and devilish faces reflected in dirty mirrors. Fox makes for a lovely and very plucky lead but she's left with little to do but wander around in the fog looking mortified.The last film worked well as an allegory for grief, helped in part by Radcliffe's expressive performance, but the sequel's guilt-heavy focus is considerably less intricate.  It seems to have been left to flounder in the bog of Eel Marsh House in favor of cheap frights.  The scariest thing about The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death is that it leaves the door open for a sequel. 

Rating: 2.5 out of 5