Happy Goat Horror

Dark bleatings, my beloved tribe! I’m back with some more film trivia for you, this time about a spooky ghost film!

PS. If ever you get the opportunity to see The Woman in Black on the West End, or the touring show that comes out of there, you MUST treat yourself to it. First and only time that I’ve been frightened in the theatre!

1. Did you know… a lot of the props in the film aren’t actually props?

They’re antiques! A collector loaned the production company many an old, fancy item. Some of these items include toys and music boxes, and other such creepy, clearly haunted, Edwardian pieces.

Sidenote: I’m sure all that stuff is insured and should anything happen during production, the collector would be compensated. However, I simply can’t believe that anyone would loan out collection items. I won’t even lend people books anymore (99% of the time I never see them again, and if I do, they’re NEVER returned in the condition I loaned them out in. I once had a brand new copy of Interview with the Vampire returned to me because my friend dropped my copy in the bath. It was part of a set and the new one was taller than all the others. I’ve never forgiven her!)

Thanks for coming to my mild rant. Moving on…

2. Did you know… the film that was released in 2012, starring Daniel Radcliffe, was the second screen adaptation of the book, not the first?

Not only that, but there’s a fictional familial connection that I found really interesting: Kipps (Radcliffe’s character) was played in the 1989 version by none other than Adrian Rawlins, who played Harry’s dad in the Harry Potter films. Small world!

3. Did you know… that creepy laughing doll is possessed by that creepy laughing puppet from Saw?

Well, not quite. I may have exaggerated for dramatic effect, but let me explain. The sound of the creepy laughing doll is the exact same sound sample for Bill (the puppet) from the Saw franchise. For some reason, that detail makes both dolls more, not less, creepy to me…

4. Did you know… that The Woman in Black, at the time of its release, was the most successful British horror film?

I actually find this one quite shocking, considering the films that preceded it. Shaun of the Dead, Dog Soldiers, all those Hammer Horrors… but yes, the box office never lies! In the first month, it made over £14 million. My guess is that Radcliffe was a huge audience draw after his years of wizadry.

5. Did you know… mistakes were made!

Back in Edwardian times, it would have been considered quite improper for a gentleman to be seen in public, especially, outdoors, without a hat. And yet, Kipps never wears one in this film. He doesn’t even carry one around, just in case. How uncouth!

Do you have any cool fun facts about this film for me? I’d love to hear them!