The thrill of gothic horror cliches expertly retold

This House is Haunted

Sullen locals look on suspiciously, not letting on what they know, frightened into keeping secrets. From here, the usual: shapes in upper-floor windows, bumps in the night, weather anomalies such as sudden, inexplicable winds and ‘pea-soup’ fogs, and the drip-feed of some terrible local history that won’t stay buried.

Wrestling with such clichés is part of the thrill. When it’s done well, it is a joy, as in Susan Hill’s bestselling 1983 novella, The Woman in Black, recently revived with blockbusting adaptations for the stage and big screen.