The Woman in Black
The story follows a young lawyer, Arthur Kipps, who is ordered to travel to a remote village and sort out a recently deceased client’s papers. As he works alone in the client’s isolated house, Kipps begins to uncover tragic secrets, his unease growing when he glimpses a mysterious woman dressed only in black. Receiving only silence from the locals, Kipps is forced to uncover the true identity of the Woman in Black on his own, leading to a desperate race against time when he discovers her true identity.
Despite a respectable budget of $32.0M, The Woman in Black became a commercial success, earning $129.0M worldwide—a 303% return.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
The Woman in Black (2012) showcases precise plot construction, characteristic of James Watkins's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 14-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 35 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.2, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Arthur Kipps struggles as a widowed father and failing solicitor in London, haunted by grief and unable to connect with his young son Joseph.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Arthur is given an ultimatum: settle the Drablow estate successfully or lose his job, forcing him to leave Joseph behind and travel to the isolated village of Crythin Gifford.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 25 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Arthur actively chooses to cross the causeway to Eel Marsh House despite warnings, entering the isolated manor surrounded by marshland where the Woman in Black haunts., moving from reaction to action.
At 48 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Arthur discovers the body of Jennet's son in the marsh and realizes the Woman in Black will never stop killing children until her son is properly laid to rest - the stakes are now clear and the solution seems possible., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 70 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The burial fails to appease Jennet's ghost. Arthur realizes his plan has failed and the Woman in Black cannot be stopped - there is no way to break the curse and he has unleashed more death upon the village., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 76 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Arthur sees the Woman in Black at the train station and realizes Joseph is in danger - he understands too late that his presence has brought the curse to his own son, forcing a final confrontation., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Woman in Black's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 14 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping The Woman in Black against these established plot points, we can identify how James Watkins utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Woman in Black within the drama genre.
James Watkins's Structural Approach
Among the 3 James Watkins films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.3, reflecting strong command of classical structure. The Woman in Black takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete James Watkins filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman. For more James Watkins analyses, see Speak No Evil, Bastille Day.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Arthur Kipps struggles as a widowed father and failing solicitor in London, haunted by grief and unable to connect with his young son Joseph.
Theme
Arthur's employer warns him that "the past is gone" and he must move forward, stating the thematic question: can one overcome grief and let go of the dead?
Worldbuilding
Establishment of Arthur's world: his grief over his wife's death, his distant relationship with Joseph, his precarious job situation, and the assignment to travel to Eel Marsh House to settle the Drablow estate.
Disruption
Arthur is given an ultimatum: settle the Drablow estate successfully or lose his job, forcing him to leave Joseph behind and travel to the isolated village of Crythin Gifford.
Resistance
Arthur encounters hostility and fear from the villagers who want him to leave immediately. He meets Sam Daily, a wealthy landowner who becomes a reluctant ally, warning Arthur of the dangers but ultimately helping him reach Eel Marsh House.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Arthur actively chooses to cross the causeway to Eel Marsh House despite warnings, entering the isolated manor surrounded by marshland where the Woman in Black haunts.
Mirror World
Sam Daily reveals he lost his own son years ago and his wife Elizabeth remains trapped in grief, establishing the thematic mirror: Sam has learned to live with loss while Arthur and Elizabeth remain imprisoned by it.
Premise
Arthur explores Eel Marsh House, uncovering the mystery of Jennet Humfrye (the Woman in Black) whose son drowned in the marsh. He experiences supernatural encounters and witnesses the curse: each sighting of the Woman causes a child in the village to die.
Midpoint
Arthur discovers the body of Jennet's son in the marsh and realizes the Woman in Black will never stop killing children until her son is properly laid to rest - the stakes are now clear and the solution seems possible.
Opposition
Arthur and Sam work to retrieve and bury the child's body with his mother, hoping to end the curse. The supernatural attacks intensify, more children die, and the villagers turn violent against Arthur. Elizabeth Daily becomes increasingly unstable.
Collapse
The burial fails to appease Jennet's ghost. Arthur realizes his plan has failed and the Woman in Black cannot be stopped - there is no way to break the curse and he has unleashed more death upon the village.
Crisis
Arthur flees the village in despair, haunted by his failure. He returns to the station to reunite with Joseph, wrestling with the knowledge that he could not lay the past to rest, just as he cannot escape his own grief.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Arthur sees the Woman in Black at the train station and realizes Joseph is in danger - he understands too late that his presence has brought the curse to his own son, forcing a final confrontation.
Synthesis
Joseph, entranced by the Woman in Black, walks onto the train tracks. Arthur runs to save him but both are struck by the oncoming train. In death, Arthur is reunited with his deceased wife who appears with Jennet's son, finally at peace.