THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2: ANGEL OF DEATH (2015) ** Phoebe Fox, Helen McCrory, Jeremy Irvine, Leanne Best, Oaklee Pendergast, Adrian Rawlins. Better-than-expected but unnecessary sequel to the quasi-hit horror film this time set in WWII with Fox (a cross between a young Debra Winger and young Sean Young) and McCrory (dead ringer for a young Maggie Smith) as a pair of caretakers to a small group of orphans who wind up sheltered in the haunted house of the first film with the titular spectre dead set on a terrified struck mute charge of theirs (Pendergast). Well produced Hammer Films would-be franchise resorts to the old tricks of the trade (slamming doors, objects suddenly thrust into frame, sound design in overdrive etc.) make up for some truly eye rolling missteps in the storytelling by Jon Croker (um, seriously there's eight kids and two grown women can't keep their eyes on them from wandering away from the house?! ) Director Tom Harper at least keeps the story moving in spite of some hard-to-see/tell WTF is happening on screen (too dark/murky in many instances).
