THE WOMAN IN BLACK: ANGEL OF DEATH *** (15, 98 mins) Starring Phoebe Fox, Jeremy Irvine, Helen McCrory, Leanne Best, Oaklee Pendergast, Adrian Rawlins, Ned Dennehy, Jude Wright

GHOST stories are well suited to the visual medium of film because what terrifies us aren’t the things we can see in the cold light of day but the unspoken horrors that lurk just out of shot or in the inky blackness of a dimly lit background.

Blessed with a post-Harry Potter leading role for Daniel Radcliffe, 2012’s The Woman In Black became the most successful British horror film for 20 years.

When those box office tills started ringing, this sequel was a foregone conclusion.

Set 40 years later during the Blitz, Angel Of Death continues the reign of terror of the vengeful ghost, which haunts the cobweb-strewn hallways of Eel Marsh House.

However, The Woman In Black: Angel Of Death is bereft of original ideas and resorts to a familiar array of ominous creaks and groans to herald the arrival of the eponymous spirit.

Phoebe Fox’s plucky heroine puts herself in harm’s way with such foolhardy regularity, you have to question her suitability as a teacher.

Meanwhile, Helen McCrory purses her lips for portentous remarks like, “Our worst enemy is ourselves: our fears, doubt, despair. That’s what will destroy us.”

Duly noted. In response, perhaps, to complaints from parents about the 12A classification of the first film, this sequel sports a 15 certificate.

Ironically, the original was scarier and shoe-horned more jump-out-of-your-seat boos into 90 minutes.