Arthur Kipps, a young lawyer, is sent to a secluded village to look through the documents of a recently deceased client. Working alone at the lonely mansion of his client, Kipps uncovers heartbreaking secrets, and his discomfort grows as he sees a mysterious figure dressed entirely in black. Locals are silent, so Kipps is compelled to investigate the woman in black on his own, leading to a race against time when he learns her true identity.