The Woman in the Yard – REVIEW

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The most recent offering from Blumhouse’s horror collection is titled “The Woman in the Yard.” As suggested by its title, this film delivers on its promise. A secluded farmhouse becomes home to Ramona (Danielle Deadwyler), a mother who spends her days lying in bed, watching videos of herself and her deceased husband on her phone. The couple met a tragic end in a car accident that also left Ramona with severe injuries and now reliant on crutches. Her troubles are compounded as she grapples with financial difficulties, having lost all income and facing utility cutoffs, leaving her unable to provide for her family’s basic needs, including their pet dog and children. Her eldest child, Taylor (Peyton Jackson), is a rebellious teenager who Ramona finds challenging to manage, while simultaneously homeschooling her young daughter (Estella Kahiha).

Overwhelmed by sorrow and self-blame following the car accident, she questions the purpose of living on. This internal struggle is apparent when a woman appears in their yard, shrouded in black from head to toe with her face concealed. The mysterious stranger’s presence alters everyone’s behavior: Ramona attempts to engage the woman in conversation but fails to extract any sense, Taylor contemplates confronting her with his father’s rifle, while his sister remains indoors and their dog inexplicably vanishes.

Fundamentally, Ramona’s life is filled with sorrow as she grapples with her husband’s demise and single-handedly raising two children, one of whom is entering the challenging teenage years when they think they understand everything. The story develops gradually, unveiling depths layer by layer, and it retains the characteristic suspense associated with a Blumhouse production, interspersed with chilling moments reminiscent of Nosferatu’s ominous shadow.

As a movie enthusiast, I must admit that while the cast delivers commendable performances and slips comfortably into their roles, the script penned by Sam Stefanak can sometimes feel laborious, leading up to an ending that’s somewhat muddled and hard to follow. It’s disappointing because director Jaumne Collet-Serra has a rich portfolio of crowd-pleasing movies like the Netflix Christmas hit ‘Carry on’, the gripping shark movie ‘The Shallows’, the blockbuster ‘Jungle Cruise’, the taut ‘Non-Stop’, and the chilling horror hit ‘Orphan’ (2009). The latter was a resounding success, delivering an effective and unsettling experience. However, this new foray into the horror genre lacks that same impact, leaving viewers more perplexed than spooked, and possibly even irritated rather than frightened.

Here’s The Woman in the yard trailer……

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2025-03-28 09:23