The Woman in the Yard Movie Review: a different kind of horror story

Jaume Collet-Serra's latest horror film, The Woman in the Yard, offers a chilling premise but struggles to maintain its momentum, leaving audiences with mixed feelings about its execution. The movie, released on March 28, 2025, stars Danielle Deadwyler as Ramona, a grieving widow navigating the aftermath of her husband's tragic death while caring for her two children in an isolated farmhouse.

The film excels in its opening scenes, creating a palpable sense of dread as Ramona confronts grief and despair. The rural setting amplifies the isolation and vulnerability of the family.

Deadwyler delivers a standout performance, effectively portraying Ramona’s emotional turmoil through silence and subtle expressions. Her interactions with the cryptic Woman (played by Okwui Okpokwasili) are particularly gripping.

Collet-Serra employs wide-angle lenses, strategic camera movements, and sound design to heighten tension. The Woman’s veiled figure against the bright sky creates an unsettling juxtaposition. Subtle visual cues, such as mirrors and windows, along with amplified everyday sounds (e.g., shutting drawers or knife movements), add layers of menace.

#Narrative Issues

While the eerie premise is compelling, the film's second half falters. It shifts from psychological unease to physical confrontation, losing some of its imaginative power.

The ambiguity surrounding the Woman’s identity is intriguing at first but becomes muddled as multiple interpretations—grief manifestation, historical threat, or financial struggles—are floated without resolution.

At just 88 minutes, the film feels stretched thin despite its compact runtime. The story’s emotional depth is sacrificed for genre tropes like jump scares and poltergeist activity.

The third act overextends itself, attempting to tie together supernatural elements with metaphorical undertones but ultimately leaving audiences unsatisfied.

#Danielle Deadwyler's strong performance

Danielle Deadwyler's performance in The Woman in the Yard significantly enhances the film's atmosphere by grounding its supernatural elements in raw, emotional realism. Her portrayal of Ramona, a grieving widow, is marked by subtle yet powerful expressions that convey her internal struggle with loss and isolation. Deadwyler’s ability to communicate complex emotions through silence and restrained gestures creates an unsettling tension that permeates the film, drawing viewers deeper into its eerie world.

Her nuanced acting adds layers to the character, making Ramona’s interactions with the enigmatic Woman feel both personal and haunting. Deadwyler’s mastery of conveying vulnerability and resilience amplifies the psychological horror, ensuring that the audience feels the weight of her grief while questioning the reality of her experiences. This emotional depth transforms ordinary scenes into moments of profound unease, making her performance the emotional core of the film.

#Setting

The setting in The Woman in the Yard plays a pivotal role in heightening its horror elements, creating an atmosphere of dread and isolation that permeates the film. The rural farmhouse, surrounded by vast emptiness and far removed from civilization, establishes physical isolation, which is a classic horror trope. This sense of remoteness amplifies the characters' vulnerability, as they are left to confront their fears without external help.

The film utilizes sensory details to immerse viewers in the unsettling environment. The creaking floorboards, howling wind, and damp decay of the farmhouse evoke a visceral reaction, making the setting feel alive and reactive to the characters' actions. Additionally, lighting and shadows are strategically employed to create suspense; dim lighting and sharp contrasts obscure threats and distort perceptions, keeping audiences on edge.

Moreover, the farmhouse’s design contributes to the psychological horror. Its confined spaces and labyrinthine layout instill a claustrophobic tension, while its decaying state mirrors Ramona's emotional disintegration. The setting becomes an extension of her grief and fear, making it integral to the narrative's impact.

Conclusion

The Woman in the Yard is a visually striking and occasionally terrifying horror film that explores themes of grief and isolation but struggles to deliver a cohesive narrative. While Collet-Serra demonstrates his skill in crafting suspenseful moments and Deadwyler anchors the film with her compelling performance, its uneven pacing and lack of clarity undermine its potential. Fans of atmospheric horror may appreciate its early chills, but others might find its conclusion disappointing.