Hey everyone, welcome to my review of the newest Blumhouse horror film The Woman in the Yard. I went into this movie completely blind, knowing only the production company, the title, and having seen the poster featuring a woman in a black veil sitting in a yard. My assumption was that it had to be about more than just a woman sitting in a yard, right? Well, no. It’s literally about a woman sitting in a yard.
Plot Overview
The film centers around a recently widowed mother and her two kids, who find themselves stuck in their farmhouse. Out of nowhere, a sinister woman in a black veil begins sitting in their yard and slowly edges closer to the house as the day progresses. Blumhouse, as we all know, has had a mixed track record over the years. They’ve had more misses than hits lately, with three of their releases last year making it to my bottom 10 list. So, I walked in expecting the worst, thinking this might end up as another disappointing release.
But here’s the thing—The Woman in the Yard really pissed me off. The way the movie wraps up, how it all ends up being about something completely different than what it originally set out to be, and the way the movie toys with the audience, genuinely frustrated me. I don’t often get angry at movies, but this one left me feeling physically upset and disappointed.
Non-Spoiler Review
Now, before diving into spoilers, I’ll share my thoughts on what I liked and didn’t like, in a spoiler-free fashion. The direction of the film was one of the highlights. The director, Jaume Collet-Serra, has a solid track record with films like House of Wax (2005), Orphan, The Shallows, and Jungle Cruise. I appreciate his visual style, especially how he uses shadows to create tension and set up scares. The use of shadows was effective in building a foreboding atmosphere, and I thought it added a nice supernatural touch.
I also appreciated the performances, particularly from Danielle Deadweiler, who plays the grieving mother, Ramona. She skillfully portrays the emotional range required for her character, from anger and grief to moments of sadness and happiness. However, the characters themselves left something to be desired. The rebellious teenage son was a major turn-off for me, and the mother, Ramona, was just downright unpleasant. I get that she’s a flawed character, but it made it hard to root for her or feel invested in her journey.
As for the pacing, this movie felt more like a short film stretched out to feature length. There were long stretches where not much happened, and the film became a bit of a slow burn. After the initial setup, the middle hour dragged on with the same repetitive scenes of the woman sitting in the yard and the family inside the house wondering what was going on.
The Third Act – Spoilers Ahead
Now, we’re entering spoiler territory, so if you haven’t seen the movie yet, proceed with caution.
The Woman in the Yard ultimately explores the theme of grief and trauma. Ramona, the mother, has recently lost her husband in a car accident and is struggling with the emotional weight of that loss. She’s disconnected from her children and seems unable to move forward. In the third act, it’s revealed that the woman in the yard is a manifestation of Ramona’s grief. She represents the final push Ramona needs to end her life, believing it will make things better for her children.
This idea was incredibly disturbing and left me feeling physically ill. The film plays with the idea that Ramona is praying for strength not to continue living, but to end her life and relieve her children of the burden of her presence. This could have been a poignant exploration of grief, but instead, it came across as irresponsible and emotionally manipulative.
To make matters worse, the film seems to toy with the audience in its final moments. After a dark sequence where Ramona contemplates suicide, she appears to change her mind and embraces her children. But then, the movie cuts to a final reveal where it shows that she actually went through with it, and her children are left orphaned. This twist didn’t feel like a cathartic or meaningful conclusion—it just felt cruel and unnecessary.
Final Thoughts of The Woman in the Yard
The Woman in the Yard ultimately left me with a sour taste in my mouth. While I can see how some viewers might find value in its bleak and unsettling themes, it wasn’t for me. I’ve never had a movie experience that made me feel physically nauseous like this one did. For a film that explores grief, trauma, and the consequences of a parent’s suicide, it didn’t strike the right emotional chord. It just left me frustrated and angry.
So, if you’re looking for a Blumhouse horror film with a powerful message about grief, I would say approach with caution. This is one of those movies where you’ll either love it or absolutely hate it, and for me, it was a definite miss.
Let me know what you think in the comments—if you decide to see The Woman in the Yard, be sure to share your thoughts (just remember to include a spoiler warning if you’re going to dive into the ending).
Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you in the next review!
