Wait a minute, I’m counting TWO women in the yard (CREDIT: Daniel Delgado Jr./Universal Pictures)
Starring: Danielle Deadwyler, Okwui Okpokwasili, Peyton Jackson, Estella Kahiha, Russell Hornsby
Director: Jaume Collet-Serra
Running Time: 87 Minutes
Rating: PG-13 for General Unease and Implications of Self-Harm
Release Date: March 28, 2025 (Theaters)
What’s It About?: A woman named Ramona (Danielle Deadwyler) has been living a suffocatingly isolated life on her Georgia farmhouse along with her teenage son Taylor (Peyton Jackson) and young daughter Annie (Estella Kahiha) ever since her husband David (Russell Hornsby) died in a car accident. She’s been getting on crutches since the crash, which also seems to have sapped her will to live. On top of that, the power has been cut off in the house, and they have no idea when it will be coming back on, nor are there any neighbors anywhere nearby who could conceivably help. But then suddenly someone (Okwui Okpokwasili) does appear, although she seems to be more omen than person. Clad head to toe in a midnight black veil, she sits calmly and patiently in the backyard, offering Ramona vague explanations for her presence like “You called and I came” and “Today’s the day.”
What Made an Impression?: Mental States Are Open to Interpretation: The Woman in the Yard opts for a slow burn approach sure to inspire speculation, though its ultimate revelations aren’t exactly surprising. Considering the setup, the costume design, and the MPA rating explanation, it’s clear that the Woman is something like the Angel of Death and Ramona has thought about ending her own life. Is this all then leading up to an inevitable tragedy? Without giving too much away, I’ll note that what you see will depend on what kind of viewer you are. When modern technology is replaced with hallucinations and a touch of the supernatural, it’s only fair to question what’s real and what’s not.
A Peek Inside: If you appreciated the Oscar-winning The Father‘s inside-out approach to dementia and have been hoping for more movies to pull off something similar with other complicated mental states, The Woman in the Yard has you covered. We’re caught in Ramona’s depressed mind: fractured, untethered from reality, unable to explain why she’s making harmful decisions. This isn’t a relentless horror thrill ride, but rather an invitation to be still like its titular harbinger. I can already feel it burrowing deep for permanent residency within my subconscious. Could this be a formula for spreading understanding to help someone in crisis? We can certainly hope so.
The Woman in the Yard is Recommended If You Like: Family therapy, Telling your kids ghost stories, Penmanship
Grade: 3.5 out of 5 Veils
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