- Director : Jaume Collet-Serra
- Actors : Danielle Deadwyler, Okwui Okpokwasili, Peyton Jackson, Estella Kahiha, Russell Hornsby
- Producers : Jason Blum, Stephanie Allain
- Language : English (Dolby TrueHD 7.1), Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1)
- Studio : Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
- MPAA rating : PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned)
- Product Dimensions : 1 x 1 x 1 inches; 2.89 ounces
- Country of Origin : USA
- Media Format : Blu-ray
- Run time : 1 hour and 28 minutes
- Release date : May 27, 2025
I have come to
expect very little from Blumhouse, as most films coming from production companies
seem to be dumbed down for as broad an audience as possible. In other words,
they are currently a bit like the Disney of horror. And while The Woman in
the Yard deals with themes that have been utilized by far better films and
contains a number of frustratingly predictable twists, often feeling as though
the filmmakers assumed the audience had seen few other films of the kind, there
is something quietly thoughtful and restrained in this film. That is not something
I have come to expect from Blumhouse and was a nice surprise, even if it occurs
in a film with a narrative that might have been better suited for a short film.
As derivative as
many elements of the film are, the approach to this supernatural horror film also
has a somewhat unique monster, at least in the approach. Most films of this
kind feature a family haunted within their home, but The Woman in the Yard
has the threat coming from the house’s front yard. When widowed mother Ramona (Danielle
Deadwyler) wakes to another day struggling with the grief over her recently deceased
husband (Russell Hornsby) and caring for their two children, Taylor (Peyton
Jackson) and Annie (Estella Kahiha), she also has to deal with the sudden
arrival of a mysterious woman siting in her yard. Although the family initially
attempts to ignore her presence, they can’t help but notice that her chair
moves closer and closer to the house throughout the day. When Ramona eventually
approaches the veiled stranger, she is given a cryptic warning that puts the
family on the defensive.
Although there
are many of the expected haunted house sequences, with things and people being
moved around by the supernatural threat, coming in the form of a shadow in this
narrative, much of The Woman in the Yard is instead focused on the emotional
journey of Ramona. Her grief is the catalyst and true focus of the narrative, with
the haunting serving as an allegorical way for her to work through the grief
she is suffering from. This makes The Woman in the Yard a thoughtful movie that
has a place in the conversation with The Babadook and The Others,
even if it falters more often than they do.
The Blu-ray
release of The Woman in the Yard is fitting for a film that came and
went in theaters without many noticing. There are two behind-the-scenes featurettes,
including “Making The Woman in the Yard” and “Beneath the Veil.” There is also
a digital code included to be able to stream and download the film online,
along with the Blu-ray disc.
Entertainment Value:
6/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 7/10
Historical
Significance: 4 /10
Special Features: 5/10
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