The Woman in the Yard Summary and Review - The True Terror May Not Be in the Yard

The Woman in the Yard is a psychological horror film directed by Jaume Collet-Serra (House of Wax, Orphan) that explores grief, guilt, and PTSD in the wake of sudden loss, reminding us that the deepest horror often lies within.

Ramona is left physically and emotionally shattered after a car accident that killed her husband. The couple had recently started a new life on a farm, but now she’s alone - trying to care for her two children, 13-year-old Taylor and six-year-old Annie, while struggling to keep the household running.

From the opening scenes, Ramona’s grief is palpable. She spends her mornings unable to get out of bed, while Taylor scrapes together breakfast for the family and their dog, Charlie. Bills pile up, the power fails, and Ramona’s injuries make even walking a challenge. The children do their best to pull her out of this spiral of despair, though the effort is a strain on them all.

The Woman Arrives

One morning, their routine is broken when Taylor spots a mysterious woman in the yard. She’s dressed in old-fashioned widow’s weeds and has seemingly appeared from nowhere. When Ramona confronts her, the woman offers only the cryptic statements: “You called me and I came” and “Today is the day.” Ramona demands she leave, but the woman remain - and as the hours pass, her presence looms menacingly, growing more unsettling as her shadow creeps closer to the house.

As the day progresses, the dog goes missing, confusion grows, and the family’s dynamic begins to shift. Ramona struggles to maintain authority despite her injuries and declining mental state, while Taylor pushes back against her inability to resolve the situation. Questions also begin to arise about what really happened on the night of the crash and with trust crumbling, the mysterious figure’s approach forces the family to set aside their differences and unite against the unknown threat.

Striking Use of Shadow

The film moves at a brisk pace, rarely lingering too long before the next moment of unease. Its stylish cinematography makes striking use of shadow to mirror Ramona’s mental decline, and at times, manages to make the family home feel like a doll’s house where the titular woman moves the pieces at will. The score underlines the tension, while warped, distorted camera angles pull us into the world of Ramona’s chaotic grief, while guiding us through uncertainty and, finally, resolution.

Danielle Deadwyler delivers a superb performance that makes Ramona’s emotional paralysis altogether believable, when less skilled direction and acting might have made her seem like an unsympathetic character. The performances from Peyton Jackson and Estella Kahiha as the children add heart to the story, providing an effective counterweight to Deadwyler’s descent into hopelessness.

A Metaphor for Grief

The Woman in the Yard leans heavily into a metaphor for Ramona’s grief-induced mental health struggles, burdened by secrets and regret. Yet it’s handled with care, offering viewers a glimpse into the difficulty of coping in the face of overwhelming adversity.

It could be argued that the story might work without its horror framing, but the genre elements allow for striking visual creativity that portrays the pain of loss and the strength it takes to face it. It may not be terrifying in the traditional sense, but it’s an unnerving, affecting experience that lingers. For those unsure of whether to dive in, it’s a well told story that's worth a watch.

4/5

Ramona: Danielle Deadwyler 
The Woman: Okwui Okpokwasili 
David (her husband): Russell Hornsby
Taylor: Peyton Jackson 
Annie: Estella Kahiha 
Writer: Sam Stefanak
Director: Jaume Collet-Serra