Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
“Who the hell is that woman in the yard?!”
If there is one thing the directors of ‘Woman in the Yard’ do well, it’s maintaining a good amount of suspense over the identity of the sinister veiled woman who begins to haunt a family of three living in a remote house.
Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra (‘Orphan’, ‘Carry On’) and written by Sam Stefanak, ‘Woman in the Yard’ stars Danielle Deadwyler as primary protagonist Ramona, a widowed artist with two children, unable to emerge from the grief of losing her husband. Ramona’s teen son Taylor (Peyton Jackson) does all the work around the house, including looking after little sister Annie (Estella Kahiha), while their mother wallows in misery. Things get weird when a mysterious lady dressed in black sits in their yard ominously, the family is spooked and struggles to get rid of her.
It’s a bit strange how both Ramona and Taylor are incredibly scared of the woman’s presence, almost as if they know they are in a horror movie. Had this been a regular drama, one of them would’ve immediately gone up to the woman to ask her what the hell she is doing on their property. But it takes a lot of discussion and debate before Ramona finally goes up to the woman in the yard to inquire what she wants. The stranger’s answer is eerily cryptic, threatening and cleverly foreshadows the climactic twist. But is the eventual reveal about her identity worth all the hype? Not really.
This film is too metaphorical, going with what might’ve seemed twisty to the writers, but just comes off as overtly literal and disappointing. Instead of delivering a dark ending, ‘Woman in the Yard’ goes for an uplifting, optimistic climax that does not match the expectations set up by the preceding incidents.
Danielle Deadwyler gives a committed performance as Ramona, a woman so consumed by grief that she all but abdicates her role as a mother. Throughout the film, Ramona’s behavior toward her children is difficult to watch. She is not just negligent, but short-tempered, impatient, and emotionally volatile, with little ability or willingness to communicate. Peyton Jackson as teen Taylor is the strongest character in ‘Woman in the Yard’, he is decisive, brave, bold, rebellious, and takes charge when needs be.
‘The Woman in the Yard’ clearly wants us to empathize with her circumstances. Ramona has lost her husband, survived a crippling accident, and now relies on crutches to move through her days. But her children have lost their father too, and under Ramona’s care, it often feels as though they’ve lost their mother as well.
That tension lies at the heart of the film. While one parent is dead, the other is emotionally absent, leaving the children effectively parentless. With unpaid power bills, electricity cut off, isolation in a remote home, and a dangerous woman lingering ominously in their yard, the stakes escalate rapidly. The question becomes whether Ramona can finally step up to protect her children, or whether her inaction will leave them in complete danger. Because the woman in the yard clearly means the family harm.
The basic idea and intentions are promising, however, the execution is choppy, with little twists and misleading turns that border on being frustrating. Basically, the ending will divide viewers. Either you will appreciate the metaphorical, symbolic message at the end, or be annoyed that this wasn’t the kind of horror movie you were hoping it would be. I had mixed feelings, but at least the story kept me invested until the end.
Rating: 5 on 10. Watch ‘Woman in the Yard’ on Disney+/JioHotstar.
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