I went into “The Woman in the Yard” knowing only what was in the online description, which, honestly, gave a lot away. So, I’ll stick to that and avoid further spoilers, as I truly believe this is a film best experienced without too much prior information.
WARNING. This film tackles some sensitive topics: grief, mental illness/mental health and suicide. Know that going in, as there are some genuinely tough elements. Personally, I felt these topics were handled well, but be prepared as there was not a typical “trigger warning” that you may find sometimes with films like this.
The film centers on Ramona, a woman dealing with devastating grief after her husband passes tragically. Her and her children are left on this fixer upper farm to cope with the aftermath.
The acting is amazing. Peyton Jackson, who plays the teenage son, gives a stunning and incredible performance. Danielle Deadwyler, in the lead role of Ramona, is equally incredible.
The story, as it’s written, did confuse me at times. But I have that problem with most films of this nature—it’s almost as if you’re not meant to understand everything. It wasn’t off putting so I just went with and was along for the ride. The way the story is woven together is compelling.
The cinematography and sound design are what truly make this film shine. The cinematography, in particular, is magnificent. There are so many suspenseful moments crafted with such care. It’s beautiful to watch, even when dealing with these heavy topics.
I’m giving “The Woman in the Yard” a 4 out of 5 stars. The reason it’s not a five, or even a four and a half, is the ending. As is the case with many films like this, the end seemed to ruin it a bit for me. I keep playing over in my head how I wished it had ended. I also think it was tied up in too pretty of a bow. I’ll leave it at that. I wanted to walk away with more curiosity, and that didn’t happen for me.
It took me a night to really process this film. But what I walk away with is this: “The Woman in the Yard” is an amazing film. If you love creepy, interesting films with beautiful cinematography, this is a must-watch. Go check it out now in theaters.
