Rating: 2.5/5
Synopsis:
After the loss of her husband in a tragic car accident, Ramona is trying to keep her life together. She battles depression while trying to take care of her two kids. But she notices a strange woman sitting in her front yard, who delivers unsettling messages about a threatening event coming for Ramona and her family. As she deliberates what to do, the woman begins inching closer as the day goes on. Can Ramona keep her children safe and figure out the reason for this strange woman’s presence?
Positives:
I quite enjoy director Jaume Collet-Serra’s work. While he’s made a few stinkers in the past, many of his movies are a lot of fun. “The Woman in the Yard” is somewhere in the middle of his work. It features some strong attributes and confident direction, daring to challenge the audience and their expectations. Collet-Serra’s creative fingerprints are all over the story. He has a distinct visual aesthetic to his films that carries over here. He manages to craft the tension scenes effectively, where the use of shadow and light provide a lingering sense of dread. We never know if the woman is inching her way closer or if she is just toying with the family. Credit to Collet-Serra for crafting a creepy atmosphere when the occasion calls for it.
Danielle Deadwyler is the performance to note. She portrays a grieving mother well, where her shortcomings as a parent are brought to the surface in this difficult circumstance. She has a tough time coping with her recent trauma while being attentive to her kid’s needs. As we peel back the layers beneath the surface, we learn that she is still coping with a lifelong depression that has caused issues throughout her life. The film plays upon the themes of trauma, guilt, and how difficult it is to overcome depression. That subject matter is quite heavy just as a disclaimer for viewers.
Negatives:
I’ll admit that the film was better than I expected. Even so, the film undoes itself in the final act. The premise is simple but warrants enough intrigue to keep viewers guessing. The problems occur when the reveals happen. Not only does Ramona’s payoff feel incredibly sad, it sends a controversial message about dealing with depression. I could see viewers who struggle with depression taking that message and give into negative feelings they’re having. I’m perplexed at how this made it into the final cut. Perhaps the filmmakers wanted to run with a bold choice? Strange, but depending on the viewer it could be effective.
The logic surrounding the woman in the yard is also confusing. The way she uses shadows and toying of the mind feel half established. We get glimmers of how she operates but it never feels fully developed. This is especially problematic in the third act of the film where she is most aggressive. Despite a few creepy scare sequences, her presence never feels menacing enough. By the time her reason for being is explained, it opens up other logic gaps that really hinder the film’s credibility. There are certain aspects about events that happened earlier in the movie that make no sense whatsoever. It’s a bummer, the film was doing so well until the reveals started happening.
Conclusion:
“The Woman in the Yard” has some surprisingly effective attributes. The tense sequences are crafted well, using lighting and shadows to highlight the woman’s chilling presence. But the perplexing decisions with Ramona’s fate and the logic issues after the reveal hamper the film immensely. This is one of those movies that may be divisive in nature. Some may love it and others will loathe it. It’s a mixed bag for me as a whole.
