"THE WOMAN IN THE YARD" Mpilonhle Makhaye's Film Review

 

Let me just shout this once and for all, If I had a rand for every time a film tried to be scary by showing someone standing awkwardly in a yard, I could land buy land left behind by those Afrikaners who left for a better future in America.

The Woman in the Yard (2025), is a supernatural thriller, slow burner directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, that stars Danielle Deadwyler as Ramona. A grieving widow who encounters an unknown woman dressed in black haunting her rural farmhouse. This isn’t a horror but a story that speaks more about grief. As South African filmmaker Kgosi “Skop” Mahlangu said while watching it “Yoh, this ghost doesn’t even knock. Just vibes and trauma.

Somewhere between a funeral, a chicken coop and a fashion choice that scream “I haunt in high heat” we find a film that really resonates with anyone who has lost a loved one.

Alright, I’m done cooking, lets dig in (Pun absolutely intended)

After a tragic car accident that claims her husband’s life, Ramona left to look after their two children in isolation. Her solitude is disrupted when a veiled woman appears in their yard, she without words, voices unsettling messages. As the woman’s presence becomes more persistent, Ramona deals with her own mental state and the potential supernatural forces at play in her own farmhouse, who she unknowingly invited.

Danielle Deadwlyer’s gives out a compelling performance, her portrayal of the character’s emotional turmoil and vulnerability is beautiful to watch. The film’s direction and pacing hinder the development of a truly immersive experience. The narrative depends more on the atmospheric tension and minimalistic storytelling may leave you some viewers yearning for more.

The film dives into themes of grief, trauma, and the supernatural which makes sense why the pacing is slow in nature as viewers are invited into the main characters mental state. The woman who appears in the yard identity and intentions build a mystery makes one want to follow the narrative, with, the characters appear to seemingly be semi-developed that makes them unclear and the resolution may leave some audiences questioning the film underlying message.

In conclusion, film offers a haunting premise and strong lead performances but fails to deliver a satisfying horror experience and dwells deep into grief.  While it may appeal to fans of slow-burn psychological thrillers and those seeking a more traditional horror narrative may find it lacking.

 

6.5/10