Star-Studded Thriller Led by BAFTA Award Nominated Danielle Deadwyler
The Woman In The Yard will make its theatrical debut later this month on March 28th, 2025. The 87 minute psychological thriller will be produced by Blumhouse Productions and distributed by Universal Pictures. The film follows a widowed mother whose life is turned upside down upon the arrival of a mysterious woman in black. The film was directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, famous for his previous horror films, House of Wax (2005), Orphan (2009), and The Shallows (2016).
The cast includes Screen Actors Guild and BAFTA Award nominated actress Danielle Deadwyler in the lead role followed by Russell Hornsby, Peyton Jackson, Estella Kahiha, and Nigerian-American artist and actress Okwui Okpokwasili in the title role.
Exploring Grief Through Psychological Horror
Reminiscent of films such as Johnathan Demme’s 1998 film Beloved and M. Night Shyalaman’s 2006 film Lady In The Water, the film appears to take the concept of the mysterious woman archetype to illustrate the psychological and emotional remnants of grief. The film centering on a Black family continues the trend of Black characters rising to the center of suspense/horror films, such as The Front Room (2024), Nope (2022), and The Blackening (2022).
Writer Jaelani Turner-Williams, in her 2025 article for Salon, “Terrifying Truths: The Rise of Black Female Trauma in Horror Cinema”, writes, “Horror hasn’t yet become the haven for Black female depiction, but with the modern emergence of their explored traumas, it’s a meaningful start for the next age of cinema… Black women face their complex existences continuously, grappling with their worthiness in a world where they’re disregarded.”
A Cinematic Reflection on Black Motherhood and Mental Health
In the age where much of the zeitgeist is on mental health and self care, The Woman In The Yard seems to provide commentary on Black female mental health, a topic rarely touched upon in previous horror films. Similar to fellow Black actress and scream queen Brandy’s character Melinda in The Front Room, Deadwyler’s character Ramona is a Black woman whose experiences with motherhood illustrate a thought-provoking tale that combines motherhood studies with shadow work.Okpokwasili’s character being a metaphorical, and literal shadow.
A New Chapter in Suspense and Horror
The Woman In The Yard looks to be a promising film for lovers of suspense and horror. The film also is shaping up to be a thought-provoking and captivating illustration of Black female resilience. The Woman In The Yard will open in theatres March 28th.
