'The Woman In The Yard' Blu-Ray Review - Psychological Horror Film Tackles The Lingering Nature Of Grief

Geek Vibes Nation

4 days ago

'When the sun is bright and the wind is still, she comes to you like a sudden chill. Draped in black from head to toe, how she got there, you'll never know.' With that cryptic warning, an otherworldly woman sends a family into a seemingly inescapable nightmare. Already grieving the death of her husband, Ramona faces a new fear when this mysterious figure appears outside her farmhouse. With the woman continually creeping closer, Ramona must protect her children from the chilling grasp of this haunting entity whose unknown intentions are anything but peaceful. From Blumhouse, producers of The Invisible Man and The Black Phone.
For in-depth thoughts on The Woman In The Yard, please see my colleague Cody Allen's review from its original theatrical release here.
Video Quality
The Woman In The Yard arrives on Blu-Ray courtesy of Universal Studios Home Entertainment with a wonderful AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.39:1. Despite the darker thematic exploration, the cinematography on display has moments of brilliant luminance to complement some of the shadowy interiors. There are notable opportunities for vibrant colors to pop off the screen with the surrounding environment never failing to amaze. The color palette accurately showcases elements of the clothing and production design.
The level of detail in this presentation remains as exquisite as ever, as all of the subtle aspects of the costumes and set design are crystal clear. Skin tones appear consistent across the entire cast with even the most minor facial details on display. The strong black levels are a major benefit as they allow for a pleasing amount of detail in shadows. The bright highlights during the day do not stumble with any blooming in this presentation. There are no exceptional instances of aliasing or compression artifacts detectable here. This Blu-Ray is top-notch as Universal maintains its high standards
Audio Quality
The Dolby TrueHD 7.1 track is chillingly effective, and it never lacks when asked to deliver something unnerving. The movie uses environmental sounds to ideal effect, and the track retains precise detail even in the more unwieldy developments. Dialogue comes through clearly with none of the information feeling overshadowed by parallel elements. The soundscape on display here is complex with a nuanced design from beginning to end. Despite being a more talky affair, the film knows when to come alive with thrills that dig deep. All of the effects have a noble sense of direction within the mix with noises in the house prickling up your spine. The soundtrack and score are first-rate without being too overbearing to the competing elements. The track does everything it needs to. Optional English SDH, Spanish, and French subtitles are provided.
Special Features
Making The Woman In The Yard:
An eight-minute piece in which the cast and creative team discuss the motivations behind bringing this story to the screen, finding the right performers for these characters, the themes that are explored, the direction of Jaume Collet-Serra, and more.
Beneath The Veil:
A five-minute look at the titular woman terrifying our protagonist and what she represents.
Final Thoughts
The Woman In The Yard is a psychological horror film that will frustrate many but is likely to hit home for those who have experienced loss or have survived a particularly tough time mentally. The script is overly impressed with itself at times, yet it does traverse some material that packs a surprising amount of depth for the type of horror movie it is marketed as. Any stumbling blocks are made less abrasive thanks to the powerful performance from Danielle Deadwyler and stunning cinematography from Pawel Pogorzelski. The current era of grief horror can be a bit exhausting, but this one is executed very well in a way that sticks with you. Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has released a Blu-Ray with a grand A/V presentation and a small selection of special features. Recommended
The Woman In The Yard is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray, DVD, and Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.