Director: Jaume Collet‑Serra
Starring: Danielle Deadwyler, Okwui Okpokwasili, Peyton Jackson, Estella Kahiha, Russell Hornsby
Runtime: 87 min (release: Mar 28, 2025)
Grieving widowed mother Ramona (Danielle Deadwyler) lives in isolation on a rural farm, recovering from a leg injury after her husband’s fatal accident. A silent, veiled Woman in black materializes in her yard, triggering eerie, reality-bending events that suggest the stranger may be a manifestation of Ramona’s deepening grief, guilt, and suicidal ideation
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Danielle Deadwyler anchors the film with a riveting and emotionally raw performance—her portrayal of Ramona’s grief, frustration, and fragile resilience is the movie’s emotional core
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Okwui Okpokwasili is haunting as the silent Woman, embodying dread with minimal dialogue—but her final act’s symbolism is divisive
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Support from Peyton Jackson and Estella Kahiha as the children adds grounded tension and familial realism
Jaume Collet‑Serra crafts atmosphere through claustrophobic tension and visual metaphor, often shifting from bright daylight to shadow-laden interiors. Cinematographer Paweł Pogorzelski uses light and space to powerful effect—crafting unsettling visuals despite the rural setting
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
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- Narrative becomes muddled with heavy-handed symbolism and genre tropes |
| - Effective atmosphere and unsettling imagery | - Final act’s ambiguity and mental‑health metaphor lack nuance and clarity |
| - Creative tension through subtle scare tactics | - Pacing dips in the middle; mix of psychological and horror elements feels uneven |
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Rotten Tomatoes: 40% critics; 47% audience
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CinemaScore: C–
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Critics describe it as an “eerie start with atmosphere” that “loses its way by the end” Audience opinions are sharply split—some praise its visuals and symbolism, others felt deceived by marketing and disappointed by the final act .
distinctive direction, marked by atmospheric tension and striking metaphorical imagery. Yet, its screenplay stumbles in the back half—becoming over-literal, muddled, and ambiguous in ways that may frustrate viewers seeking coherence over mood.
