Weekend watch guide: “The Woman in the Yard" summons scares

Chicago - If it ever feels like there’s just too much content, there’s a reason for that: dozens of streaming services, big releases available for rental at home, and movie theaters full of blockbusters and independent films alike. 

So we’re here to help. In our new column, we’ll make some recommendations for viewing each weekend. Some will be on streaming services like Netflix or Peacock, others will be available for free via Tubi and other platforms, and some will even be in good old-fashioned movie theaters. 

See it in theaters: "The Woman in the Yard"

The story: Ramona (the excellent Danielle Deadwyler), devastated by the loss of her husband (Russell Hornsby) and still recovering from an injury she sustained in the accident that cost his life, finds it hard to get out of bed in the morning, much less be the mother her son and daughter (Peyton Jackson and Estella Kahiha) need. The power’s turned off, the car won’t start, the phones are dead – and just when it seems like it couldn’t get any worse, a mysterious woman draped in black takes a seat in their yard and simply will not leave. 

What we thought: As helmed by "Orphan" director Jaume Collet-Serra, "The Woman in the Yard" is – like many of the best horror movies – as much a character study as anything else. That doesn’t mean it’s not frightening, as it’s in possession of a creeping sense of dread and a few solid jump scares. But while it may make you want to check under the bed (or, more appropriately for this movie, check the backyard for mysterious apparitions of death and despair), its real aim is to tell a story about grief, isolation and mental illness, a task at which it succeeds mightily, thanks in no small part to Deadwyler’s visceral lead performance.

Where to watch: "The Woman in the Yard" arrives in theaters this weekend. 

Does "The Woman in the Yard" have a post-credits scene?

Nope! Once those credits roll, you can safely head out to the lobby. 

What’s in theaters this weekend?

• "Death of a Unicorn": Jenna Ortega and Paul Rudd have a very bad experience with some mythical creature roadkill
• "The Penguin Lessons": A teacher rescues and befriends a penguin on the eve of a political revolution in Argentina
• "A Working Man": Jason Statham leaves a mysterious career in global intelligence to work in construction… but just when he thinks he’s out, they pull him back in
• "Disney’s Snow White": A live-action remake of the animated classic, starring "West Side Story" breakout Rachel Zegler
• "Locked": An unusual horror movie in which a thief (Bill Skarsgård of "It") gets trapped in a fancy SUV by its malevolent owner (Anthony Hopkins)

Now streaming: "Wicked"

The story: An adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical of the same name, director Jon M. Chu’s "Wizard of Oz" prequel focuses on the unlikely friendship between college roommates Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), destined to become the misunderstood Wicked Witch of the West, and Galinda (Ariana Grande), later known as Glinda the Good. 

What we thought: Chu’s film is a faithful adaptation of the first act of "Wicked" (the second act, titled "Wicked: For Good," is due later this year), yet it manages to improve on the long-running stage version by probing deeper into its explorations of prejudice, propaganda and perception. 

It’s got spectacle and color to spare (and its 10 Oscar nominations, many of them in technical and design categories, speak to that). But Chu’s wisest decision is much less flashy: he simply trusts his cast to anchor the story. The emotionally rich performances of Erivo, Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Peter Dinklage and others keep "Wicked," which could have easily been a twee confection and nothing more, from floating away in one of Glinda’s pink bubbles. 

When will Wicked be on Peacock?

It’s there now! You can stream both the original "Wicked" and a sing-along version at your convenience. 

Does Peacock have a free trial?

Alas, not presently. But plans begin at $7.99 a month, and Peacock reliably gets some of the bigger theatrical releases first. 

When is Wicked 2 coming out?

The sequel, "Wicked: For Good," is currently slated for release in November 2025. 

New movies to stream this weekend

• "Holland": Nicole Kidman plays a teacher in Holland, MI who discovers an unsettling secret (Prime Video)
• "Sing Sing": A moving drama about a theater program for incarcerated people which earned star Colman Domingo a well-deserved Oscar nomination (Max)
• "Anora": While this newly-crowned Oscar darling has been available to rent for quite awhile, it’s now streaming on Hulu
• "A Complete Unknown": Timothée Chalamet disappears into his role as Bob Dylan in this engaging biopic (Hulu, Disney+)

Rent at home: "Companion" 

The story:  A seemingly idyllic weekend getaway for three couples gets infinitely more complicated when one of the women defends herself from assault. This prompts her boyfriend to shut her down, literally: She’s an AI "companion," a fact of which she herself was unaware. 

What we thought: Starring rising scream queen Sophie Thatcher ("Yellowjackets") and Jack Quaid ("The Boys"), "Companion" is a smart, surprisingly funny little horror thriller.

Where to watch: "Companion" is available for digital rent or purchase. 

Watch with the family: "Flow"

The story: In a world without humans, a small black cat finds itself trying to navigate a planet overtaken by floodwaters – but luckily, there are other animals around, and some of them are more than ready to make friends. 

What we thought: "Flow" is a delight. Entirely free of dialogue – though rich with meows, barks, chirps, and cute capybara noises – it’s set on a world that might look like ours, were it not for the occasional mystical creature or mysterious happening. But while much about the world goes unexplained, the story is a universal one. 

 Why we picked it: "Flow" beat out several excellent films (with much bigger budgets) for the Oscar Best Animated Feature, a win that earned the country of Latvia its first-ever Oscar. 

Where to watch: "Flow" is streaming on Max.

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