The Woman in the House (2022) User Reviews

THE MINI SERIES THAT WAS A PARODY BUT WAS IT?

[MadamWarden · 6/10 · 7 February 2022]

This was a confusing watch. Was it a parody, a black comedy or just a really bad thriller. I almost feel as if they intended it to be serious then realised how bad it was and re-edited it as if they intended it to be a parody.

Not sure I believe it, but I am drinking too much....

The title got me...

[DukeEman · 7/10 · 28 January 2022]

I came for the title, stayed for the cheap thrills, and was amused by the dark side of murder. Well played by Kristen Bell as Anna, the grieving mother under the influence of mind bending medication and cheap red wine. When you are in that state of mind, you tend to gaze out the window and observe others living. But what Anna sees sends her into a whirlwind of paranoia, that takes us for a wild spin of deadly fun and games.

Perfect series for a brain dead night, without insulting your senses, as long as you are in on the gag. And great to see Michael Lehmann (director of my cult favorite, Heathers) back to his dark comedy roots.

not quite either

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 13 February 2022]

Anna (Kristen Bell) is haunted by the brutal murder of her daughter. She's seeing things. She drinks too much wine, deathly afraid of rain, and divorced from her husband. Neil and his daughter Emma move in across the street. Anna befriends Emma and becomes taken with Neil. Out of the blue, Neil has a girlfriend, flight attendant Lisa. One stormy night, Anna sees Lisa being murdered in Neil's house. She calls the cops but they find nothing.

This is a Netflix show spoofing those Netflix shows about woman in danger solving murder mysteries. Kristen Bell is doing a very deadpan performance. The humor is dark and understated. After a couple of episodes, I was more taken with the mystery than the humor. After a few more episodes, I realized that the mystery doesn't matter that much either. Most of these mystery shows and movies are fictional. In that, this one is no different. However, it's more than that. The reveal doesn't matter. It could be space aliens and that would be fine for this series. I still like the few moments of laughs and Kristen Bell's performance. The show is caught in the middle. The mystery doesn't matter and the humor is not broad enough to be truly funny. It is interesting.

HOW CAN YOU NOT KNOW?!?

[PizzaQueen0712 · 7/10 · 29 January 2022]

I'm seriously questioning the cognitive skills of some reviewers. This clearly is a parody of Lifetime like mysteries. It's supposed to be silly. The handyman and the BFF always stopping by are the funniest scenes. The fact that the silliness is portrayed so serious is the hook. Lighten up amateur " film critics.

Parody

[staciarose20 · 7/10 · 30 January 2022]

People who haven't watched popular thriller movies in the last five years won't get it. The Woman in the Window, Girl on a Train, etc. Where one woman solves a mystery, usually a murder. This has it's moments. Guess this just just a those who get it, get it.

Dont watch if you're not into cringe

[aboalhyjaa · 7/10 · 28 January 2022]

The cringiest cringe I've ever seen and i love it !!!

I had a new theory or two every episode but the end shocked me and i would never in a million year think about it.

I saw someone wrote that it hits every cliché possible. Well, duh! Its on purpose! It is comedy after all and cringe is a way of comedy.

Twist after a twist and they always got me, if you watched the woman in the window you'll definitely see the similarities in such a great cringe way.

Kristen Bell did amazing work with the acting and most importantly the face imprecisions!

Should've been a movie

[Calicodreamin · 5/10 · 28 January 2022]

This could have just been a movie. Decent acting and a few laughs. The parody didn't go far enough leaving a few stale jokes and too predictable of a storyline.

There's no I in Heaven. Hilarious show for True Crime/ Thriller fans!

[ymousnona123 · 9/10 · 14 February 2022]

I am quite surprised at the low rating, but I get it. Judging from some of the reviews and Reddit comments I have come across, this is a divisive show.

To truly enjoy this series, I think it's important that you have watched enough "whodunit" movies and shows. I am thinking Rear Window, Vertigo, The Girl on The Train, The Woman in the Window, etc. This is a parody! Unlike movies like "Scary Movie," this one doesn't rely as much on slapstick comedy, though there is definitely some of that in here. The humour is mostly dry, and I personally love that kind of humour.

To some, it is "too serious" to be a comedy, but I disagree with that. I went into this show knowing that it was going to be over the top. I mean the convoluted title is a dead give-away! The story about how the daughter died is sooo far-fetched it's hilarious. Also, the gag with the mailbox, the casserole, and the words on the tombstone is so funny. Also, the wine glass could fit an entire bottle in one, and it was an average size. That also made me chuckle. The ending is great too! I am somewhat proud that I guessed it right, haha. BINGO. Although, it could honestly be something really bizarre and I would still give this a high rating!

At times, I got so into the "mystery" that I forgot it was a parody. The lighthouse keeper is hilarious, and he brought me back to the realization that I was taking it too seriously. Clearly, it's not perfect. But c'mon! It's not supposed to be. The dialogue, the gags, the references... I loved it all. Don't take it seriously, and you'll enjoy it too. Set your brain aside, pour a glass of wine, and enjoy this fun ride.

So many reviews here from people not realising this is a spoof

[victoriaannecannon · 7/10 · 28 January 2022]

Enjoyed this as a light hearted spoof of the psychological thriller genre. Lots of funny moments, not least the guy who's forever fixing the postbox.

Disengage your brain and be like Anna - pour yourself a bottle sized glass of wine and enjoy.

Dark comedy this is not

[julieshotmail · 5/10 · 30 January 2022]

Besides the large wine glass being filled up to the brim every time, the only funny thing about this series is the long title. From that, you assume that this is some dark comedy spoof of those movies that start with "The Girl in the...." Sadly, it is not. It does try to be funny but fails miserably as the tone is just not right. As for mystery and suspense, it is also very silly. The big reveal is ridiculous, and the ending is eyeroll-inducing. I give it 5 stars because Kristin Bell is a respectable actress and the show does succeed in its cliffhangers keeping you lured in between each short episode. As hooked as you may feel though, keep in mind that you're in for a huge disappointment.

Quantum series: manages to be several things at the same time. Wild, weird and wonderful

[gridoon2024 · 8/10 · 17 February 2022]

The people who made this mini-series, behind and in front of the camera, manage to capture a peculiar, unique tone right from the start and not only hang on, but build to it; the show is satisfying on multiple levels, without one sacrificing or interfering with the other. It is laugh-out-loud funny at times, but with a very offbeat sense of humor; there are no pointers to tell you "laugh now" like in a sitcom or an out-and-out parody. It is genuinely moving: Kristen Bell creates a real person, so even though the circumstances of her trauma and loss are absurd, the pain of her trauma and loss itself is genuine. It is intriguing, with constant twists in every episode, and a total shocker in the last one; as a whodunit, this is at least as good as, say, Harlan Coben's "Stay Close", but whereas that one slowed down quite a bit in the middle, this one never does (every episode is about 25 minutes long). And finally, it is suspenseful and quite gory. And it's all of those things at once! I don't know how they did it, but they did. It even ends with a perfect setup for a 2nd season, though considering that it's not really a show for mainstream audiences who want everything pigeonholed, it probably won't get one. Final tip: try to read as little as possible (preferably, nothing) online before you see it - it would be a shame to have one of the best plot twists in recent history spoiled by trolls. 8/10.

An experiment in mixed tones

[dfloro · 7/10 · 31 January 2022]

I usually like movies/miniseries that set a tone and then stick with it. But I would call "TWitHAtSFtGitW" (as I like to refer to it) an experiment in mixing tones: a dramatic murder-mystery thriller with an absurdist plot and big twist ending, and simultaneously a very sarcastic dark comedy with plenty of self-deprecating humor from the lead character, Ana, played by Kristen Bell. The supporting cast is really good, too, especially Tom Riley as the handsome yet suspicious neighbor, Mary Holland as Ana's nosey BFF and Cameron Britton as the odd but nevertheless polite family handyman. For the extreme commitment required of the players, especially Kristen, who owns every scene, both figuratively and literally, I give it an extra star: 7/10.

Long winded parody

[eve_dolluk · 5/10 · 30 January 2022]

' The woman in the house across the street from the girl in the window ' on netflix...

I have watched both the 2 films that this parody series is based upon.

I did have some serious laugh out loud moments across the series ( like choking laugh loud that i almost died ) but these were in-between mildly humorous parodies relating to the 2 films it was based upon ( alongside other hitchcock tropes )

Unless you have seen ' Girl on the train ' or ' Woman in the window ' then you might miss the entire point.

Its 8 episodes at 30 mins long and its overkill because between truly hilarious moments was a lot of bland storytelling that lacked the impact to be parody.

A fast paced movie parody would have suited it better but maybe this is a new format for the Naked Gun, Scary Movie type thing.

1 big laugh for every other episode is kinda wasting my time tho....

I could edit this down myself to 90 mins and make it hilarious and still maintain the narrative.

Im sure this was a border line commitee decision... Tv or not Tv that is the question.

Hmmm nah cheesy movie at best.

Surprisingly good for its intended genre

[arod_85 · 7/10 · 31 January 2022]

I actually enjoyed this! It is a parody, but has its own story that is interesting in its own right. I didn't see the twist of who the killer was going to be, granted it was too absurd to consider. But I guess that was kind of the point of the show. However, it's probably the best parody I've seen. I agree with another viewer that people are completely missing the point of the bad acting and cliche storyline! Kristen Bell herself said that she purposefully had to be good at acting bad for this movie to work. Some are also stating it could have been funnier, and I agree to an extent. However, that did run the risk of making it too overtop stupid, like the dreadful "Scary movie" franchise. Hope for a season 2.

If the joke goes over your head, I worry for you.

[borre747 · 7/10 · 28 January 2022]

Very on the nose. This is probably best suited for people who have seen many thrillers in the "crazy amy adams woman actually not crazy"-genre but also enjoy a bit of satire. The show is fairly entertaining but drags on a bit and could have been shorter/a movie.

Why the bad reviews?

[laurenthorsteinson · 7/10 · 10 February 2022]

I'm loving it so far!! I watched the first 6 episodes in a day because I was so hooked!! Maybe I'll have a different opinion after the finale, but so far it's super entertaining and addicting.

Lazy "Satire"

[kaideneve · 4/10 · 29 January 2022]

Many reviews here claiming that people need to chill out because it's just satire. That may be true, but even so this is a really disappointing effort. It's like they mixed soap opera level dialogue with every poorly done suspense/mystery trope in some bizarre mishmash that makes no sense. It did make me laugh, but mainly because of the ridiculous scenarios and terrible acting and script, not because the attempted satire was sharp or clever. I feel that it took itself too seriously and ended up just feeling like a B-level murder mystery in the end. Speaking of the end, it was just eye-rollingly ludicrous although it did make me laugh more than any other part of the series.

Real, Satire, Surreal or Hallucination? Bingo.

[dtporter-886-883020 · 8/10 · 28 January 2022]

The mystery of this mystery is whether it's an actual mystery, a veritable break in the fourth wall. On the one hand, hallucination hypotheses are supported by the ever present handyman. On the other hand, there is a continuing flow of empirical data to support her suspicions. I liked the tease: is this "real" only in her head, or real, period.

Dali-like, you'll find film's title, "The Woman in the House...," the penultimate clue. Is this comedy, horror, mystery or just plain old good drama. Sex on the stairs? Sex on the marble island? Just who is screwing who? Howling dogs? Buried hands? Surreal indeed.

Who did what to whom changes all too quickly. Make sure you have Tylenol for headaches from your head spinning. Make sure you pay attention to all the details in the production design; the continuity supervisor should get an Emmy. Consider buying stock in Corning Ware. Be ready also for scenes directed sweetly or you'll become diabetic, instantly.

When you assume you know, you don't, and when you assume you know, you know what that makes you (and me). Ass commentary aside, you'll love Kristen Bell's march through this panoply of the real, the hallucinated, and the surreal. Kudos to Davidson, Dorf, et al. For leading us down garden paths of a nuanced, albeit cliched, mystery journey. Be careful you don't trip. Don't assume Chastity's guilt assuages any one else's. I did.

Puns abound: be patient with Buell, the omnipresent handyman. He certainly nailed it, holy hand indeed; and he has a hand in every episode. I've never seen a mailbox needing so much attention. Why was a raccoon body found? Elizabeth's gravestone carving: Do we read it as carved, "There's No. '1' in Heaven." Or, as "There's no one in heaven." Real, or surreal, or hallucination? Find more Tylenol.

Pay attention to the casting... Massacre Mike in prison, Buell, the fingerprint technician. Subtle similarities until...

The Woman in the House... series is a palette of nuanced colors; they form cycles of meaning, and recycled nuance. Enjoy being painted confused. Yes, confused is a color, a shade of tan.

Real, satire, surreal or hallucination? Bingo.

Clearly a parody

[bectaubitz · 7/10 · 4 February 2022]

I think most of the negative reviews here have missed the mark on this show being a parody of all other thriller/murder/mystery shows.

Kristen Bell knows what she's doing. The book titles that she reads are a dead give away.

The whole thing was supposed to be ridiculous.

Easy binge-worthy watch with a few good twists.

Lacking the laughs

[bangel3322 · 5/10 · 30 January 2022]

This is supposed to be a parody but it wasn't as funny I expected it to be. Kristen Bell is a good comedy actress so I was ready for laughs but it only had a few laugh out loud moments in the entire eight episodes. The end was a bit far fetched...but I guess being a parody, it can pass for a feasible ending. I wasn't keen on the way Elizabeth died...that was deeply disturbing. It has set itself up for season 2 and even though I didn't love this I'll probably still watch it if it's renewed. Hoping it will be funnier.

I enjoyed it for the PARODY it is

[myappleid-40306 · 9/10 · 28 January 2022]

This is a parody of The Woman in the Window. I'm shocked there are people who see the title and think this is supposed to be a serious series. Kristen Bell was great for this. It was really goofy but enjoyable. Sometimes it was a little cringy. Ended on a cliffhanger. Hopefully there will be a season 2. Like other viewers, I want to know why the saying on the headstone changed.

"There's no I in heaven".

[classicsoncall · 6/10 · 6 February 2022]

I'm generally not a fan of programs with long, drawn out titles like this because they tend to be pretentious at best. Not knowing what we were getting ourselves into, the wife and I decided this would be something to breeze through over a couple of nights, particularly with the short chapters. Approaching this series as a straight drama is probably the wrong thing to do, since there's a quirky twist in every episode, and it appears that the film makers were goofing on the audience with things like the character of handyman Buell (Cameron Britton), who wound up fixing the mailbox for days on end. If you're attentive enough, you'll note that there's a different inscription on Anna's (Kristen Bell) daughter's gravestone in chapters one, two and six, so if you missed that, you need to go back and take a look. I don't know if anyone watching this will be prepared for the final episode in which the killer is revealed, because that's when the story takes the most far out and wildest turn imaginable. I guess if you're looking for something a little offbeat, this might do the trick for you, but realize that the story line is playing with you while you're watching it. Like in the second chapter, when Anna fills her wine glass right to the top, by the time she walks over to her living room, it's an inch short of full.

Got lazy at the end

[and_shove_it_up_your_butt · 4/10 · 29 January 2022]

It was decent until the last episode or two. Parody or not the writing got lazy. What a way to ruin a series. Definitely won't watch another season if there is one.

Quick binge for the weekend

[kigaiyuuto · 7/10 · 29 January 2022]

I was expecting Desperate Housewives-lite and I'm not disappointed.

The reveal will be divisive. Not who I suspected but I'm okay with it.

Show's short duration is perfect while waiting for my friends to finish their make-up or with a few glasses of wine. It can be binged in one sitting.

Bingo, it's a parody!!!

[rickdugs · 6/10 · 2 February 2022]

Yes, it's a parody, it's funny, it's worth a watch!

Hints it's a parody: The title, casserole dish after casserole dish, massacre Mike, the mailbox that is never repaired...