‘The Strays’ Review- Definitely Strayed Off Course
This film was released in 2023.
The Strays is a British thriller film that had its debut on Netflix. It is written and directed by Nathaniel Martello-White in his directorial debut.
Cheryl (Ashley Madekwe) is a black woman married to a white insurance salesman named Ian (Justin Salinger), living with her teen kids Sebastian (Samuel Small) and Mary (Maria Almeida). Her idyllic life is thrown out of balance when she begins seeing Marvin (Jorden Myrie) and Abigail (Bukky Bakray), her older children whom she abandoned in the past. They feel wronged and want to confront her.
The movie had an intriguing set-up and a decent cast. Madekwe is a talented actress who does a good job portraying Cheryl and her reactions to the situation. I also found the cinematography from Adam Scarth to be well done. From the spanning shots to showcase the luxury to the claustrophobic scenes to heighten tension, it was excellent. Unfortunately, this is where the compliments end.
Had the movie stayed on track as a thriller about two kids who wanted revenge, or even acknowledgment, from the mother who had abandoned them, it could have worked. By the third act, however, it devolves into a bizarre attempt at a horror flick. This made it feel uneven in tone.
The story also weaves in themes about racial identity, which is not a bad concept when executed properly, but here, it felt forced on the audience. Instead of using that trope of “show don’t tell,” it was “scream and force the audience’s attention on it.”
It is clear that Marvin and Abigail are meant to be victims for you to have sympathy for, but by the end, things go so far that you just do not. Perhaps they were meant to represent the abandoned children of England, but the way they are portrayed ruined this. At first, they seem to just want their mother to recognize them and go about it in a maniacal way, but they soon turn deranged in their plan. This threw the climax completely off-kilter.
One moment that made this clear was with the fate of Ian. He is a loving father, a doting husband, and totally innocent. Yet his fate is treated as deserved simply because he has biracial children. It was insulting to the audience how he was treated.
As for its billing as a thriller or horror flick, I cannot report that it ever evoked any sort of fear. Awkwardness, creepiness, and frustration abounded, but I never once felt a chill down my spine.
Bottom line, The Strays is a misfire by Netflix. It lacks any sense of thrills or cohesion in its themes.
PARENTAL CONCERNS: Strong foul language, Violence
FAVORITE QUOTE: You tried to get me fired?
Check out the trailer below:
What do you think? Let me know in the comments below. Tell me if there is a comic book, movie, or anime you would like me to review.