Nathaniel Martello-White, a first-time director, directed The Strays (available on Netflix) and his admiration for Jordan Peele is as obvious as a slip slipping out of the hem of a skirt.
Ashley Madekwe stars as a wealthy woman who never, ever, ever talks about her past, which is exactly the type of circumstance ripe to be upended by a plot device or a long-lost figure in this eerie-toned psychological thriller with social commentary about race and cultural assimilation (which may be one and the same).
It’s debatable whether The Strays has anything to say about pressing contemporary issues, but one thing is certain: this well-off woman got out of one situation but found herself immersed in another.
The Strays Netflix Review: Stream It or Skip It?
The Gist:
Sssstrrressssssss. Cheryl’s in the path of the oncoming storm (Madekwe). She is sitting in her apartment in a housing complex that reminds her of a project, thinking, or just feeling. She can’t handle the stress right now because the staff at the housing office treat her like garbage and her expenses are piling up. First her cell phone rings, but she doesn’t pick it up; then her landline.
She writes a note on the fridge to let everyone know she’s leaving for the hair salon and then leaves. The title card reads “YEARS LATER” over an exterior shot of a large, beautiful, and modern house in a picture-perfect suburban location. There, the former Cheryl (now Neve) resides. It appears that she did not visit the salon for a haircut.
What Movies Does It Remind You Of?:
The way an outsider almost fits in a perfect highbrow setting makes me think of I Am Love. Similar experiences of Black women in White culture were discussed in the film Passing. I’ve already made a Stepford Wives joke. Yet, Get Out serves as a vital point of reference, perhaps too pivotal.
Performances Worth Watching:
Bakray, who won a BAFTA for her role in the 2019 independent film Rocks, delivers the kind of dynamic supporting performance that could lead to more recognition for the actress.
Our Take:
Ominous. It has an important role in the atmosphere. Equally ominous and ominous-sounding. It feels like something is about to give way. Either Cheryl/Neve is completely insane, or a very thin secret is about to be traumatically revealed. Something about Humpty Dumpty that isn’t quite what it seems is hinted at in the film’s prologue.
Following the first act, I was hedging my bets between the two, but by the end of the play, I determined that my money was better served to bet on lunacy.
That’s not a secret; it’s easy to see that Neve is really just a reimagining of Cheryl, a persona designed to help her blend in with a culture that places a premium on material comforts and an aura of distinction.
In the beginning, she wonders if it’s wrong to want more, and then, once she has it, she wonders what it all means, what she had to give up to get it, and whether or not it was worth it.
Rating
According to IMDB, “The Starys” has a 4.7 rating out of 10.
Wrapping Up
Nathaniel Martello-White, a first-time director, directed The Strays, a psychological thriller with social commentary about race and cultural assimilation. Ashley Madekwe stars as a wealthy woman who never talks about her past, which is exactly the type of circumstance ripe to be upended by a plot device or a long-lost figure.
The title card reads “YEARS LATER” over an exterior shot of a large, beautiful, and modern house in a picture-perfect suburban location, where the former Cheryl (now Neve) resides.
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