THE STRAYS (2023)

 

Written & Directed By: Nathaniel Martello-White

Cinematography: Adam Scarth 

Editor: Mark Towns 

Cast: Ashley Madekwe, Bukky Bakray, Maria Almeida, Jordan Myrie, Samuel Small, Justin Salinger

Neve lives an idyllic life in the suburbs with her loving family and works a fulfilling job at a private school. But when she begins to notice a strange man and woman appear unexpectedly at odd moments, she starts to doubt her sanity. Of course, she turns to her family and friends for assistance, but she is helpless when they hesitate to believe her.

The film is about colorism and by the end you think it is going to say something heavy and important about race, but more just hints around about it. 

Only one wishes the film had dug deeper as it seems like a good setup but ends up a kind of shell game. 

All the performances are spot on especially the lead played by Ashley Madekwe.

The violence in the movie seems there only for the mood of the film to make sense and show possibilities. As to what the characters are capable of.

The film offers so much potential, that it’s not shocking that the writer/director Nathaniel Martello-White is a playwright. At Its heart, it feels stage theatrical. Which is why it never quite feels realistic. It feels produced manufactured or pretty much a setup to entice.

This film manages to keep you interested, even on the edge of your seat throughout. As it builds and brings things to a boil and cops out at the end like the filmmakers gave up or couldn’t think of anything good after painting themselves into a corner. Where it kind of loses the audience. 

By the end, the film offers the main character a realistic reaction that is still shocking but also is just part of her nature. 

The film feels inspired by Jordan Peele’s films US and GET OUT. This could have been part of the series THEM on HULU 

In the end, the film is thought-provoking. That wants to be a well-thought-out thriller but also has something to say. While being a character study. Unfortunately, the end feels like a cop-out and almost comedic in it's own way, 

GRADE: C+