The Shadow Strays – Movie Review
Director Timo Tjahjanto best known for the action indie films in 2016’s Headshot and Netflix’s 2018’s The Night Comes For Us has finally come forward with his next project titled: The Shadow Strays. Featuring upcoming star Aurora Ribero, Hannah Malasan, Taskya Namya, Agra Piliang, Andri Mashadi, Chew Kin Wah, and lastly Yayan Ruhian best known for his appearances in the heavily praised action thrillers The Raid: Redemption, The Raid 2: Retaliation, Beyond Skyline, and Boy Kills World.
Synopsis:
Skilled in the art of killing, a young assassin defies her mentor to save a boy from a ruthless crime syndicate.
The Shadow Strays focuses on a pair of young hired assassins known by the names of 13 and Umbra. Tasked with eliminating treacherous threats around the world. A few weeks after a failed mission, 13 crosses paths with an 11 year-old boy by the name of Monji who loses his mother to a crime syndicate, and after being taken away from his home, 13 goes on a bloody quest to rescue the young boy from his captives. While going against her own mentor and organization known only as The Shadow…
First off, to get straight to the point I’ll start off in stating that the action chorography performed all throughout this film is outright OUTSTANDING, and easily some of the best action scenes I’ve ever witnessed on screen in years. Tjahjanto is truly what many would call, a master at his craft, and manages to bring forth a cast that adds so much vibrant and exciting energy to the characters they portray. Each scene fueling more adrenaline than the next. While undoubtedly providing some of the most incredible action set pieces ever made.
Our leading star in Aurora Ribero does a fascinating job giving us viewers a character that is not only broken in spirit, but is also at wit’s end and in search of a soul to help salvage what’s left of her own humanity. Ribero delivers not just an an amazing performance of the character that is 13, but also manages to display some of the most jaw dropping chorography I’ve ever seen done by an actor her age on film. It is thrilling and exciting to watch her scenes unfold, and will catch people off guard in just how great of a performer she is from beginning to end.
Netflix has surely had many hits in the past, but I believe The Shadow Strays takes the crown as their best project to come in decades, and has created room for an even bigger audience to arise by its climax. Opening the door to possibly new sequels as well.
Almost every type of action sequence imaginable, from firearms, to swordplay, and even martial art styles such as Silat which director Tjahjanto is best known to use within his previous projects we’re all present within this feature, and not for one minute did any of the action scenes ever come off uneven, tacky, or fake. Instead, every scene that plays out all feels raw and emotionally real for the most part. Captivating from start to finish and without a doubt adds elements of horror in the mix pushing the normal boundaries what we usually would come to see within an action film.
It has been a long time since I’ve been this hyped up for a movie like this one in general, and in the end I can say my time was greatly well spent watching this insanely well-made thriller that I hope gains even more recognition as time goes on. Definitely worth the watch and lives up to its name. While honestly standing as one of my favorite films to come of 2024 as a whole. Loved every second of this thrill ride. A truly unforgettable experience.
The Shadow Strays – Movie Trailer:
The Shadow Strays – Behind The Scenes:
DISCLAIMER:
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