Spoiler-Free Review of “The Strays” on Netflix: The Past Can’t Always Be Forgotten

*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!*

“Is it wrong to want more?”

The Strays released on Netflix on February 22nd 2023. The social horror-thriller film stars Ashley Madekwe, Justin Salinger, Bukky Bakray, and Jorden Myrie . It runs for approximately an hour and forty minutes.

A woman’s life is turned upside down when two strangers show up in her suburban town.

Here is the trailer:

The Strays has an eerie start with a fantastic lead, but does it try to do too much? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

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Images courtesy of Netflix

Ashley Madekwe puts forth a valiant effort.

I was already a fan of hers and I thought she really portrayed this character with everything she had. She elevated this film in a lot of ways and didn’t hold back. She was very convincing and I believed her performance. 

The rest of the cast did a solid job as well with what they were given.

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Images courtesy of Netflix

Eerie first half.

I was drawn in right away and wanted to know more. The first half of this movie was disturbing and uncomfortable, but it kept me intrigued. The film was clearly inspired by Get Out in a lot of ways and tried to dip into the social horror genre with its plot. It was heading in the right direction for me, but then things went off the rails once we got to the second half…

The Cons:

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Images courtesy of Netflix

Tries to do way too much…

Just when I thought I was completely hooked, the film took a step back and presented things from another perspective, which didn’t transition seamlessly in my opinion. It broke the eerie tone and took on a lot with its reveal. I was still interested in what was going on, but things continued to spiral out of control from here. This film was guilty of trying to jam-pack in elements from every genre, which made this a confusing watch for me.

I appreciate what it was trying to accomplish, but I’m not sure that it translated that well.

I also wasn’t a fan of the ending. Sure, it was shocking and out there, but it left me wondering what I had just really watched and if it was worth it…

So am I in or out?

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Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m 50/50 on this one…

I’m in for Ashley Madekwe, but this film was really confusing and left me wanting more. I was actually really disappointed by the time I got to the end because it had so much potential in the first half, but the ultimate resolution didn’t leave me completely satisfied.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Strays in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

It was only supposed to be temporary…but when Olivia Crewe accepts a new position that seems too good to be true, she soon discovers that twelve other girls previously had the same job as her. Only none of them lasted for more than thirty days. No notice. Nothing…right before they mysteriously disappeared without a trace.

My supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Soft & Quiet” on Demand: Seriously messed up…

**This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!**

“I am really happy that we are finally doing this…”

Soft & Quiet premiered on Demand on November 4th 2022. The horror film stars Stefanie Estes, Olivia Luccardi, Eleanore Pienta, and Melissa Paulo. It runs for approximately an hour and thirty-two minutes.

A kindergarten teacher sets up a gathering with like-minded women when an encounter with a woman from her past turns their afternoon into something catastrophic.

Here is the trailer:

Soft & Quiet is beyond disturbing, as a chain of events unravels into something truly horrific. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Blumhouse

Completely terrifying…

I don’t know if this is more of a pro or a con. This was not an easy watch by any means and what I witnessed was truly horrific. Social horror movies are emerging more and more and this one really pushed the envelope without holding back. I didn’t know much going into this, but I was completely shocked by what I watched.

This type of horror film scares me more than other genres because it’s something that could actually happen. You never know what a person is thinking or capable of and that can be way more distressing than someone you already know wants to do you harm.

This was an uncomfortable watch, but that was sort of the point.

Impressive cinematography.

I think this film was shot in such a smart way. It almost mirrored the way everything unfolded in front of the audience, never breaking our concentration. Rather, we followed the camera and watched this horrible chain of events unfold across the screen in real time. I’ve seen too many films with messy camera work or gimmicks and this approach worked flawlessly, making this even more of a gripping watch.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Blumhouse

Sensitive content.

The audience should be aware that this film depicts disturbing racial violence and pervasive language. The writer and the director really went all out with this to further the point of this film, but this will understandably be difficult for the audience to watch so just be aware of that.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Blumhouse

I’m in!

The most disturbing film I have watched all year…

I’m not sure that I could ever re-watch this film, but it was completely shocking and the director made a really strong debut.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Soft & Quiet in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

PLAY BY THE RULES…STAY ALIVE…

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A harmless night of fun turns deadly for six college friends but the game has only just begun. Take a mystery thrill ride right from your own living room. Dash and Seek is out now! I hope you enjoy!

READ IF YOU DARE…

Dash and Seek is available here!

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