This article contains MAJOR spoilers for Tyler Perry’s new Netflix movie Straw.Tyler Perryhas made a lot of movies in his career, but none of them have been quite likeStraw. The Netflix film sees Taraji P. Henson play a woman named Janiyah, a working-class mother who is genuinely having one of the worst days of her life. She is managing her job as a grocery store cashier while also trying to care for her sick daughter, but when she gets fired, things take a turn for the absolute worst.
Strawis a mixed bag in terms of critical and audience response so far. The reviews are mixed, asthe film holds a 44% score on Rotten Tomatoes.ScreenRant’s Grant Hermannsgave the movie 4 out of 10 stars, praising Henson’s performance but raising concerns about the movie’s storyline and production quality. Despite some negative reviews, however,Strawhas done incredibly well on streaming since its release to Netflix, regularly making its charts. Even with its glaring flaws, the thriller contains several elements that make it the most shocking Perry movie to date.
10Straw’s Daughter Twist Is Genuinely Shocking
It Changes Viewers' Perception Of Events
Though Janiyah’s story is dramatic and stirring,Strawis a thriller with genuine twists and turns. Easily the biggest twist in the movie is the shocking reveal thatJaniyah’s daughter, Aria, actually died of a seizure the night before the events of the film.
This is aFight Club-esque moment when Perry forces audiences to rethink the events they just saw on screen in the movie’s first and second acts. The twist vastly changes the perception of Janiyah’s internal mental state, and it comes almost at the very end of the film.
9Straw Is Nothing Like Tyler Perry’s Madea Movies
It Is Not At All Comedic
Most audiences think about Perry dressed up as a woman for theMadeamovies. This over-the-top comedy franchise began in 2005 withDiary of a Mad Black Womanand went on to become what Perry is most known for.
Strawis a complete departure from Perry’s best-known work; in fact, it arguably features no comedy at all. Drama is not completely new territory for Perry, as he recently came off ofSix Triple EightandMy Faultlast year, but an intense psychological crime drama like this is very unusual for the director.
8Taraji P. Henson’s Straw Performance Is Intense
It Is Career-Best Work
Henson is an Oscar and Emmy nominee with an impressive list of credits behind her, butStrawholds its own within her oeuvre. Henson can dial her emotions up to a 10 and stay there for most of the film.
She stillnavigates in and out of Janiyah’s complex feelingsas the film proceeds, playing a highly unconventional bank robber. Nonetheless, it is Henson’s performance that sells every plot twist. Without her grounding the movie, it would be too over-the-top at times, but she truly shines in the role.
7Straw Is A Social-Services Nightmare
Janiyah Cannot Catch A Break
Straw’s themes — involving systems failing people andbureaucracyhaving a tangible social impact — are clear from early on, but as the plot and Janiyah’s psyche unravel, so too does the social services hellscape at hand. Multiple systems are seen failing Janiyah (either in her head or literally), including Child Protective Services, healthcare, and the police system.
Even the bank system, with its requirements for ID and understaffing, is a nightmare for Janiyah. WhileStrawmay arguably have too many systems at hand,it makes the movie’s stakes feel incredibly real, as these are systems that real people navigate through.
6Straw’s Ticking Clock Adds To The Suspense
It Has A Driving Energy
Strawhas a linear structure that adds to its suspense. The movie takes place only over the course of one night, andthe bulk of its story centers around the multi-hour period in which Janiyah holds up the bank.
Even in this half of a day, there are multiple players working simultaneously to make sure nothing bad happens to the workers or other people in the bank setting. This structure creates a frenetic, driving energy that really movesStrawforward.The linearity adds to the stress evoked by the film, and Perry never gives viewers a break from the tension.
5The Bank-Hostage Set Piece Is Tense
There Is A Lot Going On
Strawhas a lot going on thematically and psychologically as it chronicles Janiyah’s story. But the film is also able to build tension on a plot level in the bank hostage situation.Strawstarts as a more dour drama and later becomes a full-onInside Manin scale.
There are the innocent bank patrons who feel the terrifying claustrophobia of the situation.
Multiple police officers are working to de-escalate this crisis, in partial collaboration with the bank manager, Nicole, and Janiyah herself. There are the innocent bank patrons whofeel the terrifying claustrophobia of the situation. There’s even a livestream element as the tale becomes more broadcast, increasing the scope.
4Tyler Perry’s Harshest Realism
And It Doesn’t Let Up
Perry himself has stated that whileStrawis not based on a true story, it’s inspired by the stresses that real people go through.This real-world basis is unsurprising when watching the film, as the movie isby far Perry’s biggest foray into realism.
Janiyah faces very tangible and harsh circumstances based on her life situation. She is in poverty, and undergoes very real-life consequences of not paying bills, including eviction and the inability to take out money from the bank. Janiyah’s boss also attempts to commit wage theft against her, highlighting the direness of the situation.
3Straw Is Incredibly Ambitious, Even If It Doesn’t Fully Work
It Shoots For The Stars
All of these elements do not fully tie together inStraw. The movie ultimately received mixed reviews,including a 44% Rotten Tomatoes score and a 56 on Metacritic. Despite these negative reviews, some of the positive comments have been praise of Henson and the film for its ambition.
It is undeniable that there is a lot at hand in Perry’s film, ashe plays around with story structure, intensity, realism, and other elements that are extremely heightened from his usual work.This makesStrawamong his most ambitious yet.
2Straw Is Already A Major Hit For Netflix
This Is Good For Perry
While Perry is prolific in terms of the volume of films he produces, they have not always been incredibly received. WhileStrawis getting mixed reviews,it is notable that the movie has been such a major hit for Netflix.
This global release fuels buzz about the film, and is important to the health of Perry’s overall relationship with Netflix.
The movie was not only a success in Perry’s home turf of the United States, butits first week saw it reach no. 1 in 26 countries, including Mexico, the United Kingdom, and South Africa. This global release fuels buzz about the film, and is important to the health of Perry’s overall relationship with Netflix.
1Straw Could Signal A Big Career Pivot For Tyler Perry
But It Could Be An Uphill Climb
Overall, the most surprising element ofStrawisthat it could signal a big turn in Perry’s career.Strawis not just a drama, but it is incredibly tense. So far, Perry has not completely abandoned comedy in his career, as he recently created a comedy-drama series calledDivorced Sistas. Still, making a drama, especially one this intense, sets new expectations as to what he is capable of. The global hit status could further incentivize the creator to make more dramas.
As Perry potentially transitions into new genre territory, he will have to work hard to be taken seriously.Strawshows that he is ambitious when it comes to genre tropes, but the reviews also show that he has significant gaps when it comes to maintaining a high caliber in this genre. Shifting to drama would be a fascinating turn from a multihyphenate talent best known for theMadeamovies, but it is one that critics might warm up to slowly.
