If you’ve never heard of the name Timo Tjahjanto (The Night Comes for Us; The Big 4) then there is something you need to fix, immediately. One of the most exciting directors to exist today, he never misses and continues to write and direct some of the most fun, entertaining, over-the-top, and graphic movies and segments to grace the small or large screens, always delivering a good time. His newest, The Shadow Strays, continues to deliver on this platitude that Tjahjanto has created for himself and continues to defy expectations. There is not an ounce of this movie that feels as long as its 145-minute run time and it speaks to the creativity Tjahjanto packs into the script he wrote and the cast he assembled, making it feel like a brisk 90. The Shadow Strays is truly an enjoyable and practically brilliant action thriller.
Aurora Ribero as 13 / Nomi in THE SHADOW STRAYS. Photo Credit/Courtesy of Netflix. © 2024 Netflix, Inc.
The film opens on a blood bath, quite literally, as a group of assassins are taking out a gathering of yakuza no-named goons, and the deaths are intense and graphic. While the yakuza members are being slaughtered, an innocent bystander gets caught in the crossfire and one of the assassins, Agent 13 (Aurora Ribero), can’t comprehend the accident that occurred and the more veteran Agent Umbra (Hana Malasan) has to step in and finish what they set out to do. While the leader of the assassins is annoyed and displeased with 13’s choices, they force her to the sidelines, relocate her, and make her try and reclaim her killer instinct. She’s not pleased with this, but doesn’t know what else to do but obey, until Monji (Ali Fikry), her neighbor watches his mother get murdered. When Monji is abducted by the same people, 13 takes it upon herself to save him, even if it means going against the directives from her superiors.
Ali Fikry as Monji in THE SHADOW STRAYS. Photo Credit/Courtesy of Netflix. © 2024 Netflix, Inc.
And this breaking to do her own mission is the heart and soul of the story. Someone familiar with Timo Tjahjanto’s work will expect this to be a singular standalone movie as those are what he tends to make, but The Shadow Strays does a lot of world-building, establishing a world that may continue on past this film. This isn’t something that deters from the film itself, but it is something nitpicky given Tjahjanto’s previous works.
Hana Pitrashata Malasan as Umbra in THE SHADOW STRAYS. Photo Credit/Courtesy of Netflix. © 2024 Netflix, Inc.
While there are a lot of nameless people (yakuza included) in The Shadow Strays, the film hangs on and focuses on Aurora Ribero (Ali & Ratu Ratu Queens) and Ali Fikry (24 Hours with Gaspar) and their chemistry. Despite the fact that there is nothing really tying these two characters together outside of 13 wearing her heart on her sleeve despite being an assassin, they are the life blood of this bloody action thriller. Their chemistry of sibling-like love for one another and protection is unlike anything else and is the driving force behind the story and characters throughout the movie. While audiences may tune it for the adrenaline-fueled action sequences, the more nuanced relationship and exploration of humanity throughout bring this up a pace from just another action flick.
Kristo Immanuel as Jeki in THE SHADOW STRAYS. Photo Credit/Courtesy of Netflix. © 2024 Netflix, Inc.
A movie that is so entranced by and focused on scenery, action set pieces, and choreography, needs to have all three of those nailed to perfection. Thankfully, Tjahjanto’s direction allows all of these factors to come together, including the fight choreography and stunt coordination from Muhammad Irfan (The Raid: Redemption; The Raid: Berandal), for the moments to be captured effortlessly. There is so much to enjoy and love about the brutal violence that is jam-packed into The Shadow Strays that even the most reclusive cinephile will come into the light to watch Tjahjanto’s newest adventure, whether that be in theatres or on Netflix.
Screening during Toronto International Film Festival 2024.
Available on Netflix U.S. October 17th, 2024.
For more information, head to the official Toronto International Film Festival 2024 The Shadow Strays webpage.
Final Score: 4 out of 5.
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Categories: In Theaters, Reviews, streaming
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