The Strays Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Mom runs away from her old life, but her past comes back to haunt her and ruin the lives of her two families, then she runs away again, because apparently, some habits die hard.

🍿 The Strays: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Cheryl’s Departure and Neve’s New Life

The film opens with Cheryl, a struggling woman expressing her frustrations about discrimination and financial hardships. Despite being a successful salesperson, she feels trapped and undervalued. Driven by a desire for a better life, she packs her belongings, abandons her responsibilities, and leaves a note indicating she’s going to the hair salon, signaling her departure from her old life.

A Suburban Facade

Years later, Cheryl has transformed into Neve, a seemingly successful deputy headmistress living a comfortable suburban life with her white husband, Ian, and their two biracial children, Mary and Sebastian. Neve appears to have embraced a ‘white’ lifestyle, distancing herself from her past and cultural heritage. However, cracks begin to appear as Neve becomes increasingly paranoid, sensing she’s being watched.

The Strays Arrive

Two strangers, Carl and Dione, enter Neve’s life. Carl takes a job as a janitor at her children’s school, while Dione works at Ian’s office. Their presence triggers Neve’s anxiety and paranoia, as she suspects they are connected to her past. Flashbacks reveal Carl and Dione meticulously planning their infiltration into Neve’s life and developing relationships with her children, creating further disruption and unease.

Confrontation and Revelation

At a fundraising gala hosted at Neve’s home, the tension reaches a boiling point. Neve confronts Carl and Dione, who reveal themselves as her abandoned children, Marvin and Abigail. The revelation exposes Neve’s carefully constructed facade and throws her life into chaos. The truth about her past and the abandonment of her children comes to light, impacting her relationships and exposing the secrets she has tried so hard to conceal.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Neve (Cheryl) (Ashley Madekwe): A woman who abandons her past and children to create a new, privileged life in the suburbs, but is haunted by the reappearance of her abandoned children.
• Marvin (Carl) (Jorden Myrie): Neve’s vengeful son who seeks to disrupt her new life and confront her for abandoning him and his sister.
• Abigail (Dione) (Bukky Bakray): Neve’s daughter, also seeking revenge, who infiltrates her mother’s life by befriending her half-sister.
• Ian (Justin Salinger): Neve’s husband who is unaware of her past and becomes a victim of the escalating conflict.
• Mary (Maria Almeida): Neve’s daughter from her second marriage who is caught in the middle of the conflict between her mother and half-siblings.
• Sebastian (Samuel Paul Small): Neve’s son from her second marriage, who is easily manipulated and drawn into violence by his half-brother.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Neve: “You have to understand, their father was a bad man.” – Neve attempts to justify abandoning her children from her previous relationship to her current husband, Ian.
• Ian: “What did you expect, that they’d slot right in?” – Ian confronts Neve about her inability to connect with her estranged children.
• Marvin: “It’s Dione’s birthday; we should celebrate as a family.” – Marvin’s sinister remark during the home invasion underscores the strained family dynamic and manipulative nature of their intentions.

💰Box Office

• Budget: N/A
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: N/A

💥 The Strays Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I watched ‘The Strays’ last night, and honestly, I’m still processing it. The beginning had me hooked, but then it just got weirder and weirder. Ashley Madekwe was fantastic; you could feel her character’s desperation. That ending though? I literally gasped. It’s one of those movies that sticks with you and makes you wonder what would you do if you were in that situation.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Viewers interested in social thrillers”
  • “Fans of movies exploring themes of race and class”
  • “Those who enjoy suspenseful stories with complex characters”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Strong language”
  • “Violence”
  • “Themes of child abandonment”
  • “Suggestive content”
  • “Mature themes”

Professional Reviews

• Variety: “The film explores themes of identity, race, and class with mixed results. While the performances are strong, the narrative often feels disjointed, struggling to fully realize its potential as a social thriller. The ending, in particular, leaves many questions unanswered.
• IndieWire: “While ‘The Strays’ has moments of suspense, it ultimately falls short of delivering a cohesive and impactful story. The film’s attempts at social commentary are overshadowed by plot inconsistencies and underdeveloped characters, making it a frustrating viewing experience.

Audience Reactions

The film evokes uncomfortable feelings due to its themes of identity, motherhood, and difficult choices.: Many viewers found the ending shocking and polarizing, sparking debates about the mother’s motivations and the children’s actions.

Overall Consensus: The movie started out with potential, with the ending either being loved or hated. Its main strength lies in its exploration of identity and family secrets, even though a lot of viewers found plot holes.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The Strays is Nathaniel Martello-White’s directorial and screenwriting debut.”
• “The film explores themes of identity, class, race, and the complexities of family relationships.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Strays?

The Strays is currently available to stream exclusively on Netflix. Unfortunately, it is not available for purchase or rental on platforms like Prime Video, Apple TV, or Google Play Movies.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Strays, you might like these similar films:

• Get Out (2017): Both films explore themes of race, class, and social anxiety with a strong focus on psychological horror.
• Us (2019): Features a family terrorized by unknown doppelgangers, similar to the suspense and home invasion elements in ‘The Strays’.
• The Stepford Wives (1975): Explores the unsettling nature of suburban perfection and the hidden darkness beneath a veneer of idyllic life.
• Parasite (2019): Deals with class disparities and the intrusion of outsiders into a wealthy family’s life, creating tension and conflict.

🛒 The Strays Related Products

• Wigs for Black Women Human Hair Bob Wigs: Inspired by Neve’s changing hairstyles, this bob wig allows you to explore different looks and express your own identity and has adjustable straps.
• Scrabble Board Game: Relive the tense Scrabble scene with this classic board game. Perfect for family game nights, it adds a touch of suspense and strategic thinking.
• The Strays Movie Poster: High-quality print of the film’s original poster. This poster will be an excellent addition to any film lover’s collection.
• The Vanishing Half: A Novel: A compelling novel exploring themes of identity, race, and family secrets, similar to those explored in ‘The Strays,’ but in book format.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Strays features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Voodoo in My Blood” – performed by Massive Attack
• “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)” – performed by Kate Bush

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Strays | A Look Inside Featurette

Ever wondered how they pulled off some of the crazy scenes in Strays? This featurette gives you a peek behind the curtain with the cast and crew! Honestly, it’s hilarious seeing how much fun they had making this movie.

Strays – Movie Review

Thinking about seeing Strays? Jeremy Jahns gives a pretty honest review of the film, highlighting both the good and the bad. It’s worth a watch before you buy a ticket to see if the humor is your thing!

✨ Rate