Runtime: 144 minutes
Directed by: Timo Tjahjanto
Starring: Aurora Ribero, Hana Malasan, Taskya Namya, Agra Piliang, Andri Mashadi, Kristo Immanuel
From: Netflix
Even if I’ve experienced fatigue with this particular genre, The Shadow Strays is still a pretty good time. It’s another in the John Wick genre, this time featuring a 17-year-old girl killer as part of a secret cabal of assassins. Of course, it is wacky that she’s still in training & a mission in Japan gets flubbed when we later see her in Jakarta with the main plot and she’s wrecking multiple dudes.
It’s a basic story where 13-of course they all have codenames-is on timeout in Jakarta when she meets a young boy who has a druggie mom. Naturally, shady characters are a part of mom’s life. 13 becomes friendly with the boy, then things happen… as it’s a Timo Tjahjanto joint, the proceedings become rather bloody & graphic. Not every aspect of the story I loved, to describe some of the CG as “lousy” is my painting it with a kind brush and it did not need to be almost 2 ½ hours long.
However, those watching a Timo Tjahjanto action film are most interested in the carnage and all the bloodletting. In that regard, while it’s not as epic (or graphic) as The Night Comes for Us, otherwise there are several moments where digital blood is sprayed on the camera and there is more than a sufficient amount of graphic moments. The attempts at world-building weren’t always successful but the main story was easier to be enthralled by. I suspended my disbelief & accepted Aurora Ribero wrecking dudes and 13’s personal struggles. In addition, it was incredibly brutal & visceral.
Those that enjoy the Indonesian action-especially from the director-probably will be satisfied by this latest Netflix effort.
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