Hola What’s Hot Fam,
Tyler Perry’s Straw on Netflix is a slow-burning hostage drama with surprising emotional depth, standout performances, and a twist that will have you replaying scenes in your head. At the center of it all is Taraji P. Henson, who delivers a gut-wrenching portrayal of Janiyah—a mother pushed to the edge by grief, medical debt, and a string of injustices that feel all too familiar.
Let’s start with the obvious: Taraji ate. From her natural look to the quiet desperation behind her eyes, she embodied a woman who’s lost everything and is trying to hold on to something—anything—that still feels real. Add Teyana Taylor into the mix, who gives a locked-in performance as her no-nonsense sister, and Sherri Shepherd’s unexpected but deeply grounded role, and the cast lineup alone is worth the watch.
Straw doesn’t waste time trying to make Janiyah palatable—it makes her real. And that’s where this movie shines. The film leans into the complexities of grief and survival, especially as a Black single mother navigating a broken healthcare system and a society that often sees you as a threat before a person. Themes around kindness, grace, and the silent battles people carry alone are threaded throughout the film without getting too preachy. You feel Janiyah’s anger. You feel her panic. And when she finally pulls the trigger on that rude, disrespectful bank manager? Listen—no one condones it, but… we understood.
Now, let’s talk about that twist. Turns out, Janiyah’s daughter—who we meet in the very first scene—has been dead the entire time. Yes. Dead. And Perry actually pulls it off. While this kind of reveal has been overdone in recent years, Straw keeps it fresh by subtly hiding the clues in plain sight. No one else ever speaks to the daughter. Yet, because of Taraji’s performance and the pacing, you don’t clock it until the rug is snatched out from under you.
However, Straw isn’t perfect. Tessa (played by a very talented actress) is hands-down one of the most annoying characters in the movie. Every scene with her had me yelling at the screen. Yes, she’s scared, but sis escalated everything and made the situation way worse than it needed to be.
There’s also a confusing dream sequence where it looks like the FBI shoots Janiyah… only for it to be fake. It felt like Perry tried to double-down on the tension, but the scene didn’t quite land. And while the film had a strong emotional arc, it left me wanting more closure. What happened to Janiyah? Was she sentenced? Where does she go from here now that her purpose—her daughter—is gone?
Still, Straw is gripping, timely, and heartbreakingly human. It forces us to consider how easily a person can snap when constantly pushed aside, ignored, or disrespected. It’s claustrophobic at times, given how much takes place inside the bank, but the tension never lets up.
🔥 Rating: 4 out of 5 flames
Let me know what you thought of Straw in the comments—and don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more raw reviews.