Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Creepy psychological thriller with violence, language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Strung
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In STRUNG, Laila (Chloe Bailey) is a talented young violinist aspiring to a position with the L.A. Philharmonic. Out of the blue, she's hired as a music tutor by Audra (Lynn Whitfield), the wealthy mother of Imani, widow of a recently deceased well-known rap star. Laila ignores all the telltale alarm bells—extremely high pay, a controlling employer, a traumatized child. She's required to live in the family mansion and turn over her car keys. Zuri (Romy Woods), the young girl she is to teach, is so traumatized after having found her father's dead body, that she covers her face most of the time with a tribal African mask. Her mom Imani (Ann Diop), remarried now to the flirtatious Marcus (Lucien Laviscount) and pregnant with their child, is haughty and dismissive, prone to oversharing about her sex life, and totally unaware that her husband cheats on her. In no time, Laila unearths a financial scam, a secret affair, and a murderous plot.
Is It Any Good?
Tyler Perry produced Strung, and that fact will mean different things to different viewers. He's generally good for a raunchy comedy, but in the realm of suspense and murder mystery, this movie suggests that Hitchcock he is not. This film is clunky and melodramatic. A strange directorial choice is made when a character trying to approach someone to warn of danger is directed to do so as if she were a crazy person. Later she turns out to be perfectly sane. So what was all the drama and posturing for? The director and writer fail to build suspense. Horror movie music, creaky noises, and echoes are poor substitutes for skillful storytelling, good dialogue, and adroit pacing.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the way that setting the proper tone can lead to a movie's failure or success. What is this movie's tone? Realism? Horror? Does it work for the material? Why or why not?
How was Laila portrayed? Was she a positive character? Why or why not? Why is it important to see nuanced representations of women on screen?
What is the best way to deal with a difficult boss? What could Laila have done differently?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : June 26, 2026
- Cast : Lynn Whitfield , Chlöe Bailey , Lucien Laviscount
- Director : Malcolm D. Lee
- Studio : Peacock
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Arts ( Concert ) , Family Stories
- Run time : 119 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : July 15, 2026
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