Common Sense Media Review
By JK Sooja
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Tons of graphic violence, gore, blood in brutal action film.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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The Shadow Strays
What's the Story?
In THE SHADOW STRAYS, 13 (Aurora Ribero) is a young member of a secretive assassin group that works in the shadows. Trained by ruthless and unwavering mentors, she decides to defect in order to save a young boy from brutal gangsters. Unfortunately, by doing this, 13 now has criminals, gangsters, and her own assassin mentors hunting her. Will she get out alive?
Is It Any Good?
The action, fighting, and brutality are all incredibly creative and vicious in this bloody action film. Many violent sequences, deaths, and kills in The Shadow Strays will elicit out-loud exclamations. Directed by Timo Tjahjanto (The Big 4, Nobody 2), this gory action film is absolutely packed with amazing set pieces, fight scenes, and fight choreography. And the decision to pair up with fight choreographer and stunt performer Muhammad Irfan from Raid: The Redemption and The Raid 2 fame turns out to be a wonderful partnership. Irfan goes all out in this film, and it might be his best work yet. Every fight scene is brutal, inventive, and captivating, if you can stomach the gore and injury detail. Additionally, the lead performances are great, from Aurora Ribero's complex lead role to the maniacal ruthlessness of many of the lead villains.
The film isn't perfect, though, and it overstays its welcome at two and a half hours long. A side narrative enters here and there (and in the end) that could have easily just been entirely cut, which would have shortened this movie down to a tauter and more palatable two hours. Also, some of the nameless extras who get gunned or sliced down seem to too often just stand around in the wide open, just waiting to be shot, impaled, cut, sliced, hit, or killed. But every one-on-one fight scene is absolutely thrilling. Overall, even though this movie is too long, sometimes feels like overkill, and commits the common error of "why didn't the villain just kill the hero in this moment?" most fans of the genre will love the intricate and innovative violence on display. It's just not for kids.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in action movies. Did any of the violence in The Shadow Strays surprise you? What do you think about this film's over-the-top violence, gore, and brutality?
Why do you think 13 began having second thoughts about her identity?
Did you like the ending? Why, or why not?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : October 17, 2024
- Cast : Aurora Ribero , Andri Mashadi , Kristo Immanuel , Adipati Dolken
- Director : Timo Tjahjanto
- Inclusion Information : Asian Movie Director(s) , Southeast Asian Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Asian Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Run time : 145 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : August 14, 2025
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