There is a great story of directorial ingenuity related to Willem Dafoe's performance in "American Psycho." Mary Haddon asked him to play his scenes as a private eye investigating the disappearance of Patrick Bateman's colleague in three different ways. First, he would act like he was totally clueless; then as if he was suspicious; and lastly, as if he was absolutely certain the psychotic yuppie was involved. She then cut the different takes together to keep audiences wrong-footed about how much his character knew.
"The Strays" plays like writer-director Nathaniel Martello-White attempted a similar trick, helming three different versions of the same story in a different genre, then taking an act from each. What we get is a frustratingly uneven movie that is scarier as psychological horror, works better as a social drama, and flunks completely as a home invasion thriller.
The influence of Jordan Peele hangs heavily over the film.
"The Strays" plays like writer-director Nathaniel Martello-White attempted a similar trick, helming three different versions of the same story in a different genre, then taking an act from each. What we get is a frustratingly uneven movie that is scarier as psychological horror, works better as a social drama, and flunks completely as a home invasion thriller.
The influence of Jordan Peele hangs heavily over the film.
- 5/31/2023
- by Lee Adams
- Slash Film
This article contains The Strays spoilers.
Netflix is dishing out another horror original, and this time it’s the directorial debut of Nathaniel Martello-White’s The Strays. Feeling like a mix between Parasite and Get Out, the story follows one woman’s picture-perfect life in the suburbs that’s torn apart by the ghosts of her past and her own internalized prejudices.
Ashley Madekwe stars as Cheryl, a Black woman who begins the movie by seemingly escaping an abusive relationship while being on the bottom rung of the housing ladder. It’s a generally miserable existence that’s all-too-common in the United Kingdom. After an opening sequence where she leaves a note about “stepping out,” the story picks up some “years later,” and Cheryl (now going by the name of Neve) has found the grass is greener on the other side. She’s settled into family life and holds down...
Netflix is dishing out another horror original, and this time it’s the directorial debut of Nathaniel Martello-White’s The Strays. Feeling like a mix between Parasite and Get Out, the story follows one woman’s picture-perfect life in the suburbs that’s torn apart by the ghosts of her past and her own internalized prejudices.
Ashley Madekwe stars as Cheryl, a Black woman who begins the movie by seemingly escaping an abusive relationship while being on the bottom rung of the housing ladder. It’s a generally miserable existence that’s all-too-common in the United Kingdom. After an opening sequence where she leaves a note about “stepping out,” the story picks up some “years later,” and Cheryl (now going by the name of Neve) has found the grass is greener on the other side. She’s settled into family life and holds down...
- 2/24/2023
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
Nathaniel Martello-White’s feature debut The Strays is a social thriller that lacks bite, discipline, and a third act. When the film abruptly ended, I waited for Ashton Kutcher to pop from behind my sofa to announce a film critic Punk’d spin-off, where they cut to a movie’s credits twenty minutes too early. It’s an incomplete experience that haphazardly comments on otherwise significant talking points about systemic racial divides and skin-color privileges. Martello-White writes from a place of feel-bad frustration, but all that appears is the mistranslation of biased classism vibes into a home invasion mold.
Ashley Madekwe leads as a complicated housewife everyone knows as Neve, a light-skinned Black woman who embraces wigs, makeup applications, and the comforts of white suburbia. She’s married to posh and proper caucasian husband Ian (Justin Salinger) — imagine a role Michael Sheen would play — and earns a glistening reputation as...
Ashley Madekwe leads as a complicated housewife everyone knows as Neve, a light-skinned Black woman who embraces wigs, makeup applications, and the comforts of white suburbia. She’s married to posh and proper caucasian husband Ian (Justin Salinger) — imagine a role Michael Sheen would play — and earns a glistening reputation as...
- 2/23/2023
- by Matt Donato
- bloody-disgusting.com
The Strays is a thriller movie written and directed by Nathaniel Martello-White starring Ashley Madekwe.
The Strays appears to be a classic tv film with an actress that has been in hundreds of these and, however, the film has a look and theme that is more film centered close to Don´t Worry Darling or Us (the Jordan Peele movie) in its subject, although it is more English in its aesthetics.
Movie Review The Strays (2023)
This movie poses interesting considerations in a thriller, a little like the “new horror” of Peele, with intrigue that basically revolves around a greater vindication, which is entertainment in the form of a nightmare in English suburbia.
However, the great director with his ironies and suspense formulas is absent in this pic. Here the suspense is more horror and the intentions posed in the first third of the movie (especially in the look of the...
The Strays appears to be a classic tv film with an actress that has been in hundreds of these and, however, the film has a look and theme that is more film centered close to Don´t Worry Darling or Us (the Jordan Peele movie) in its subject, although it is more English in its aesthetics.
Movie Review The Strays (2023)
This movie poses interesting considerations in a thriller, a little like the “new horror” of Peele, with intrigue that basically revolves around a greater vindication, which is entertainment in the form of a nightmare in English suburbia.
However, the great director with his ironies and suspense formulas is absent in this pic. Here the suspense is more horror and the intentions posed in the first third of the movie (especially in the look of the...
- 2/22/2023
- by Martin Cid
- Martin Cid Magazine - Movies
The final full week of February is upon us, and with it comes seven more brand new horror movies – including the at-home releases of this year’s two big theatrical horror offerings.
And one of those movies will be a bit bloodier this time around…
Here’s all the new horror arriving February 21 – February 24, 2023!
M. Night Shyamalan‘s latest thriller, Universal’s Knock at the Cabin was released in theaters on February 3, and we’ve learned that the film is Now Available on PVOD at home!
You can rent Knock at the Cabin for $19.99 or digitally purchase the film for $24.99.
Shyamalan’s Knock at the Cabin has made $47.9 million worldwide in theaters these past several weeks, with $31 million of that worldwide total made here in the United States.
In Knock at the Cabin, “While vacationing at a remote cabin, a young girl and her parents are taken hostage by four...
And one of those movies will be a bit bloodier this time around…
Here’s all the new horror arriving February 21 – February 24, 2023!
M. Night Shyamalan‘s latest thriller, Universal’s Knock at the Cabin was released in theaters on February 3, and we’ve learned that the film is Now Available on PVOD at home!
You can rent Knock at the Cabin for $19.99 or digitally purchase the film for $24.99.
Shyamalan’s Knock at the Cabin has made $47.9 million worldwide in theaters these past several weeks, with $31 million of that worldwide total made here in the United States.
In Knock at the Cabin, “While vacationing at a remote cabin, a young girl and her parents are taken hostage by four...
- 2/21/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Netflix’s latest dabble in the psychological thriller arena, ‘The Strays’ may come from British writer/director Nathaniel Martello-White. However, everything about this thematic feature could lay on the same level as a Jordan Peele offering.
The movie follows the Deputy head of a private school Neve (Ashley Madekwe) lives with her husband Ian (Justin Salinger), and teenage children, Sebastian (Samuel Small) and Mary (Maria Almeida) in a nice house in an idyllic country town. But her carefully crafted upper-middle-class life begins to unravel with the arrival of two shadowy figures from her past, Abigail (Bukky Bakray) and Marvin (Jorden Myrie).
Related: The cast of The Strays hit the Red Carpet for the film’s premiere
We spoke to the film’s leading cast members Ashley Madekwe and Jorden Myrie on the chilling and horrifying storyline.
The Strays hits Netflix on Wednesday the 22nd of February.
The post The Strays...
The movie follows the Deputy head of a private school Neve (Ashley Madekwe) lives with her husband Ian (Justin Salinger), and teenage children, Sebastian (Samuel Small) and Mary (Maria Almeida) in a nice house in an idyllic country town. But her carefully crafted upper-middle-class life begins to unravel with the arrival of two shadowy figures from her past, Abigail (Bukky Bakray) and Marvin (Jorden Myrie).
Related: The cast of The Strays hit the Red Carpet for the film’s premiere
We spoke to the film’s leading cast members Ashley Madekwe and Jorden Myrie on the chilling and horrifying storyline.
The Strays hits Netflix on Wednesday the 22nd of February.
The post The Strays...
- 2/21/2023
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
A new Netflix thriller came to capital yesterday as The Strays held its UK Premiere at the BFI Southbank. Written and directed by Nathaniel Martello-White, the film stars Ashley Madekwe, Jorden Myrie, Bukky Bakray, Samuel Paul Small, Maria Almeida and Justin Salinger.
The Strays launches globally on Netflix on February 22nd. Colin Hart and Ethan Hart were on the red carpet, here are their interviews.
The Strays Premiere Interviews
Plot:
Deputy head of a private school Neve (Ashley Madekwe) lives with her husband Ian (Justin Salinger), and teenage children, Sebastian (Samuel Small) and Mary (Maria Almeida) in a nice house in an idyllic country town. But her carefully crafted upper-middle-class life begins to unravel with the arrival of two shadowy figures from her past, Abigail (BAFTA Award winner Bukky Bakray) and Marvin (Jorden Myrie).
The post The Strays Premiere Interviews – the cast & crew of Netflix’s dark new thriller tell all appeared first on HeyUGuys.
The Strays launches globally on Netflix on February 22nd. Colin Hart and Ethan Hart were on the red carpet, here are their interviews.
The Strays Premiere Interviews
Plot:
Deputy head of a private school Neve (Ashley Madekwe) lives with her husband Ian (Justin Salinger), and teenage children, Sebastian (Samuel Small) and Mary (Maria Almeida) in a nice house in an idyllic country town. But her carefully crafted upper-middle-class life begins to unravel with the arrival of two shadowy figures from her past, Abigail (BAFTA Award winner Bukky Bakray) and Marvin (Jorden Myrie).
The post The Strays Premiere Interviews – the cast & crew of Netflix’s dark new thriller tell all appeared first on HeyUGuys.
- 2/21/2023
- by Jon Lyus
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Love is in the air this February, particularly regarding horror. The month is packed with theatrical darlings finding new homes on streaming, brand-new originals, and unearthed deep cuts. February has everything from polarizing indie darlings to sleeper hits and beyond.
Here are ten noteworthy horror titles available for streaming in February 2023 on some of the most popular streaming services, along with when/where you can watch them.
The Loved Ones – Paramount+
What’s February without horror romances? This brutal feature introduces Lola, who wants to be a princess and find Prince Charming. She decides that Brent is the one and invites him to the school dance. When he rejects her offer, and she sees him with another girl, Lola decides she’ll get what she wants. Lola doesn’t take rejection lightly, and things get downright brutal. The truth is that maybe no one will love her as much as daddy,...
Here are ten noteworthy horror titles available for streaming in February 2023 on some of the most popular streaming services, along with when/where you can watch them.
The Loved Ones – Paramount+
What’s February without horror romances? This brutal feature introduces Lola, who wants to be a princess and find Prince Charming. She decides that Brent is the one and invites him to the school dance. When he rejects her offer, and she sees him with another girl, Lola decides she’ll get what she wants. Lola doesn’t take rejection lightly, and things get downright brutal. The truth is that maybe no one will love her as much as daddy,...
- 2/1/2023
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
"There are people out to hurt us!" Netflix has unveiled an official trailer for a British psychological thriller titled The Strays, marking the feature directorial debut of actor Nathaniel Martello-White. He wrote and directed this film, which will be available for streaming this February on Netflix is anyone is intrigued. "A perfect life… a perfect lie… An upper-middle-class woman's perfectly crafted life begins to unravel with the arrival of two shadowy figures in her town." A Black woman's meticulously crafted life of privilege starts to fall apart when two strangers show up in her quaint suburb and begin to mess with her mind. The film stars Ashley Madekwe, Justin Salinger, Michael Warburton, Caroline Martin, Bukky Bakray, Maria Almeida, and Samuel Paul Small. This looks like a made-for-tv suburbia thriller, lacking any style or any original ideas, borrowing so much from Jordan Peele's mind. Might grab the attention of a few viewers.
- 1/30/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Launching globally on Netflix on February 22, the original thriller The Strays has received an official trailer today, and it ratchets up the tension to expose the perfect life as a perfect lie.
Nathaniel Martello-White (Small Axe: Mangrove, Deceit, I Hate Suzie) wrote and directed The Strays, which stars Ashley Madekwe, Bukky Bakray (Rocks), Jorden Myrie (Stephen), Samuel Small (Bonus Track), Maria Almeida, and Justin Salinge.
In Netflix’s The Strays, “Deputy head of a private school Neve (Ashley Madekwe) lives with her husband Ian (Justin Salinger), and teenage children, Sebastian (Samuel Small) and Mary (Maria Almeida) in a nice house in an idyllic country town. But her carefully crafted upper-middle-class life begins to unravel with the arrival of two shadowy figures from her past, Abigail (BAFTA Award winner Bukky Bakray) and Marvin (Jorden Myrie).”
The Netflix Original film is produced by Valentina Brazzini, Tristan Goligher (Supernova), and Rob Watson (The Power...
Nathaniel Martello-White (Small Axe: Mangrove, Deceit, I Hate Suzie) wrote and directed The Strays, which stars Ashley Madekwe, Bukky Bakray (Rocks), Jorden Myrie (Stephen), Samuel Small (Bonus Track), Maria Almeida, and Justin Salinge.
In Netflix’s The Strays, “Deputy head of a private school Neve (Ashley Madekwe) lives with her husband Ian (Justin Salinger), and teenage children, Sebastian (Samuel Small) and Mary (Maria Almeida) in a nice house in an idyllic country town. But her carefully crafted upper-middle-class life begins to unravel with the arrival of two shadowy figures from her past, Abigail (BAFTA Award winner Bukky Bakray) and Marvin (Jorden Myrie).”
The Netflix Original film is produced by Valentina Brazzini, Tristan Goligher (Supernova), and Rob Watson (The Power...
- 1/27/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Netflix has debuted the trailer for the psychological thriller framed as a modern fairy tale ‘The Strays.’
An upper-middle-class woman’s perfectly crafted life begins to unravel with the arrival of two shadowy figures in her town.
The movie is the feature debut of writer-director Nathaniel Martello-White, it stars Ashley Mandekwe, as well as Bukky Bakray (Rocks), Jorden Myrie (Stephen – the dramatisation of the aftermath of the Stephen Lawrence killing), Samuel Small (also the lead in ‘Bonus Track’ – the new film Josh O’Connor has written) and newcomer Maria Almeida.
Also in trailers – “We crash landed on an uncharted planet…” New trailer drops for ’65’
The post Trailer drops for psychological thriller ‘The Strays’ appeared first on HeyUGuys.
An upper-middle-class woman’s perfectly crafted life begins to unravel with the arrival of two shadowy figures in her town.
The movie is the feature debut of writer-director Nathaniel Martello-White, it stars Ashley Mandekwe, as well as Bukky Bakray (Rocks), Jorden Myrie (Stephen – the dramatisation of the aftermath of the Stephen Lawrence killing), Samuel Small (also the lead in ‘Bonus Track’ – the new film Josh O’Connor has written) and newcomer Maria Almeida.
Also in trailers – “We crash landed on an uncharted planet…” New trailer drops for ’65’
The post Trailer drops for psychological thriller ‘The Strays’ appeared first on HeyUGuys.
- 1/27/2023
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Here’s a first-look image from The Strays, the debut feature of filmmaker Nathaniel Martello-White.
The pic is the fourth commissioned by Netflix’s Director of UK Features, Fiona Lamptey, and shot in 2021 following The Wonder, I Came By and I Used to be Famous. The streamer will debut the movie in 2022.
Starring Ashley Madekwe (County Lines), Bukky Bakray (Rocks), Jorden Myrie (Stephen), Justin Salinger (Hanna), Samuel Small (The Nest) and newcomer Maria Almeida, the film chronicles an upper-middle-class woman’s perfectly crafted life beginning to unravel after the arrival of two shadowy figures in her town.
It was shot across London, Suffolk and Berkshire between September and November 2021. Producers are Tristan Goligher and Valentina Brazzini for The Bureau alongside Rob Watson for Air Street.
Martello-White has acting credits including Guerrilla, BBC series Collateral and ITV’s Deceit. He is an established name in theater following his own plays Torn and Blackta.
The pic is the fourth commissioned by Netflix’s Director of UK Features, Fiona Lamptey, and shot in 2021 following The Wonder, I Came By and I Used to be Famous. The streamer will debut the movie in 2022.
Starring Ashley Madekwe (County Lines), Bukky Bakray (Rocks), Jorden Myrie (Stephen), Justin Salinger (Hanna), Samuel Small (The Nest) and newcomer Maria Almeida, the film chronicles an upper-middle-class woman’s perfectly crafted life beginning to unravel after the arrival of two shadowy figures in her town.
It was shot across London, Suffolk and Berkshire between September and November 2021. Producers are Tristan Goligher and Valentina Brazzini for The Bureau alongside Rob Watson for Air Street.
Martello-White has acting credits including Guerrilla, BBC series Collateral and ITV’s Deceit. He is an established name in theater following his own plays Torn and Blackta.
- 12/16/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
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