Still not satisfied with brutal action films? Netflix has released yet another one titled The Shadow Strays, directed by our veteran filmmaker, Timo Tjahjanto. We know him from his previous works on similarly brutal action films, such as Headshot (co-directed with Kimo Stamboel) and The Night Comes for Us. His latest film features Aurora Ribero, Hana Malasan, Taskya Namya, Agra Piliang, Andri Mashadi, and Chew Kin Wah. How brutal is this latest action flick from the filmmaker?
“13” (Ribero) is a tough assassin and a member of the elite group The Shadows. Due to a moment of carelessness, her mentor, Umbra (Malasan), excludes her from a sudden operation in Cambodia. Left behind, 13 returns to Jakarta, anxiously awaiting news from the office, which never seems to arrive. During this time, she inadvertently gets entangled in a conflict in her neighborhood, involving a young boy named Monji. Monji’s mother was murdered by a gang, and the boy seeks vengeance. Initially, 13 only intended to find the missing boy, but the situation turns out to be far more complicated and dangerous than she had anticipated.
Much like the Equalizer series starring Denzel Washington, the plot is similar—a professional assassin becomes involved in an unexpected case surrounding them. The plot is simple and exists primarily to serve as a vehicle for continuous brutal action scenes, similar to The Raid and The Night Comes for Us. For die-hard fans of those films, The Shadow Strays will provide immense satisfaction. There’s no need for deep thought; the plot flows non-stop from one action scene to the next, almost without pause. The director, known for his particular skills, expertly delivers these vicious action sequences. The brutality escalates with each scene, reaching a peak at the climax. For the sake of visual gratification, logic and common sense are often disregarded. If all the details were to be written here, it would take pages. But that’s unnecessary and irrelevant.
Small details that should matter are repeatedly set aside. Even amidst all the boundless violence and brutality, the film still attempts to “glorify” moral and human values. David Fincher’s exceptional film The Killer, released this year, seems to mock similar films that insert moral dilemmas while pretending to be self-righteous. Is there such a thing as a moral assassin? This is a complex and lengthy debate, especially in the “hitman” subgenre, which each follows different plot types—be it revenge, redemption, defection, or survival. The Shadow Strays ambitiously tries to incorporate all of these, but by placing the moral dilemma in an inappropriate position, it comes across as contrived.
There is no doubt about the director’s prowess in crafting brutal action scenes, but The Shadow Strays offers little beyond that, with a narrative that feels forced. This is a must-watch for fans of this type of action film. However, for others, it might feel overly exhausting and tiresome. Without a strong motive, the action, no matter how well-choreographed, feels bland. Recently, the Indian film Kill delivered a similarly brutal action sequence in a much more confined space. The difference is, Kill offers strong exposition and narrative motivation within a simple story. Its action sequences are consistently driven by causality, thanks to a solid script devoid of moral pretensions. Brutal action films like these now have a target audience that should not be underestimated. Hopefully, viewers and fans will eventually discern between action films that are merely entertaining and those of real quality.
