The Shadow Strays

If it weren't for a meandering third act I would have easily given this film 10 stars.

I don't know how this film is rating so poorly. This film is one spectacular scene after another. The choreography unique, brutal and beautiful. Beyond the action we have a run of the mill revenge plot but it works. The character motivations are simple but extremely effective. The Silat is the best I've seen since the Raid films.

As I mentioned before the final act is underwhelming. The pacing in the first two acts was amazing but everything breaks down near the end. Still if you are looking for a straight forward action film look no further.

"The Shadow Strays" is marked by its shocking gore and unrestrained, exaggerated violence, but it lacks depth. It follows the familiar trope of a skilled assassin who, weary of her secretive existence, risks everything to save someone she hardly knows.

Thirteen (Aurora Ribero), a 17-year-old assassin with a compassionate side, takes on a formidable Jakarta crime syndicate after they threaten her young neighbor, Monji (Ali Fikry). Monji's mother, Mirasti (Jesyca Marlein), was a sex worker exploited by the brutal pimp Haga (Agra Piliang), who is linked to the sleazy nightclub owner Ariel (Andri Mashadi) and his politically influential father, Soemitro (Arswendy Bening Swara). After Haga murders Monji's mother, Thirteen forms a bond with him and finds herself in a deadly game of cat and mouse with Haga, Ariel, and their associates. A series of gruesome and dramatic showdowns decimate their ranks.

The film drags on with relentless fighting and lacks the substance needed to unify its elements. While the cinematography is commendable, some early fight scenes are poorly executed, featuring adversaries lined up to be taken down one by one. This isn't the kind of movie I'll get excited for.

What The Shadow Strays lacks in coherence, depth and story is made up by the relentless, almost non-stop, action. There's plenty of blood squirting out of bodies, impossible fight scenes wrapped up in a rollercoaster of guns, swords and an occasional explosion.

If you desire intellectual stimulation, look elsewhere. The characters are two-dimensional, singularly focused on... in fact, I don't think we were even introduced to the characters' motivations. I'd go as far to suggest that the dialogue wasn't necessary, subtitles in my case as it is a non-English film.

Anyway, if a hypnotic opera of blood and action will help you relax, then sit back and enjoy.

First of all I can't believe this is an Indonesia movie. This movie have amazingly done fight scenes for an Indonesia movie. Full of blood and gore scenes. I liked this movie very much the start to the end. Recently I lose interest in the middle of every movies that I watch but this movie kept my interest to the end. If you like action movie then this is for you. Some people hesitates because this is Indonesia movie don't do that just jump into it. You will like it for sure. Some scenes doesn't make sense but most of the action movies have scenes like that right. This is an awesome movie 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Now this is awesome action movie. There was no such action movie since Raid 1-2. But it was more brutal then Raid's. This is not for those with weak stomachs , because here you have some scenes which can easily be part of some slasher horror. But don't get me wrong. This movie was not some meaningless violence flick. O no,he is much more then that. Storyline was very good for action movie and acting was great,especially from lead actors. Music is very good to .And I like this director,he is good. I like him since Macabre. He was mostly horror director,but then came When the Night Come For Us where he chainge his course and it was great turning. And now he gave us somenthing like this.

Action scenes are fantastic. Fighting coreography is great. One of the best fighting scenes since allways. So if you like action movies this is must watch for you!!!