Tyler Perry's Straw: Why You Should Watch and Think

A Narrative of Despair and Invisibility

Released on June 6, 2025, by Netflix, Straw is more than a psychological thriller. It's a cry for help.

Directed by Tyler Perry and starring Taraji P. Henson, the film delves into the emotional breakdown of a woman pushed to her limit, questioning how much a person can endure before breaking.

Official Trailer

The Film's Story and Screenplay Construction

The story follows Janiyah Wiltkinson, a single mother desperately trying to keep her daughter alive amidst a system that seems to conspire against her. What begins as a tense social drama gradually evolves into a disturbing portrait of mental health, guilt, and distorted reality.

The screenplay meticulously builds the accumulation of tragedies that befall Janiyah in less than 24 hours: eviction, job loss, her daughter's disappearance after being removed by social services, and, as if that weren't enough, an unjust criminal accusation following an act of self-defense.

It is at this point that the film transforms. Janiyah, armed, invades a bank. However, she is not there to commit a robbery, but to reclaim something she considers hers by right: the money from a delayed social benefit. The tension escalates with the arrival of SWAT, the press, and public commotion.

The situation turns into a spectacle, but what is truly at stake is the dignity of a woman on the verge of collapse.

Turning Point in the Screenplay: Between Trauma and Delirium

The film's most impactful moment occurs when the narrative veers away from reality. We discover that Aria, Janiyah's daughter, had already passed away before the central events of the plot.

All the moments with the girl that day were hallucinations of a grieving mother, unable to accept her loss.

This revelation is handled with sensitivity and pain. The viewer is confronted not only with the truth but with the brutality of untreated trauma.

It is at this point that Straw transcends the boundaries of suspense and asserts itself as a powerful social critique.

Taraji P. Henson delivers a raw, vulnerable, and profoundly human performance. Her Janiyah is neither a hero nor a villain, but a woman crushed by a system that offers her no escape.

Teyana Taylor also shines in the role of Detective Raymond, who seeks to understand the complexity behind the alleged criminal. Sherri Shepherd stands out as Nicole, the bank manager who becomes an unexpected ally.

The supporting cast contributes to the escalating tension, but it is in the relationship between these three women that the film finds its emotional core. The empathy between them creates room for nuances, avoiding easy caricatures.

Tyler Perry, known for combining social critique and entertainment, delivers perhaps his most mature project here. The direction avoids melodrama and opts for a restrained approach that values silences and expressions with great dramatic force.

Dara Taylor's soundtrack accentuates the atmosphere of tension and loss. The cinematography, in turn, uses cool tones and claustrophobic environments, reinforcing the feeling of physical and emotional entrapment.

Since its premiere, Straw has generated intense discussions about social inequality, mental health, and the limits of empathy. The film appears in Netflix's Top 10 in several countries and has been praised for its courageous and emotionally complex approach.

It is impossible to leave the experience indifferent. The film disturbs, provokes, and moves. Perhaps its greatest merit is precisely this: not offering easy answers, but demanding that the audience confront what they often prefer to ignore.

Critical Reception

With few reviews published so far, the film has already become one of the most talked-about on Netflix. On IMDb, Straw currently holds a rating of 7.0/10.

On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a moderate approval rating, showing a slight upward trend. We can imagine that if it follows the pattern of other controversial Tyler Perry films (with scores between 0% and 15% among critics), it is likely to generate divisions, especially for addressing heavy themes with a direct and sensitive approach.

Straw leads us to reflect on two uncomfortable truths.

The first is invisible mental health. The silent trauma experienced by Janiyah reminds us that many people carry emotional burdens without support, living on the edge without anyone noticing.

The second is social indifference. The film highlights how systems often fail to support those on the brink of collapse. It also shows us how society often ignores signs of despair until they become public tragedies.

We don't need to be on the verge of collapse to realize what is happening around us. Often, we silence problems by ignoring neighbors, colleagues, and even family members. Straw is an urgent invitation to empathy and action. We need to look at those around us with more attention.

• Original title: Straw

• Directed by: Tyler Perry

• Screenplay by: Tyler Perry

• Release: June 6, 2025 (Netflix)

• Genre: Psychological Thriller and Social Drama

• Running time: 1h45min

Main Cast:

• Taraji P. Henson as Janiyah Wiltkinson

• Teyana Taylor as Detective Raymond

• Sherri Shepherd as Nicole

• Jeremiah Kingston as Officer Harper

• Melanie Liburd as Judith, social worker

• Music by: Dara Taylor

• Language: English

More than a thriller, Straw is a painful portrayal of the silent exhaustion experienced by so many women who fight alone to survive. The film does not romanticize pain but presents it with dignity and urgency.

It is an uncomfortable reminder that sometimes the line between sanity and despair is just a drop away.

If you are looking for a film that provokes thought, evokes emotion, and leaves a lump in your throat, this is a sure choice. But be prepared to think deeply long after the end credits roll.

See you in the next article!