Straw – Netflix Movie Review
Last Updated on June 11, 2025 by Movie Revew TV
Tyler Perry is no stranger to bold, emotional storytelling. His projects are often polarizing—some viewers hail them as powerful reflections of real-life struggles, while others critique them for their melodramatic excess. With Straw, Perry’s 2024 Netflix drama, we’re presented with another emotionally packed narrative, this time centered around the trials of a single mother navigating adversity. On paper, it sounds promising. In execution, however, Straw is a misstep, weighed down by a rushed production and a heavy-handed storyline.
In this review, we’ll dissect the plot, performances, direction, and the deeper implications of what Straw represents—not just for Tyler Perry, but for the streaming era of filmmaking. Is Straw a worthwhile watch or another title to skip in your Netflix queue? Let’s dive in.
Overview: What is “Straw” About?
Straw is a 1 hour and 45-minute drama streaming on Netflix, with mature themes that place it comfortably in the TV-MA rating category. The film follows Janiah, a single mother whose life unravels in a series of misfortunes. From job loss to domestic betrayal and sudden violence, the film charts her descent into chaos with little reprieve or hope.
What’s meant to be a gripping portrayal of perseverance under pressure instead becomes a bleak exercise in trauma storytelling. The events come fast and without much context, and rather than feeling like a human story, Straw starts to feel more like a dramatized checklist of pain.
A Closer Look at the Cast
Despite its narrative flaws, Straw benefits from a strong cast that includes:
- Taraji P. Henson as Janiah – a mother doing her best to stay afloat
- Teyana Taylor – in a role that brings bursts of raw energy
- Sherri Shepherd as Nicole – the calm voice of reason amidst the chaos
Among them, Shepherd’s performance stands out the most. Her portrayal of Nicole adds grounded humanity to a film otherwise saturated with over-the-top moments. She balances empathy, strength, and resilience with authenticity, offering audiences one of the film’s few emotional anchors.
Taraji P. Henson brings her usual strength and screen presence, but the script rarely gives her character enough room to breathe. She’s often reacting to misfortune, not growing through it, which limits her performance to surface-level emotions.
The Core Problem: Trauma Without Balance
Too Much Pain, Too Little Reflection
One of the primary issues with Straw lies in its relentless delivery of trauma. Within the first half hour, viewers witness multiple tragic incidents, including violence, humiliation, and betrayal. While such stories can be impactful when told with nuance, Straw fails to give its characters or audience time to process any of it.
The film never allows a moment for reflection or recovery, which reduces the impact of each individual event. Rather than creating an arc of struggle and survival, Straw creates a spiral of despair.
Emotional Burnout
The emotional overload leads to viewer burnout. Rather than being moved, many will likely feel exhausted by the end. Without proper pacing or narrative variety, the trauma loses its power. There’s little character introspection, no real exploration of healing or support systems—just an endless barrage of pain.
The Writing: Missing the Mark on Realism
Dialogue That Lacks Depth
The writing in Straw often fails to sound natural. Conversations feel scripted rather than lived, and moments that should have emotional weight are reduced to clichés. There’s also a lack of subtext. Every emotion is spelled out, every conflict explicitly stated, leaving little room for viewers to interpret or emotionally invest.
Unrealistic Reactions
A critical flaw in the film is the lack of believable human behavior. In one pivotal scene, a violent act occurs in public—but no one intervenes. No one reacts. It’s a moment that strains believability and breaks viewer immersion. This pattern repeats itself throughout the film: high-stakes moments with little emotional or realistic grounding.
Production Quality: Rushed and It Shows
Filming in Four Days?
Reportedly shot in just four days, Straw is a testament to the risks of rushed production. Quick turnarounds can work for simple, dialogue-heavy stories. But for a film aiming to explore deep emotional terrain, time is essential—for rehearsal, blocking, and crafting compelling visuals. Unfortunately, the short filming window is painfully obvious.
Cinematography & Editing Issues
The visuals in Straw lack polish. Scenes are sometimes dimly lit or awkwardly framed. Editing choices disrupt emotional beats, and scene transitions are often abrupt. These production missteps make it difficult for viewers to stay connected to the story. Even when the acting shines, the overall presentation distracts.
The Streaming Effect: Are We Sacrificing Quality for Volume?
Straw isn’t the only Netflix film to suffer from what feels like quantity over quality. The rise of streaming platforms has led to an explosion of content—but not always of equal caliber. Creators are under pressure to release quickly and often, which can result in incomplete storytelling and shallow execution.
This is especially true for prolific filmmakers. When a director or producer is juggling multiple projects at once, it’s easy for craftsmanship to take a backseat to deadlines. Straw could have been an emotionally resonant drama, but its rushed nature undercuts its potential.
Opportunities Missed
Deeper Character Development
Janiah could have been a powerful, multi-dimensional protagonist. But the lack of backstory, introspection, or evolving relationships leaves her as a static figure. Supporting characters also feel underwritten, appearing more like plot devices than real people.
Themes Worth Exploring
The film hints at important topics: poverty, domestic instability, and community support. But none of these are explored in depth. There’s no consistent theme or message. The film doesn’t pose questions or offer commentary—it just catalogs misfortune.
A Lesson for Future Projects: Slow Down
There’s no doubt that Tyler Perry is a powerhouse in entertainment. His ability to build an empire and tell stories that resonate with certain communities is commendable. But Straw is a reminder that meaningful storytelling requires time, intention, and a willingness to refine.
By slowing down, collaborating with diverse writers and directors, and investing in detailed character studies, future projects could reclaim the power of earlier Perry films that felt more grounded, more human, and more emotionally impactful.
Viewer Reactions: A Divided Audience
Reactions to Straw have been mixed, with many praising the performances but criticizing the writing and pacing. On social media, some users expressed frustration over the film’s excessive drama, while others appreciated its rawness—even if it felt overdone.
The film has sparked conversation about the portrayal of Black trauma in media and whether such depictions empower or exploit. While Straw doesn’t break any new ground, it does offer an opportunity to discuss how stories about struggle can be told more effectively and respectfully.
The Bright Spots
Despite its flaws, Straw does have moments of brilliance:
- Sherri Shepherd’s performance gives emotional weight to the story.
- Teyana Taylor’s role, though brief, adds emotional charge to a pivotal scene.
- Themes of motherhood and perseverance, though buried under melodrama, are still relevant and important.
These bright spots hint at the film Straw could have been, with more development time and narrative focus.
Final Verdict: 2/10
Pros:
- Talented cast with occasional standout performances
- Attempts to highlight real social issues
- Short runtime (accessible for a casual viewing)
Cons:
- Overloaded plot with excessive trauma
- Poor pacing and editing
- Rushed production evident in visuals and narrative structure
- Underdeveloped characters and shallow emotional arcs
Straw feels more like a first draft than a final cut. It’s watchable, but far from memorable.
Should You Watch It?
If you’re a fan of drama and don’t mind emotionally intense stories—flawed though they may be—Straw might be worth a quick watch. But if you’re looking for nuanced storytelling, memorable performances, and emotional catharsis, this one may not deliver.
Instead, consider revisiting better-executed dramas like:
- Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
- Moonlight
- The Pursuit of Happyness
These films offer powerful stories without sacrificing quality.
Conclusion: What “Straw” Teaches Us About Modern Filmmaking
Straw is not just a missed opportunity for Tyler Perry—it’s a reflection of the pressures facing modern filmmakers. In the race to produce content for streaming platforms, quality often becomes a casualty. But the solution isn’t to stop telling difficult stories—it’s to tell them with more care, more time, and more respect for the audience’s emotional journey.
Let Straw be a reminder that impactful stories require more than just strong intentions. They require time, truth, and tenderness.
What Did You Think?
Have you seen Straw on Netflix? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Did it resonate with you, or did you find it hard to watch? Let’s talk about it.
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