The STRAW that broke me (movie review)

I'm not really one to watch a movie based on its hype but this movie got my pulse racing so fast that I literally forgot that I was actually watching a movie. I felt like I was there. It freaking felt so real that I had to pause to catch my breath.

The movie I'm talking about is the same one making waves on almost all the social media handles. I read a review about it by @prinvessbusayo and I recall promising to watch the movie because of Taraji P. Henson. I love her vibes in movies but nothing prepared me for what was to come.

Movie title: Straw.

Produced by : Tyler Perry.

Released date: June 6, 2025.

Genre: Psychological crime drama

Synopsis

Straw revolves around the life of a single mom named Janiyah. She lives in a run down apartment. She is struggles with two jobs, her daughter's ill health and the worst day ever to happen to a single human being. How did she navigate through all of that and find the help she so dearly needs? Watch it to find out.

My honest review on this movie

First off, I must confess that Tyler Perry is a great talent and a gift to the world. Everytime he drops a movie, it's akin to an elephant giving birth. It causes tremors on the earth. His movies never leave satisfied. You keep yearning for more. That can only be talent on display.

Now to my honest review. I used the word honest because I'm not going to sugar coat anything. I'm going to be giving my review raw.

After I watched this movie yesterday evening, I was shaken and lost in a trance-like state. I couldn't believe that someone could portray such strong emotions so well. I cried from all the emotional rollercoaster that was displayed.

I didn't mean to cry. I mean I have read the review. I've already gotten a heads up about what is to come but that was a lie on my part as my tear glands found expression on my face. I recall the tears pouring out from when Janiyah's manager at work talked her down with scorn.

I felt really bad watching him act like he's so good and beyond mistakes and Janiyah is the epitome of badness. The tears poured more when Janiyah's daughter Aria was being taken by Child Support. I know it was for the best but that scene was heart wrenching.

I cried when she came back home to see all her stuff put out in the rain by her landlord because she owed rent. The way Janiyah screamed and asked Why? multiple times, was so touching.

I cried more when she came back to ask for her check from her manager. He could have simply given it to her. He could have extended warmth her way. Heck, he could have asked her how she was doing but all he did was add fuel to her already burning mind.

Then there's the police officer who was so petty he couldn't let a little slip up go. He vented, rammed into her car and even threatened to finish her off. Mehn, everything was so intense but when it looked like Janiyah was done for, she found a ray of hope in Nicole, the bank manager.

By the time the movie was reaching its end and it was shown that Janiyah had been hallucinating all along because her daughter was already dead the night before, I couldn't help the fresh tears that spilled onto my face. I thought I was strong but Straw broke my defenses.

Lessons learned

Straw isn't just about portraying poverty and hardships that many people face. I believe the movie wants to reveal what a lack of kindness can breed. Some of us think its okay not to care and we just go about our day minding our business but if we could just pause and ask the person beside us how they're fairing and how they're doing? That would make a huge difference.

Not everyone claiming to be strong is strong. So many are bottling up deep emotional hurts and wounds and they mask those hurt with strength, whereas, they're one step away from having a mental breakdown. Kindness doesn't hurt. It hurts no one to be kind.

I think the world needs more Detective Raymonds. She was very instrumental in helping Janiyah surrender willingly. I commend her willingness to be open minded to see that there was more beyond the surface.

I also commend Nicole for helping Janiyah even when she knew the truth about Aria being dead. She still played along and she did something special by walking with Janiyah out of the bank, helping her surrender to the police peacefully.

It was a pity that Janiyah shot her manager but at that moment, she was already having a mental breakdown. She wasn't in her right senses and she snapped.

The movie straw did not give the general catharsis that I sought for but it did get me thinking deeply about my values and perceptions. Before you judge someone, try to get their view on why they behaved the way they did.

I'm giving this movie a 9/10 stars. It evoked such strong emotional expressions and expressed the need for brotherhood.

Thank you all for reading and viewing.

Images are screenshots.