Straw is Tyler Perry’s latest psychological thriller, now streaming on Netflix since June 6, 2025. Written and directed by Perry, the film tells the story of a single mother whose day spirals out of control, leading to a bank standoff that turns out to be one big misunderstanding.
It stars Taraji P. Henson, with strong supporting performances from Sherri Shepherd, Teyana Taylor, and a brief role by Sinbad, marking his return to acting since his stroke recovery. Rated 16+, Straw delivers tension and emotion, in true Perry fashion.
The Premise
Straw follows the unravelling day of Janiyah Wiltkinson, a single mother struggling to hold everything together. Her morning starts with caring for her medically ill daughter, Aria, who tells her the school is asking for $40 in lunch fees. Janiyah promises to find the money and reassures her landlady that she’ll pay the rent as soon as her paycheck comes in.
At her supermarket job, things only get worse. When a rude customer throws a bottle that shatters at her feet, her boss shows no concern, just tells her to clean it up. As she’s doing that, she gets a call that seems to be from her daughter’s school. Desperate, she begs her boss to let her leave. He agrees, warning her to return in 30 minutes. She even pleads for her paycheck to cover lunch money, but he refuses.
At the school, bad news blindsides Janiyah: Child Welfare Services are taking Aria. To make matters worse, on her drive back, she’s rear-ended by a road-raging police officer who threatens her and has her car impounded. Soaking wet, hours late, and emotionally drained, she walks back to work—only to be fired on the spot, without her paycheck.
Returning home, she finds her belongings, including her daughter’s medication and science project, dumped on the street by the landlady. Frustrated and at rock bottom, her last hope is to reason with her ex-boss to release her pay. But what follows spirals into a tragic misunderstanding: her former boss ends up dead, and Janiyah finds herself in a bank standoff, accused of holding a bomb.
As the world watches, Janiyah knows things may not end well—but there’s a twist we never see coming. Because sometimes, what people need most is simply someone to fight for them and stand by them.
Casts and Performances
Taraji P. Henson delivers an award-worthy performance as Janiyah Wiltkinson, carrying the emotional weight of Straw from beginning to end. Her portrayal is raw and grounded; you feel her frustrations deeply, and you’re right there with her when she finally breaks.
Sherri Shepherd shines in a supporting role as Nicole, the bank manager whose initial scepticism softens into pity and compassion. Teyana Taylor plays Detective Kay Raymond, a woman who sees herself in Janiyah and becomes determined to ensure she isn’t harmed.
Glynn Turman gives a strong showing as Richard, Janiyah’s unfeeling boss, while Sinbad makes a heartfelt return to the screen as Benny, the homeless man Janiyah never fails to help.
Still, it’s Taraji who holds the entire film together, her performance is the beating heart of this story.
What I Liked
At a point, the story started to feel eerily familiar, then it hit me: the bank standoff plot echoed Breaking, starring John Boyega. But while Breaking focused on the struggles of military veterans, Straw sheds light on the financial and emotional toll of being a single mother with nothing. Mental health themes were woven into the narrative, alongside a subtle critique of banking policies that often fail African American women.
What stood out most was how Straw resisted Tyler Perry’s usual pull toward melodrama. It stayed grounded in Janiyah’s reality. And honestly, without Taraji P. Henson’s powerhouse performance, this film may not have landed the same way. She held the entire arc together with grit and vulnerability. The twist at the end? I was waiting for it, because in Tyler Perry’s world, pain always comes with a reveal.
What I Didn’t Like
Right from the start, the visual design left me unimpressed. The overall look was dull, perhaps an attempt to mirror the lead character’s mood, but it often pulled me out of the story. The scene where the seemingly heavy rain was falling left me wondering which weather was going to win, was it raining while the sun was shining? It just looked odd and took me out of the moment.
While the film’s pacing began steadily as we followed Janiyah’s spiralling day, things noticeably dragged once the bank standoff began. The tension dipped instead of rising, and I found myself checking the time. Despite the promising setup, the climax lacked the same energy. Yes, the movie ends with a twist, but the second act deserved better.
Final Thoughts
Tyler Perry is known for his emotionally heavy narratives, often centered on the pain and resilience of African American women. Straw, as charged as it is, follows that familiar path. However, while the plot lost its grip for a bit, the story’s emotional weight is held together almost entirely by Taraji P. Henson’s incredible performance.
As I later found out, the film was shot in just about four days, making it fair to wonder if the rushed production contributed to some of its technical and plot-related shortcomings.
Rating
I would rate Straw 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Did Straw leave you sympathising with Janiyah’s struggle—or questioning how many real-life stories like hers go unheard every day?
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