Netflix Just Released a New Action Movie, and We Immediately Want More From the Star of the Film (2025)

A new martial arts blood-soaked tale of vengeance is lighting up Netflix. Getting praise from critics and viewers alike, The Shadow Strays is a new Indonesian action thriller that takes on the world of assassins and organized crime as it explores the powerful bonds of friendship. A tale of love, sacrifice, and revenge, The Shadow Strays is a riveting and energetic film that is worthy of being a Netflix hit and serves as an introduction to a forceful new action star, Aurora Ribero.

The Shadow Strays stars Aurora Ribero as 13, a teenage trained assassin with an elite group called The Shadows. After she stumbles on a mission, 13 is sidelined from the organization and left alone to cool her heels in Jakarta until her suspension is lifted. During her suspension, 13 makes friends with a young orphan named Monji, a boy whose mother has recently been killed by a local crime syndicate. But when Monji is kidnapped by the same organization that killed his mother, 13 faces off against the syndicate as well as her own organization, The Shadows, as she fights to rescue him.

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The Shadow Strays (2024)

R

Release Date

October 17, 2024

Director

Timo Tjahjanto

Cast

Aurora Ribero , Hana Malasan , Ali Fikry , Kristo Immanuel , Taskya Namya , Andri Mashadi , Adipati Dolken , Agra Piliang

Main Genre

Action

Ribero Is a Strong-Willed Triple Force in The Shadow Strays

Born in Semarang, Central Java, Ribero is a model, singer, and actress. Having begun her career as a model, Ribero made her acting debut in 2017 at the age of 13 in the Indonesian film Susah Sinyal. For her debut role, Ribero was nominated for “Best Supporting Actress” at the Indonesian Box Office Movie Awards and “Best New Actress” at the Maya Awards. Ribero quickly followed this success by leading in several more films and a web series before signing onto the Netflix romantic drama Love Like the Falling Rain. Since then, Ribero has starred in several more movies and web series in both main and supporting roles. As a singer, Ribero has created several singles and has featured on the soundtrack for two of her films.

For The Shadow Strays, Ribero punches forward into new ground as she takes on the martial arts-laden tale of revenge. Her character 13 is a strong-willed and skilled purveyor of death on a righteous though blood-fueled quest. A combination of John Wick and Bryan Mills (Taken), Ribero’s 13 has the deadly precision of a trained assassin. Her fight scenes are intense and cleverly choreographed, and Ribero throws herself into the moves with a fierceness that is admirable.

A still training asset of The Shadows, the teenaged 13 has not yet fully attained the steely menace her more senior agent Umbra (played by Hana Malasan) would require. This vulnerability allows 13 the space to befriend Monji (Aki Fikri), a touching action that ultimately propels the violent savagery of the latter part of the film. Ribero handles both the softness and ferocity of the character with skill, creating a sympathetic, although deadly, avenging angel.

The Shadow Strays Is a Netflix Hit Worthy of Its Praise

The Shadow Strays has received an 88% critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This, along with the 86% audience review, has shown the film has received a positive reception. Critics praised The Shadow Strays for its tone, robust action sequences, and the varying camera perspectives that contributed to the excitement of the fight scenes. Audiences have been effusive in their praise as well. The director, Timo Tjahjanto, was lauded for his contribution to the martial arts genre in this blood-soaked tale of revenge. The Shadow Strays premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. While fans are currently enjoying the film, which sits in Netflix’s top 10, director Tjahjanto has stated that he has plans for a sequel should one be greenlit.

Though The Shadow Strays is Ribero’s first major role, the actress has a pretty impressive history with Netflix. Her previous film, Like & Share, was picked up by Netflix for distribution in Indonesia. The film, chronicling the breakdown of the relationship between two teenage friends, was screened at the Indonesian Film Festival, where it won awards for Best Sound and Best Film Editing. At the Osaka Asian Film Festival, the film won the coveted Grand Prix. Ribero also had a minor role in the Netflix dramatic comedy film Ali & Ratu Ratu Queens. Starring Iqbaal Dhiafakhri Ramadhan, the film follows a teenage boy as he travels from Jakarta to New York City to live with his mother after the death of his father. The film is available for streaming now.

The Shadow Strays is written and directed by Timo Tjahjanto, who also directed V/H/S 2 and the award-winning May the Devil Take You. The film also stars Adipati Dolken, Kristo Immanuel, Taskya Namya, Chew Kin Wah, and Arswendy Bening Swara. The Shadow Strays is streaming on Netflix.