Netflix's latest horror offering, The Strays, has left viewers terrified, with many claiming they are 'scarred for life' and struggling to sleep after watching. The film, which premiered in 2023, follows a black woman who has clawed her way up to a middle-class existence in London, only to be haunted by mysterious strangers in her affluent suburb.
The plot centres on Neve, played by Ashley Madekwe, who has reinvented herself with a new accent, name, and hairstyle to fit into her predominantly white community. But cracks begin to show when she spots two figures she believes do not belong, pushing her to breaking point. The cast also includes Bukky Bakray, Jorden Myrie, Samuel Small, Maria Almeida, and Justin Salinger.
Social media platform X, formerly Twitter, has been abuzz with reactions. One viewer wrote: 'Just finished watching The Strays on Netflix and I think I'm scarred for life, because what the hell did I just watch?' Another warned: 'If you're trying to sleep well tonight, don't watch The Strays right before bed.' A third added: 'Have y'all seen "The Strays" on Netflix yet? That's some sick s*** I couldn't sleep last night.'
Director Nathaniel Martello-White told The Big Issue that the film explores 'code-switching', a subconscious survival mechanism for many black people. He said: 'I was really interested in if a woman really self-styled herself on those people in that suburb, what would be the cost? And how much effort would that take?'
