Straw Movie Review: Taraji P. Henson Leads a Devastating Tale of Desperation
Straw movie review: Tyler Perry’s latest drama, Straw, has officially landed on Netflix—and early reactions suggest it might be his most emotionally gripping project yet. With Straw, Perry crafts a deeply human story that’s already drawing comparisons to the 2002 Denzel Washington classic John Q, thanks to its emotional core and commentary on systemic failure.
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Starring Taraji P. Henson, Straw follows Janiyah, a struggling single mother whose world unravels over the course of one harrowing day. This marks the fourth time Henson and Perry have collaborated after I Can Do Bad All By Myself, The Family That Preys, and Acrimony. In this latest effort, Perry writes and directs a narrative Netflix describes as a “heart-wrenching descent into chaos.”
“A single mother’s world unravels in chaos as her day goes from bad to worse to catastrophic as she struggles to care for her ill daughter,” reads the official Netflix synopsis. “Pushed to the brink by a world that seems indifferent to her existence, she’s forced to confront impossible choices in a society that offers her no safety net.”
A Familiar But Devastating Premise
In many ways, this Straw movie review reflects what made John Q so memorable: the emotional unraveling of a parent who’s out of options. While Straw doesn’t enter thriller territory, its emotional intensity feels just as raw. Taraji P. Henson’s performance is already being praised as one of her most powerful roles to date, channeling the anguish and desperation of a mother confronting societal failure.
Also in the cast are Glynn Turman, Sinbad, and Teyana Taylor, all of whom bring additional dramatic weight to the story. Turman and Sinbad’s reunion on-screen, decades after their time on A Different World, adds a nostalgic touch to an otherwise grounded and gut-wrenching film.
Straw Netflix – A Bold Move for Tyler Perry
This Straw movie review is part of a broader narrative in Perry’s career—one that sees him moving away from melodrama and into more socially charged storytelling. With other recent Netflix originals like Beauty in Black, She the People, and The Six Triple Eight, Perry is building a reputation for crafting deeply affecting dramas that resonate with audiences far beyond his core fan base.
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