"Straw" (2025) Netflix Review: A Gripping Tyler Perry Drama

"Straw" Highlights the Reality of Struggling Mothers

This movie portrays the stark reality of someone just making it, but still cares for others. That’s Janiyah Wiltkinson. She’s a single mom and her pride and joy, the center of her universe is her daughter, Aria. The movie opens with Janiyah flashing back to a moment many moms experience, taking home your child after an emergency room visit. Aria has seizures and requires medication. The doctors tell her Ari will grow out of it.

A Day in Janiyah's Life Becomes a Psychological Pressure Cooker

The next day is a normal day for Janiyah. She drops off Aria at school, and heads to work at a grocery store. This movie’s stressful just watching it. Reality leaps off the screen. Janiyah already made two promises she has to keep, her rent payment and her daughter’s lunch bill payment. Off to work, and that job just elevates Janiyah’s stress level. She has a friend, Bunny, she can vent to temporarily at the job. She gets a call from Aria’s school about her daughter’s lunch payment. Her boss doesn’t give her a break. She asks for her check and he doesn’t help, but does give her 30 minutes to take care of her daughter’s account.

Financial Despair and Emotional Breakdown in "Straw"

She runs across the street to the bank to withdraw the money for her daughter’s lunch payment, and the last straw is hanging by a thread. The ATM tells her she doesn’t have the money. Janiyah goes inside and gets no help there. She goes to Aria’s school and her daughter is being taken away by social services! What a nightmare. The last straw has been reached!

Police Brutality and Injustice Amplify the Chaos

Janiyah tries to get back to work in 30 minutes, but that doesn’t happen. She angers a driver on the way back, and this guy has anger issues. Road rage ensues, and he runs her off the road. He’s a police officer who terrorizes her. Officers Oliver and Sam just add to her stress. She’s the one who gets a ticket and her car towed. She returns to work, and her boss continues the torment. He fires her and won’t give her the check she’s owed. Janiyah gets home and all her stuff is thrown out on the apartment building’s lawn. This is when she loses it.

"Straw" Delivers an Unexpected Robbery Scene Twist

Janiyah returns to her job to see her boss in his office. A guy walks up and robs them. Her boss gets the cash out of the store wall safe. The robber tries to get Janiyah to stuff the money in her backpack. She struggles with him, and takes the robber’s gun and shoots him. Her boss thinks she’s in on the robbery as the robber’s friend runs out the door. Janiyah is already running on Mental Emptiness and all she can comprehend is that her boss thinks she planned the robbery, and is reporting this to the 911 operator on the phone. She hears him threatening to send her to prison and never seeing her daughter again. Janiyah’s still holding the gun, points it at him, and fires. She’s in shock and nothing registers in her mind except to take her check. She leaves the money on the desk. What a Twist!

The Tension Mounts at the Bank as Janiyah Tries to Cash Her Check

Janiyah returns to the bank to cash her check just as it closes. Nicole, the bank manager, tells security to let her in. Meanwhile, the police get to the store and investigate. They see what happened and see Janiyah on the camera. They talk to the employees and her friend, Bunny, tells the detectives Janiyah could never do something like this. She vouches for her. One of the detectives sees there's more to this than just a robbery, and asks to see the footage again.

Bank Robbery or Desperation? The Truth Behind Janiyah’s Motive

At the bank, Janiyah’s day doesn’t improve, as the bank teller, Tessa, says she can’t cash her check without identification. Janiyah begs her to cash it because knows her. The teller refers to the manager. That’s when Janiyah pulls out the gun from the robbery. A silent alarm goes out to 911. Nicole describes the robbery in progress, and is struck by what happened to this person.

Community Perception, Police Response, and Social Commentary in "Straw"

The police go to Janiyah’s last known residence, and Benny tells them about Janiyah. The landlord gives them her opinion, all bad. As the detectives leave, they get a call about the bank robbery. They rush off to the bank.

Human Connections in Crisis: Nicole and Janiyah’s Bond

Nicole goes to the security guard, and they ask everyone to leave. Janiyah is trying to get her check money, not all of the bank’s money. Nicole tells her she can help her. She directs Tessa to cash her check. The police pull up and one of the officers is the cop who ran Janiyah off the road. The detectives give their chief contradicting accounts of the case. Janiyah totally loses it...

SWAT, the FBI, and the Emotional Climax of "Straw"

Nicole tells her they could have an idea to save her, and get her back together with her daughter. Everything is being live-streamed. Janiyah tells them about the police officers that threatened her that morning. She tells all that led up to her last straw...

A Powerful Ending That Leaves Viewers Questioning Reality

The FBI came to take over. The Chief of Police stands up and says they have it under control, but can’t stop the FBI. FBI Agent Price takes over. Detective Raymond and Detective Grimes go search for Officers Oliver and Sam...

"Straw" Final Scene: A Surreal, Heartbreaking Flashback

Nicole shows Janiyah, and the other two hostages are released. Nicole stays. She tells Janiyah they are going to walk together, and Janiyah is touched to have someone finally help her when she needs it most. Nicole agrees to come visit her when she gets locked up...

"Straw" Movie Review Summary: A Must-Watch Social Drama

This is Some Movie! It has an eighties look and feel. The story’s twists and turns keep you guessing. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, you are surprised. Taraji P. Henson, Sherri Shepherd, Ashanti Brown, Teyana Taylor, Sinbad and Glynn Turman give heart wrenching, superb performances. The writing is fantastic with carefully placed clues not easily noticed. Had no idea this entire movie was in itself a flashback from beginning to end. Be prepared, there will be tears!

Release Date: June 6, 2025 Director/Writer: Tyler Perry Starring: Taraji P. Henson, Gabrielle Jackson, Ashanti Brown, Sherri Shepherd, Teyana Taylor, Sinbad, Rockmond Dunbar, Ashley Versher, Mike Merrill, Glynn Turman, Diva Tyler, Shalèt Monique, Fracaswell Hyman, Doris Woodruff, Jeremy J. Anderson, Derek Phillips, Tilky Jones, Katrina Nelson, Anthony E. Williams, Justin James Boykin

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