Returning to the festival for the first time since his 2016 film “Headshot,” director Timo Tjahjanto brings “The Shadow Strays” to Midnight Madness at the Toronto International Film Festival. Often working with Iko Uwais (in “Headshot” and “The Night Comes for Us”), “The Shadow Strays” introduces audiences to a new force in Aurora Ribero.
Ribero stars as Codename 13, part of a clandestine organization with assassins called Shadows, known to those who hear their stories in the crime underworld. Codename 13 is a new trainee, on her first mission in the Sea of Trees, Japan, tasked with taking out a clan.
Audiences Meet a New Force in Aurora Ribero
When the mission goes sideways, her mentor, Instructor Umbra (Hana Malasan), sees it best to send her back to the training facility in Jakarta, Indonesia, and await further instructions. Once 13 is back there, she is forced to sit on her hands and simply wait, for weeks, without any communication from her organization.
Bored with very little to preoccupy herself, she meets an 11-year-old boy Monji (Ali Fikry) who has just lost his mother. He believes an organization murdered her and made it look like an overdose. When Monji goes missing, 13 sets out to fight for the innocent against a criminal organization in order to get the boy back.
Most interesting about Ribero’s starring role in “The Shadow Strays,” is a Google search not showing any former martial arts experience for the star. However, she is so believable as a teen assassin, perfectly capable taking us through scene after scene of taking down killers. Her involvement in the scenes with extensive fight choreography show how hard she worked for the leading role. Muhammad Irfan and Trisna Irawan were the stunt choreographers on the film, with Irfan working on previous films with Tjahjanto, as well as “The Raid: Redemption” and “The Raid 2.” The work here is great, and the fighting feels diverse from those other films. Importantly, the fight choreography throughout the film is believable in terms of how long the fights take.
Excellent Fight Choreography
The opening scene that features Hana Malasan in on the action, as Inspector Umbra, is exciting, especially moments of “night vision” when we see her shot gunning her enemies. This is sure to get a cheer at Midnight Madness. It’s smart writing choice from Tjahjanto to sideline her for most of the feature as she works on a mission in Cambodia. We get important character-building glimpses into her character during those moments, as someone who cares deeply about her organization but also is driven by compassion.
Back in Indonesia, we still get to see some strong development for 13, as well, at least when she’s not kicking ass. We know that she has night terrors that she needs pills for; and we also know that she will fight for those who fight for her. We learn that best with Jeki (Kristo Immanuel), someone very low on the crime totem pole, and 13’s first lead into looking for Monji. He leads her to a bar called the Moonrose. Jeki helps get 13 and the audience familiar with the inner workings of the crime underworld of Jakarta, and the players who run it.
Strong Action and Story
I won’t spoil the joy of learning about that yourselves, but that is one of my favourite aspects of these Indonesian crime films. The worlds are always so well thought-out, and they feel like such a real setting for the martial arts mayhem that plays out within them. I watch these films for the action, but strong characters and a solid story is just as integral; because the carnage needs that vessel to work through. Consider that a successful aspect of “The Shadow Strays” with some moments of gore that will have you squirming in the very best ways.
“The Shadow Strays” played at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, which concluded September 15th, 2024. The film will be showing on Netflix.
