Some people hear the name Tyler Perry and immediately think of a wig, a floral dress, and a 9mm in a purse. But then there’s Straw. Honestly, if you went into this one expecting a lighthearted neighborhood comedy, you probably felt like you walked into the wrong theater—or, well, the wrong Netflix stream. This isn't just another movie. It’s a heavy, visceral psychological drama that sticks to your ribs long after the credits roll.
Released in June 2025, Straw marks a massive tonal shift for Perry. He’s done drama before, sure. Acrimony was intense, and For Colored Girls had its moments of deep pain. But Straw feels more personal, more stripped-back. It stars Taraji P. Henson as Janiyah, a woman basically living through the longest 24 hours of her life.
What Actually Happens in Straw?
The premise is simple but devastating. Janiyah is a single mother. She’s working herself to the bone to take care of her sick daughter, Aria. You know that feeling when everything that can go wrong does? That’s this movie. Janiyah loses her job. She’s facing eviction. She gets harassed by a cop. It’s a relentless pile-on that pushes her to her "last straw."
Eventually, she ends up in a bank. She just wanted to cash a check for medicine. Instead, she finds herself in a standoff.
Here is the thing: most Perry movies have a clear hero or a villain. In Straw, the villain is "the system." It’s the indifference of a world that watches a woman drown and asks why she’s making a scene. Taraji P. Henson is a powerhouse here. She filmed her entire role in just four days while working on another project. Four days! You can feel that frantic energy in her performance. It’s raw, it’s messy, and it’s genuinely heartbreaking.
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That Ending (Spoilers Ahead)
We have to talk about the twist. If you’ve seen it, you know. If you haven't, stop reading now.
Throughout the movie, Janiyah is talking to her daughter. She’s fighting for Aria. But then we find out the truth: Aria died the night before. Janiyah has been hallucinating her daughter the entire time. She snapped before the movie even started.
It’s a polarizing ending. Some critics felt it was a bit too "miserable," while fans argued it perfectly depicted a mental health crisis. Honestly, it makes the earlier scenes much more tragic. Every time Janiyah was "protecting" her daughter, she was actually clutching at a ghost.
The Cast That Carried the Weight
While Taraji is the engine, the supporting cast keeps the wheels from falling off.
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- Sherri Shepherd plays Nicole, a bank manager who actually shows Janiyah some humanity. It’s a great turn for Shepherd, who usually brings the laughs.
- Teyana Taylor shows up as Detective Kay Raymond. She’s the bridge between the law and the lady on the edge.
- Sinbad makes a surprising appearance as Benny, a neighbor.
The chemistry between these actors—especially Sherri and Taraji—grounds a script that sometimes feels a bit "on-the-nose." Tyler Perry has a habit of being a little heavy-handed with his social commentary. He wants to make sure you get the point. In Straw, that point is that Black women are often expected to be "superheroes" even when they’re bleeding.
Why Does It Look the Way It Does?
If you noticed the film looks a bit... different, you’re not alone. It was filmed in Atlanta on a tight schedule. Some viewers complained the production design felt a bit cheap. Sets looked like real businesses that were just rented for a few hours.
But maybe that’s the point?
There’s a grittiness to Straw that fits the subject matter. It doesn't need a Marvel budget. It needs a cold, fluorescent-lit bank and a rainy street corner. It’s a "grounded" story, even if the psychological elements get a little trippy toward the end.
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Actionable Insights for Viewers
If you’re planning to watch Straw or just finished it, keep these things in mind:
- Check the Rating: It’s TV-MA for a reason. There’s some violence, but the emotional weight is what really earns that rating.
- Look for the Hallucination Clues: On a second watch, you’ll notice that other characters don't really interact with Aria. The signs were there the whole time.
- Appreciate the Partnership: This is the fourth time Henson and Perry have worked together. Their shorthand is what allowed them to film such a complex role in less than a week.
- Mental Health Focus: The movie is a conversation starter about the "Strong Black Woman" trope and how it can lead to total burnout.
Straw isn't an easy watch, but it’s an important one in Perry's filmography. It shows a creator willing to experiment with darker, more complex narratives. Whether you loved the twist or hated it, you can't deny that Taraji P. Henson gave one of the best performances of 2025.
If you're looking for what's next from Tyler Perry Studios, keep an eye out for Joe's College Road Trip in February 2026. It’s a return to comedy, which might be exactly what you need after the emotional wringer of Straw. Catch the film on Netflix if you haven't yet, but bring tissues. Lots of them.