New Netflix movie The Shadow Strays looks like an action-packed assassin hit going by the thrilling teaser trailer

The Shadow Strays promo image featuring a group wearing masks

(Image credit: Netflix)

The Shadow Strays is the newest assassin movie from Timo Tjahjanto, the director behind The Night Comes For Us, which was one of 12 epic action movies we previously recommended that secured a high Rotten Tomatoes approval from critics and fans alike. This is good news if, like me, you've been left disappointed by Netflix's recent action offerings like The Union, which has been Netflix's #1 movie for the past two weeks.

Clearly, Netflix movies can be hit and miss, as we all know – indeed, its latest comedy offering Incoming was slammed by critics, earning a 27% rating on the review aggregator site. So you can probably tell why I'm keen to see more hits that we can add to our best Netflix movies, and perhaps The Shadow Strays fits the bill.

You'll have to wait till around Halloween to watch it though. While Tjahjanto's new movie will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September, it lands on Netflix on October 17. We're sure it'll be one of many exciting new additions, but hopefully there are some more horrors to look forward to. With October being my favourite time of year, I am excited to see what the best streaming service has in store.

What is The Shadow Strays about?

The Shadow Strays follows someone known as 'Codename 13', a young assassin who finds herself suspended after a mission gone wrong. During this period of inactivity, she bonds with a young boy called Monji, who recently lost his mother to a crime syndicate.

But when Monji mysteriously disappears, Codename 13 decides to go off and find him, even if that does mean disobeying orders. So we've got a missing boy and a rogue assassin, a recipe for a very good movie. I can't wait to see it!

Additionally, a statement from Netflix teases that: "The film dives deep into themes of redemption and loyalty, set against the backdrop of a brutal and unforgiving underworld. Audiences can expect Tjahjanto’s signature style, with expertly choreographed action sequences guaranteed to keep them on the edge of their seats."

Lucy is a long-time movie and television lover who is an approved critic on Rotten Tomatoes. She has written several reviews in her time, starting with a small self-ran blog called Lucy Goes to Hollywood before moving onto bigger websites such as What's on TV and What to Watch, with TechRadar being her most recent venture. Her interests primarily lie within horror and thriller, loving nothing more than a chilling story that keeps her thinking moments after the credits have rolled. Many of these creepy tales can be found on the streaming services she covers regularly.

When she’s not scaring herself half to death with the various shows and movies she watches, she likes to unwind by playing video games on Easy Mode and has no shame in admitting she’s terrible at them. She also quotes The Simpsons religiously and has a Blinky the Fish tattoo, solidifying her position as a complete nerd.