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. 

The Shadow Strays | Official Teaser | Netflix - YouTube The Shadow Strays | Official Teaser | Netflix - YouTube
Watch On

The first teaser trailer for the new Netflix movie is certainly promising. It's full of fast action sequences of an assassin fighting a crime syndicate with hardly any talking. It's gripping stuff, filled with fist-fights, gunfights and flashing lights, which is everything you could want from an action movie, really! You can take a look at the teaser in the video above.

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."

You might also like

Lucy Buglass
Senior Entertainment Writer

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. 

Read more
Emily Blunt in Sicario
3 thriller movies coming to Netflix with over 89% on Rotten Tomatoes
Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz in Back In Action
Back in Action is Netflix's new #1 movie but its bad reviews are no secret – watch these 3 with over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes instead
Stephen Graham in the Netflix show Adolescence
The trailer for Netflix’s wild ‘one-take’ mystery thriller Adolescence looks ultra-intense and timely
Pete angrily grips onto David's suit jacket in The Sentinel.
Netflix's #2 movie is a subpar thriller from 2006 – here are 3 films with better Rotten Tomatoes scores than The Sentinel
Peter looks to the side with the city skyline behind him in The Night Agent season 2
The Night Agent reclaims Netflix’s #1 spot with season 2 – here are 3 of my favorite thrillers with over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes that are just as good
A still from Blade Runner
3 new movies on Netflix in March 2025 with over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes
Latest in Netflix
Cristin Milioti in Black Mirror season 7
Netflix launches trailer for Black Mirror season 7, giving us a look at its first-ever sequel episode and an unexpected returning character
A woman holds a phone and looks concerned in Caught
Netflix drops an eerie trailer for a new Harlan Coben show – I just hope Caught is better than the author's previous TV adaptations
Nicole Kidman wears a blue blouse with her arms crossed.
Netflix might be renewing The Perfect Couple and Beauty in Black for season 2, but I don’t get why when it’s canceled shows with poorer ratings
Susan holding her baby in Toxic Town.
Netflix's #3 show has a flawless 100% on Rotten Tomatoes – here are 3 more powerful dramas to watch after Toxic Town
Devil May Cry's Dante has his back to the camera, holding onto a large sword
Netflix's official Devil May Cry trailer features music from my favorite alternative rock band and it's taken me on a serious nostalgia trip
Joe Goldberg and Kate Lockwood sitting at a table and looking at the camera in You season 5.
Netflix releases a killer new trailer for You season 5 but my favorite character is missing from Joe's final chapter
Latest in News
A super close up image of the Google Gemini app in the Play Store
It's official: Google Assistant will be retired for phones this year, with Gemini taking over
Quordle on a smartphone held in a hand
Quordle hints and answers for Sunday, March 16 (game #1147)
NYT Strands homescreen on a mobile phone screen, on a light blue background
NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, March 16 (game #378)
NYT Connections homescreen on a phone, on a purple background
NYT Connections hints and answers for Sunday, March 16 (game #644)
Three iPhone 16 handsets on show
Apple could launch an iPhone 17 Ultra this year – but we've heard these rumors before
Super Mario Odyssey
ChatGPT is the ultimate gaming tool - here's 4 ways you can use AI to help with your next playthrough