Strays 2023

Cheryl, portrayed by Ashley Madekwe, is a black woman residing in an undisclosed area in England, struggling with feelings of discrimination and financial hardship. During a phone call with her sister, she voices her mounting concerns, showcasing her emotional turmoil. Following this, we see her deliberately avoiding calls from her husband and leaving behind a note on the fridge indicating a trip to the hair salon.

Years pass and we meet Neve, played by Justin Salinger, a fair-skinned black woman married to a non-black man named Ian. They share two biracial children, Sebastian and Mary. Neve exhibits a clear disdain for anything related to black culture while striving for a more “acceptable” lifestyle. She works as a deputy headmistress at her children’s school and is preparing to host a fund-raising gala at her home. However, she is frequently haunted by visions of black people, causing her undeniable distress.

To hide her true heritage, Neve wears a wig, a stark contrast to her authentic identity. A toy car arrives in the mail, seeming to trigger memories from her past. Although she excels in her role at school, she has yet to provide some vital references. After observing Sebastian interacting with a black boy at school, she later discovers that he has skipped class to smoke in the woods. Meanwhile, Mary styles her hair in an ethnic manner after seeing it on YouTube, enraging Neve.

Neve’s frustration overflows when Sebastian returns late from a basketball game, leading to an aggressive confrontation. She also attempts to have the black boy, whom she perceives as a bad influence, fired, only to be told her actions would appear discriminatory. In a tense confrontation, the boy accuses Neve of having abandoned him and his sister.

During the gala, Neve has a shocking encounter with two black individuals who recognize her as their mother, leading to a series of flashbacks. The focus shifts to two black teenagers, Carl and Dione, who are on a mysterious mission that involves them staying at a hotel. They interact with Neve’s children, leading to a series of events that escalates matters further, including the invitation to Mary for a night of drinking.

Their manipulation worsens as Dione’s influence over Mary grows, while Carl persuades Sebastian to confront a school bully physically. The culmination of their actions brings them to Neve’s gala, where their true identities and past unfold.

As tensions rise, it becomes clear that Neve is indeed Cheryl, and Carl and Dione are her children. Cheryl confesses to Ian, expressing that her former husband was a bad man, justifying her departure. In a desperate attempt to reconcile, she meets with them but is faced with the tragic realization that her children were neglected by their aunt, whom she had entrusted with their care.

The climax occurs when Carl and Dione break into Neve’s house, leading to chaos as they flood the living room and celebrate Dione’s birthday. Carl confronts Neve about her previous attempts to pay them off, stirring discord within the family.

In the midst of this turmoil, Ian threatens divorce, pushing Neve into a spiral of despair leading her to violently vomit. Ironically, she eventually seems to adopt a brighter facade, joining her family in a game of Scrabble. However, Carl’s coercion leads to a tragic outcome, leaving Ian in a critical condition.

Just when it seems hope might remain, Neve’s decision to leave with an Uber Eats driver sends shockwaves through the family. Mary and Sebastian stand bewildered in the flooded living room, now abandoned not only once, but twice by their mother, leaving them in the care of the manipulative Carl and Dione.