Peacock has been around since 2020, but it still feels like the new kid on the block. In the oversaturated world of streaming services, Peacock has a lot of competition. However, it has made many smart programming choices. Taking over Love Island and buying the US rights for The Traitors were genius moves. Its programming catalog also has plenty of amazing original TV shows.
The streaming newbie has also been adding more original movies. I have seen a few and had mixed reactions, but Strung is the first Peacock original movie that I really enjoyed. Is it the perfect film? No, but that’s part of its charm.
Warning: Strung spoilers are ahead. Proceed with caution.
Strung Has A Simple Premise That Gets Crazier As It Continues
Strung doesn’t let you know what type of movie it is until the midway mark. You’re not sure if it’s a paranormal movie, a mystery film, or a romantic drama. You’re just not sure where all this is headed until the picture starts to become clearer. I think Strung can best be described as an over-the-top thriller. It takes all the elements of a thriller and heightens them to the point of almost parodying the genre. At the end of Strung, I saw that Tyler Perry was a producer. Everything made more sense.
He does a particular genre of films that are polarizing. Many of his most popular movies and TV shows follow a similar pattern to Strung. I have seen quite a few of Malcolm D. Lee’s films, and he’s more known for comedies, so Strung feeling like a parody at times makes sense. Alan B. McElroy is better known for writing horror movies, so the two creatives balance each other out. The film is funny at times, but also bonkers in a psychological thriller way.
The film’s premise is simple: a woman gets a new dream job, only to discover it’s less a dream and more a nightmare. Then it becomes much more sinister as a movie about murder, betrayal, deception, and dubious characters. It’s the plot progression that gives Strung its character and charm.
The Bond Between Laila and Zuri Is One Of The Main Reasons To Watch, And It Also Reminds Me Of The Power Of A Great Mentor
Laila (Chloe Bailey) and Zuri’s (Romy Woods) bond is what I found most enthralling about the movie. We witness a scared, traumatized girl form a connection with another scared, traumatized woman. Their love of music creates this trust and admiration. However, their closeness grows into a loving and protective sisterhood/surrogate parental figure relationship.
Zuri and Laila flourish because of Laila’s gentle and effective mentoring. Their relationship reminded me of the importance of influential and kind mentors for children who especially need extra care and attention. Strung is a lot of things, and one of those is that it’s a very good movie about the power of teachers and mentors. It’s another movie that many teachers can relate to and enjoy.
A good mentor can really change the trajectory of someone’s life. Zuri cannot evolve without Laila’s guidance and support.
Strung Doesn't Take Itself Seriously, And I Love That
I am still unsure if Strung aims to be more of a parody than a straightforward thriller. It has so many aspects that feel too over-the-top to take seriously. Many of the characters’ behaviors don’t seem realistic in the slightest. Then it has many shock-value moments. For example, we discover that Marcus (Lucien Laviscount) and Audra (Lynn Whitfield) are having an affair. It’s not ridiculous to think that Marcus would find Audra attractive.
The ridiculous part comes with how the scene plays out. It’s also a mess that Marcus is having sex with all three of the main women. His relationship with Audra showcases her wickedness because she’s sleeping with her daughter’s husband and shows no remorse. Thrillers often have twists about dangerous and deceptive husbands.
This makes Strung fall in line with many other thrillers, but the shocking part is that Audra is the ringleader behind everything that has happened. When Strung reveals the big twist, it goes all in with the ridiculous premise and behavior. I am someone who enjoys over-the-top movies. It’s not a respected art form, but it is one.
A good over-the-top movie can be really entertaining and allow your brain to simply enjoy the wild ride. This is how I felt watching the last act of Strung. It was ridiculous for ridiculous's sake.
The Film Gives Peacock Some Variety I Wasn't Expecting, But I Hope It Continues
Peacock still needs to really grow its original movie collection. However, none of its films feel that similar. It’s not producing a bunch of the same movies but trying to expand its catalog to give all movie fans something they can enjoy on the streaming service.
I hope the platform continues to grow and experiment. I want to see Peacock explore more movies in different film genres. It’s one of the streaming service underdogs, and I believe it has the potential to be one of the big ones. It just needs to give more projects like Strung a chance.
It Won't Be Everyone's Thing, But I Think It Could Be A Cult Classic In The Making
I imagine in a few years, small theaters will be showing Strung as a midnight special or double feature. It has the quality and potential to be something many will flock to watch as part of a cult viewing experience. It’s a fun movie that I believe will eventually have a dedicated audience to watch it years from now. As someone who often loves cult classics, I think Strung reminds me of so many other ones.
It may not share their plot, but it has a quality to it that feels like something destined to take a place with a cult audience. It will be quoted one day, I know it. Strung has trended on Peacock's top movie lists for several days since its premiere, which shows it's popular among general audiences. However, I think the cult audiences will really give it its legacy one day.
Strung is another movie that proves the Peacock subscription is worth the price.
