After reading Alan McElroy’s (Wrong Turn) script, director Malcolm D. Lee (Girls Trip), who’s known for his drama and comedy work, jumped at the chance to try something new. He makes his first foray into the psychological thriller genre with Strung, a music-focused story about a young violinist who accepts a dream job that quickly becomes a nightmare.
The film opens with Laila Calloway (Chloe Bailey) beautifully playing her violin on stage with an orchestra. But in the middle of her performance, she momentarily gets distracted by a ghost from her past. Suddenly, her instrument sounds off; she looks down to see her fingers bent and twisted in different directions, screams, and then wakes up.
The opening body horror hooked me right away. It sort of reminded me of The Perfection, a horror film centered on two exceptional cellists who find themselves caught in a web of jealousy and revenge. However, aside from the moderately suspenseful third act, I didn’t find the rest of Strung as thrilling as its beginning, which is a rather important factor in a thriller.
When a woman named Audra (Lynn Whitfield) approaches her about tutoring her gifted granddaughter, Laila is a little hesitant but thinks it’s the job of a lifetime. She gets to move out of her friend Jasmine’s (Coco Jones) apartment and into the opulent home of the Walker family, which includes a sizable room and a handpicked wardrobe. Props to costume designer Neil McClean (They Will Kill You) for outfitting Chloe in the cutest preppy schoolgirl clothes. And to the makeup department that kept her lips as glossy as can be. Even when she’s fighting for her life, her face stays on point.
As soon as she sets foot in that mansion, there’s an immediate sense of unease (for the audience; Laila is enamored). From floor to ceiling, nearly everything is shiny and white, looking more like a five-star hotel than an actual home, grand staircase and all. Production designer Keith Brian Burns (Girls Trip) made sure the house was intimidatingly spotless and filled with priceless decor. And even with its high ceilings and open areas, it starts to feel almost claustrophobic because most of the story takes place in this glam bubble.
Some of that initial tension is thanks to her new student, Zuri (Romy Woods), who dons a mask and might as well be speaking in riddles. When they first meet, the child ominously says, “The Zulu believe if you die in your dreams, you die in real life. Be careful what you dream.” It’s a very “creepy horror kid” thing to say. And I expected the film to explore more about Laila and/or Zuri’s nightmares. But her warning doesn’t really go anywhere in the long run.
Zuri’s behavior is just the first of many red flags that Laila ignores. The second is Audra’s cold and unwelcoming daughter, Imani (Anna Diop). She and her husband, Marcus (Lucien Laviscount), are a radiant, good-looking couple who appear completely in love with each other. But behind their perfect smiles is a rocky marriage. Plus, she has a baby on the way. What a perfect time for a gorgeous tutor to join the family!
These are the type of people who demand a high level of service, and Laila is woefully unprepared for what lies ahead. As we’ve seen in films like Ready or Not, wealthy families can be incredibly strange and sometimes outright evil behind closed doors. While the Walkers aren’t a devil-worshipping family, there’s still something very off.
With psychological thrillers, the main character usually has at least a few moments where their reality is distorted, and they start to question their own mind. But Laila doesn’t really have that issue. Yes, she’s haunted by her past, but not in a spiraling out of control type way. From a genre standpoint, Imani is a much more interesting character. She’s complicated, guarded, and explosive, sometimes all at the same time, and I eagerly awaited every moment she was on screen. Laila is more relatable, soft-spoken, and deeply caring. The film just doesn’t dig into her mind enough for us to feel like she’s unraveling.
The acting in Strung is solid, particularly the iconic Lynn Whitfield. The ensemble cast is doing their best with dialogue that often sounds awkward or too expository. And it doesn’t help that there’s a lot of noticeable ADR. Unfortunately, the very distracting audio gets in the way of the actors’ performances.
Visually, Strung is quite stunning. DP Greg Gardiner’s (The Best Man: The Final Chapters) day shots are very bright, especially in and around the Walker estate. And at night, the lighting is warm and cozy. His cinematography works well with composers Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge’s (Cross, Luke Cage) interesting mix of jazz and classical with some diegetic hip hop. Bailey is impressive on the violin, too. It’s clear she played those lovely, and no doubt challenging, pieces herself, and that’s no easy feat.
Strung has a promising premise with striking visuals and performances, but ultimately falls flat. Production-wise, it’s a well-made film, save for some auditory issues. But despite its flaws, Lee’s thriller is entertaining, moderately suspenseful, and will have some audiences on the edge of their seats.
Strung had its world premiere at the American Black Film Festival on May 27. The film begins streaming June 26 on Peacock.
