From “The Best Man” director Malcom D. Lee and “Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers” scribe Alan B. McElroy, Peacock’s new horror thriller, “Strung,” is an absurd, campy film offering that leans fully into the ridiculous. “Strung” follows a naive violinist whose new role as a private music tutor for an affluent family leads her down a dark, sinister road of violence, greed and deception. Though the story itself is comically predictable, Chloe Bailey’s earnest portrayal and the lure of the iconic Lynn Whitfield make the movie fun to watch even as the narrative completely unravels at the seams.
“Strung” opens in present-day Los Angeles. Following a tragic loss, Layla (Bailey) is trying to find her way out of a rut. Despite her immense talent as a violinist, she hasn’t quite made it to the main stage. Instead, after two failed auditions with the Philharmonic, Layla is crashing on the couch of her best friend, Jasmine (Coco Jones), and earning money as a guest music teacher for school-aged children. Layla’s fortunes change after she meets the enigmatic Audra (a perfectly cast Lynn Whitfield), who is looking to hire a private, live-in music tutor for her gifted but peculiar granddaughter Zuri (Romy Woods).
Layla is hesitant to consider the opportunity at first, but Audra explains that she and her heavily pregnant daughter, Imani (Anna Diop), want to ensure Zuri receives adequate attention when the new baby arrives. With the job’s high salary, live-in accommodations and her love of children on her mind, Layla ignores Jasmine’s concerns and drives to the family’s estate to meet Zuri. Immediately, things feel off. The house staff behave like caricatures, giving their best “Get Out” impressions, and Imani is immediately hostile toward Layla. Endless house rules meant to address all of Zuri’s life-threatening allergies feel intrusive and strip away Layla’s autonomy. The musician is also thrown off when Zuri greets her wearing an oversized Zulu tribal mask that she refuses to take off.
Still, Layla doesn’t let her unease about the mask, Imani or her ever-expanding duties deter her from forming a bond with Zuri. And when Imani’s husband Marcus (Lucien Laviscount), an acclaimed music manager, assures Layla that he will put in a good word for her at the Philharmonic, she finds herself settling in with the family whose malicious secrets are as robust as their bank accounts. Despite any perceived perks, Layla quickly realizes this situation is not at all what she signed up for.
One of “Strung”’s issues is that it leaves too many questions unanswered. For example, a major plot hole is that the audience learns Layla’s younger sister tragically died following an asthma attack. Yet, there is no word on the rest of her family, including her parents and whether they are estranged or deceased. Moreover, though she preaches to Zuri about trusting her instincts and going with her gut, Layla does the opposite from the moment she pulls up to the family’s massive home.
The music in the film, composed by Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge, also lends to its ominous tone as Layla’s mental health and emotions continue to fray. Layla is thoughtful and intelligent, but she constantly makes poor decisions. Her choices are so preposterous that much of the dread which should run throughout the movie becomes comedic. It’s clear that screenwriter McElroy is offering commentary on the lack of agency that often comes with working for and living with an employer. However, several of the sequences, including the scenes between Imani and Layla, as well as the more violent and action-based ones, are so far removed from reality that even the most gullible viewers won’t take them seriously.
“Strung,” executive produced by Jason Blum and Tyler Perry, features a strong cast and some tantalizing sex scenes. Yet, after a major turning point just beyond the film’s halfway mark, the plot collapses in on itself, culminating in a bizarre and wholly unrealistic climax, ending almost exactly as one would expect. As the final chord on the violin is strummed, the audience will likely realize that “Strung” has a lot of glitz and glam but lacks the moxie to hold the right notes to make it a truly engaging psychological thriller.
