‘The Shadow Strays’ Cast And Character Guide

The Shadow Strays is a Netflix original from Indonesia that tells the story of an assassin who is trying to save a boy from being killed. At the same time, she’s seeking her real identity, which has been kept hidden from her till date. As she starts on her mission to save the boy, she comes across many people who either want her dead or offer to help her. This forms the story of the movie as she is treading a path between morally gray characters. 

Thirteen

Aurora Ribero, as Thirteen, is the lead character in The Shadow Strays. She is an assassin working for a company that is widely known as the ‘Shadows.’ They are hired to kill high-profile people without much noise but enough bloodshed. Her group is dreaded, but during one of the missions she falters, and her mentor Umbra takes over to finish the job. Thirteen has been having an identity crisis since the day she joined Umbra to train as an assassin, as she is unable to remember her real name, and her mentor refuses to share it. 

Thirteen is a sensitive person who is moved by the story of her neighbor’s kid Monji, who must take care of his drug addict mother. Thirteen eventually becomes a witness to her death at the hands of a mafia ring. As Thirteen and Moji connect, the latter is kidnapped by men who she assumes are the same people who killed his mother. Thirteen now uses all the skills at her disposal to not just find Moni but to make sure he is safe. Thirteen and Monji are not related, but she feels fiercely connected to the boy. Since she never had a family of her own, she begins to treat Monji like her own flesh and blood and wants to go after the people who want to harm him.

Jeki

Kristo Immanuel plays Jeki, one of the henchmen working for Haga. Haga is a powerful and influential man responsible for the death of Mirasti, Monji’s drug addict mother. Jeki reaches Mirasti’s home on the orders of Haga and Ariel to find any evidence that would lead the police to them. Jeki is captured by Thirteen, who is only concerned about the wellbeing of Monji. Jeki is forced to help Thirteen, but in the process, he learns the people who hired him do not trust them. Thirteen goes on a killing rampage as she murders Haga, who she witnessed killed Mirasti. Haga’s partners do not hesitate to kill Jeki, as they believe he works with Thirteen. Jeki is an innocent guy who wants to take care of his ailing grandmother, but instead he is ambushed by Haga’s partner Prasetyo, but Thirteen comes to his rescue. He finally decides who he should be loyal to and takes that path seriously. 

Ariel

Andri Mashadi is Ariel, the arrogant only child brat of a local politician who has tied up with Prasetyo, a mafia don, and Haga, a human trafficker, to form one of the strongest syndicates in Jakarta. Ariel plans to become a powerful political leader after his father, who is currently looking for funds for his campaign. Ariel is part of the gang that murders Mirasti, Monji’s mother and he is the most brutal out of the three. Ariel is the last man standing in the movie who finally gets his hands on Thirteen and uses her weakness to their benefit. There is no redeeming quality in him, and as a result, Ariel cannot be considered a replacement for his corrupt politician father. 

Prasetyo

Adipati Dolken is the ruthless Prasetyo in The Shadow Strays, who is not aware of the assassin skills Thirteen possesses. Tragedies struck Prasetyo one after another as he lost his best friend Haga. Prasetyo, who is considered the sadist amongst the three, goes out of his way to let Thirteen know who he is. He is completely shocked to find Thirteen being driven and dangerous. She has a purpose and is not planning to back out. 

Umbra

Hana Malasan is Umbra in The Shadow Strays, Thirteen’s mentor, who is a tough person to please. Umbra is the one who got Thirteen into the assassins’ group and trained her to be as good as her. Umbra is also like a maternal figure, which Thirteen never had. She at times clings to Umbra, begging to find out what her real name is and who her mother is. Umbra also comes across as someone who takes the rules of the group seriously to the point she is willing to kill an ex-member. This ex-member asks her to step away from the brainwashing and see the world for what it is. Umbra is of the opinion that Thirteen was wasting her skills saving a meek boy. She soon understands the emotion behind it. 

Haga

Agra Piliang is Haga. Along with he, Ariel and Prasetyo run the mafia in the city with an iron fist. Haga is the first person who is seen by Thirteen. He was threatening Mirasti, and soon after, she was dead, and Monji was left an orphan. Thirteen goes after Haga to find Monji, but she is not ready to find out just how dangerous the trio is. Haga also underestimates Thirteen at this point, and is not willing to give up Monji. None of the men from the trio are aware Thirteen is an assassin, and that she can go to any extent to get Monji out alive. Haga massively underestimates this assassin, and all hell breaks loose as she showcases her skills and determination to find Monji at any cost.

Monji 

Ali Fikry, as Monji in The Shadow Strays, is a kid who has to mature early to take care of his drug addict mother Mirasti. He cleans up the mess his mother makes every time, but he is also vocal about being tired of being the parent while his mother is not doing the bare minimum for him. Tragedy strikes in his life when his mother is killed, and he is orphaned thanks to the mafia, who made sure his mother did not survive. Thirteen, his neighbor, sympathizes with Monji. As both are orphans, they form a strong bond. Monji is, however, kidnapped by the same people who killed his mother. He did not expect to be saved by anyone but Thirteen goes out of her way to make sure Monji is brought back safely. 

Mirasti

Jessica Marlein as Mirasti is Monji’s mother in The Shadow Strays. She is first seen by Thirteen near her home in Jakarta as a drug addict barely surviving with Monji. Mirasti, because of her condition, is unable to take care of her son but considers herself lucky to have a person who wants to be around her and give her the moral support to be a better person. Mirasti is sadly killed by the dreadful mafia. A lot of action is set in motion after her son is kidnapped by the same people who killed her.