Netflix's latest Indonesian original film, "The Shadow Strays," directed by Timo Tjahjanto, has quickly become a global sensation. Just six days after its release, the action-packed movie made it to the Global Top 10 non-English films list and is trending in 85 countries, including major markets like the US, Canada, Brazil, and Germany.

Timo Tjahjanto describes his work as a story about love and expression. He explains that "The lead character 13 has an unexplainable trauma from her childhood suppressed inside her. At the same time, she has this feeling of having to love somebody." The film features complex characters with emotional depth beyond its intense fight scenes and stunning visuals.

Actresses Aurora Ribero and Hana Malasan were chosen for their ability to embody these intricate roles despite lacking prior action movie experience. Timo noted his instincts led him to cast them: “My instinct told me Aurora and Hana are the right ones.” Aurora described her character 13 as someone who "looks tough but actually has a very soft heart."

Adipati Dolken plays Prasetyo, a corrupt cop with strong ties to his friends Ariel (Andri Mashadi) and Haga (Agra Piliang). Adipati found portraying such a layered role challenging: “Prasetyo is very protective of his close friends, whom he considers family.” He emphasized that Prasetyo’s actions stem from love rather than villainy.

The film also highlights each character's depth through their choice of weapons. Timo explained how these choices reflect their personalities: “Soriah... will look unbelievably cool with a shotgun... 13 would go for a smaller weapon.”

"The Shadow Strays" showcases various action sequences from car stunts to nightclub brawls. Stunt choreographers Muhammad Irfan and Trisna Irawan incorporated diverse martial arts styles into the choreography. Irfan shared insights into training actors like Hana and Aurora for their roles.

A particularly challenging scene was filmed over 12 nights in a real warehouse filled with mosquitoes and dust. Despite these difficulties, "The Shadow Strays" is now available exclusively on Netflix.