Overview
The blood-pumping drama Straight Ruthless, released in 2023 is bursting with themes that revolve around anger, loss, heartbreak, vengeance, and redemption. The film directed by Lorenzo Pierson details what happens when love is ruptured with violence and a woman needs to undergo metamorphosis from a victim to a fighter after severe loss that no human being should ever have to go through.
The film is focused around the streets of Detroit which is home to the emotionally shattered woman who is a newlywed and suffers the devastating loss of her husband. It is a tale woven with deep feelings and the fight meted out alongside street style revenge that shows what happens when extreme betrayal poses threat to bonds of love, friendship, loyalty, and sheer perseverance.
This is not simply a tale of vengeance but one of hurt and survival while covered in cold shivers, finding warmth in strife.
Plot Summary: From Love to War
The character of ‘Angel’ portrays a beautiful, smart, loving woman, who has just married the love of her life, who is known as ‘Dez.’ The couple’s life has centered around the vibrant city of Detroit, where they hope to build a new life together while leaving behind their struggles as a couple for good.
But fate has other plans.
As things appear to be going well for the couple post their Detroit return, mishaps begin the moment they wish to settle down – lose their pre-planned trip!
Not long after their return, tragedy strikes. Dez is ruthlessly murdered by a masked gunman in what appears to be a plan gone wrong. Angel is left in a state of mourning, suffering from loss, grief and heartbreak.
Drawing the last brush strokes to their world of beauty and adventure, she seeks solace through artistic endeavors – where heartbreak meters become the main projection.
However, Angel isn’t the type to sit back and accept defeat.
Slowly, as the story progresses, we come to see changes portrayed in Angel. Most prominent of them is her relentless spirit. In order to put the pieces together post her husband’s death, Angel contacts a friend of hers from the streets.
Determined to uncover the truth about Dez’s death, Angel reaches out to her long-time friend Kane, a street-savvy and connected individual who knows the dark corners of Detroit better than anyone.
His contacts are quick to lead her towards a missing son and a social media influencer with a checkered past.
The entire process proves fruitful, granting new found peace to the protagonist as she learns that everyone is scheming in their own world.
With the new truth shocking her, her friend Kane has to combine many dots to get control over a mob king masquerading as a businessman.
Feeling relentless towards the betrayal she feels, she starts off her new life with claim to her dead husband’s assets and threatens ‘The Heart of the Lion’.
By the mid 2020’s she wires her agendas to go public with the inauguration of her husband’s unfinished Tower of Oil.
As any revolutionary fighter schemes a dramatic vendetta for her envisioned paradise: A society free from tyranny!
Angel has no option but to fight back now — and it’s both for vengeance and self-preservation.
Main Cast and Characters
Lauren Lola Davis as Angel – A grieving woman turned into a fighter on a quest to avenge her husband’s death.
Raquel Brown as Destiny – A friend who stands by Angel throughout the darkest times of her life, but may be harboring her own set of secrets.
Phonzo Brown as Hitman – The unknown assassin responsible for pulling the trigger on Dez and commencing the unending spiral of death.
Supporting Roles – Numerous street cred characters and locals of Detroit who are intricately woven into the betrayal, deceit, and final showdown that Angel has to confront.
Themes Explored in the Film
💔 Love vs Betrayal
Angel trusted it would evolve into something wonderful, however unfortunately, violence ensued continuously. This film captures how rapidly trust can vanish due to greed, jealousy, and hidden secrets.
⚖️ Revenge & Justice Straight Ruthless pose a simple question: How far will you go to get revenge when justice is not on your side?
🌆 Life in the Streets
The film portrays an honest depiction of urban life where survival is truly about being two steps ahead of everyone, even those you once mistakenly trusted.
💪 Woman’s Strength
Empowerment is best encapsulated by Angel’s journey. It shifts from grief to courageous actions, transforming her into a force to be dealt with.
Cinematic Style & Direction Rough grounded Detroit is full of street life which is captured by Director Lorenzo Pierson in his cinemative style. The film is raw in its portrayal of grief, love, and violence.
The film captures deep intimate scenes of sorrow along with rage filled confrontations that spotlight the relentless spirit of Detroit’s neighborhoods.
The soundtrack and moods are intense and add to building the weight of Angel’s emotional journey from heartbreak to a feeling of utter vengeance.
Reception & Audience Feedback Straight Ruthless: Despite mixed reviews from audiences and independent film critics, stood its ground.
Praise:
- Lauren Lola Davis’s performance was emotionally nuanced.
- The gritty sentimentality of loyalty, love, and betrayal pulling at the heartstrings is universal.
- It features a strong female character enacting revenge and telling her story.
Criticism:
- The film drags during the second act.
- As is routine for indie films, there are some audio and editing discrepancies.
- The limited budget can be seen in the execution of some scenes due to the production’s constrained resources.
Irrespective of the critiques, they still found value in the film “Straight Ruthless” as it authentically portrays the themes of grief and revenge resonating with urban drama and street life narratives.
Final Remarks: Is It Worth Watching Straight Ruthless (2023)?
If urban dramas focusing on the grim realities of betrayal and revenge are your cup of tea, “Straight Ruthless” offers a compelling and riveting tale of vulnerability and fortitude.
It’s a story about losing everything — and then finding the strength to fight back.
Make sure to check it out if you enjoy:
✔ Films featuring women enacting vengeance ✔ Gritty urban drama ✔ Stories centered on loyalty and betrayal ✔ Films rife with unfiltered emotions and tangible conflicts ✔ Character-driven narratives by independent filmmakers
Bottom line
The 2023 release “Straight Ruthless” revolves around love, betrayal, and enduring survival in a deceitful world where trust is tenuous and enemies lurk behind the mask of friends.
It is an exemplary story from which we can learn how to deal with life when it pushes us to the very tip of our breaking point, and the steps that we can take to emerge triumphant stronger than before.