‘Stew Peas’ (2026) Review
'Stew Peas' (2026) Review: Deliciously Thrilling. Every family has its secrets. Pretending like they don’t has heartwarmingly held households together since the beginning of time. Parents hide from their children, and vice versa, and spouses say nothing in their vows about speaking the truth. In Stew Peas, one family has their bonds tested when their new helper starts to expose the cracks in their family’s foundation.Written and directed by Sossiessia Nixon-Kelly, Stew Peas is the latest addition to the library of Jamaican cinema. The family of main characters is played by several first-time actors, including social media influencer Kerry-Ann “Chiney K” Collins, playing the matriarch Tessa, who doubles as the lead detective in the film’s murder conspiracy. Tessa’s character in the film examines the role of a mother and wife who dares to have a career of her own. Her devotion to her work is met with disdain by her family, who would rather she learn to cook a decent meal, even as she works through the trauma of losing her closest friend. It’s a role with many dimensions, and Collins plays it with class. Father to the family of three is Tarique Barrett as Neil, the husband/entrepreneur who yearns for the slightest crumb of affection from his wife, all the while undercutting her parenting of their daughter Nira, played by Shernet Swearine. For a performer so young, Swearine plays her role with nuance, displaying a firm grasp on her character, jumping from…
