Waves 2019 -

The soundtrack is integral, featuring a score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. It seamlessly blends with popular music—specifically Gen Z artists and nostalgic tracks—mirroring the intense feelings and emotional highs and lows of the characters. The Motif of Water

The first hour of the film follows Tyler (Kelvin Harrison Jr.), an upper-middle-class, high-school wrestling star in South Florida. Under the immense pressure of his domineering father, Ronald (Sterling K. Brown), Tyler pushes past his physical limits. When a severe shoulder injury threatens his athletic future and an unexpected pregnancy strains his relationship with his girlfriend, Alexis (Alexa Demie), Tyler cascades down a drug-fueled path of psychological ruin, culminating in a tragic act of violence. waves 2019

The film utilizes swirling, kinetic camera movements—most notably inside Tyler’s car as he drives with Alexis. The camera spins rapidly between the front and back seats, mimicking the dizzying highs of youth and the disorienting rush of adrenaline-fueled arguments. The soundtrack is integral, featuring a score by

For film critics and cinephiles, refers exclusively to the gut-wrenching family drama directed by Trey Edward Shults. Released by A24 in November 2019, Waves is an audacious, two-part sensory assault that chronicles a suburban African American family in South Florida navigating love, tragedy, and forgiveness. Under the immense pressure of his domineering father,

Tracks by , Kanye West, and Animal Collective serve as vital emotional punctuation marks throughout the runtime. Deconstructing the Demands of Modern Patriarchy

Waves is the third feature film from writer and director Trey Edward Shults, a young filmmaker praised for his previous works, including the haunting thriller It Comes at Night . Set against the vibrant, sun-drenched, but emotionally turbulent landscape of South Florida, the story traces the epic emotional journey of a suburban African-American family. The Williams family appears to be living a comfortable, successful life, but beneath the surface, fault lines run deep, waiting to crack open under pressure.