Written and Directed by Trey Edward Shults
Starring Taylor Russell, Kelvin Harrison, Alexa Demie and Sterling K. Brown
Running Time 2 hours, 15 minutes
MPAA Rating R

by Rosalie Kicks, Old Sport 

“No second chances, no second place.” 

I saw Trey Edward Shults’, Waves at the Toronto Film Festival based solely on the director’s previous work, It Comes at Night (I still need to watch Krisha, I KNOW! but cut me some slack guys. So many movies so little time.) and the buzz it generated from the fest. There was so much chatter about this flick that they made an additional screening available, which is how I was fortunate enough to see it. By not watching the trailer or reading the logline on IMDb, I was not prepared for the emotional roller coaster that I would be taken on. I recommend that viewers do the same for this one, as it may be best to avoid any spoilery plot details to experience the same powerful impact that it had on me. 

The two hour and fifteen minute flick is essentially, two movies that the writer/director manages to have co-exist seamlessly into one. It is one of those movies that I left feeling like I was punched in the gut. It has a lot to say, specifically in regards to how we view others and the lives that we affect when we make the choices that we do. The movie essentially tells the story of a well-off suburban African-American family of four and how each of them processes a traumatic situation. However, I feel it is also trying to show that for some of us there is no room for mistakes. Instead when an error judgment is made there are some individuals that will spend their entire life in the shadows of their blunders. 

In the first half of the film, the director focuses on the story of the teenage son, Tyler played excellently by Kelvin Harrison (Mudbound, 12 Years a Slave and It Comes at Night). The opening of the shot of the film is of a pack of high schoolers driving in a car, the camera is swirling in a 360 motion, which gives off this extremely manic tone right off the bat. I viewed this movie in an IMAX theater, as this seemed to be the only theater available for this pop-up screener, the film itself was clearly not made for an IMAX presentation; all I can say is, I am thankful I was sitting in the last row. Otherwise, I don’t think my seatmate would have been pleased with surprise induced projectile that almost occurred. Instead I only experienced a few retches. 

When I encountered this opening sequence, my initial thought was: who in the blue blazes shoots a scene like this? I quickly realized this moment was setting the tone for this character’s story. Tyler is erratic and like most teenagers his life is being pulled in a lot of directions. Everyone has expectations for him. His father, Ronald (Sterling K. Browne) wants him to excel at wrestling. His mother, Catherine (Renée Elise Goldsberry) demands he does well in school. Then there is his younger sister Emily (Taylor Russell), and his girlfriend, Alexis played by Alexa Demie (Euphoria) who also have demands on his time. It seems many have his life mapped out whereas for Tyler the future is uncertain. He is scared, yet everyone wants him to be sure of himself. Watching his story unfold, really resonated with me on a personal level. Especially, in regards to my experiences with my own brother. There was not a question that Tyler’s family didn’t care for him, in fact they may have cared too much? This seems like a weird thing to say, but the pressures, in particular from his father, not only caused his son to spiral out of control but it created a rift in their relationship. 

The creation of these characters appeared to not only be made with care, but also are extremely timely. There were moments between the father and son that will stay with me. Like when his father points out to his son, “We have to work ten times harder to get anywhere.”  For his son, Tyler, as long as it took him to earn his place, everything quickly taken away after a slew of devastating decisions that are made over the course of a couple hours.

From there, the film transitions to the sister’s story and the pacing dramatically is slowed down. I loved how the director managed to revisit aspects of the film, that we witnessed earlier on, but now we are seeing it from the perspective of how these characters are affected by trauma and how they are living with it. This is what hit me the hardest. It brought memories to surface, of particular situations with my own brother that I had not thought about it in a while. I packed these thoughts away and was under the assumption they were secure in a lock box within my mind. This film reminded me though, that often enough someone’s actions don’t just affect them, there are repercussions for their loved ones as well. The situation doesn’t just happen to one person, it happens to the family. 

I am really glad I made that split decision to purchase a glass of wine before entering the cinema to see this flick, because wow, did I ever need it. It should probably have a discretion: watch with alcohol or at the very least recommend that one has tissues on hand.

See it in theaters November 15.