The first half of the film is a kinetic, anxious masterpiece. We follow Tyler (a revelatory Kelvin Harrison Jr.), a high school wrestler living under the immense, loving but crushing pressure of his father Ronald (Sterling K. Brown). Tyler has it all: a devoted girlfriend (Alexa Demie), a supportive sister (Taylor Russell), and a future full of promise. But beneath the surface, a shoulder injury and the suffocating weight of expectations begin to crack his facade.
– A high-pressure, chaotic journey of a high school wrestling star whose life spirals out of control due to injury, relationship strain, and immense pressure from his domineering father (Sterling K. Brown). Part Two: Emily (Taylor Russell) waves 2019
The film is famously divided into two tonally distinct halves, mimicking the motion of a wave: a frantic, high-intensity buildup followed by a quiet, meditative crash and eventual calm. Waves (2019) - Plot - IMDb The first half of the film is a kinetic, anxious masterpiece
These elements combine to form a cinematic grammar that is as much about affect and sensation as it is about straightforward storytelling. Tyler has it all: a devoted girlfriend (Alexa
What makes Waves stay with you is its raw honesty. According to Scriptophile , it is a film that refuses to simplify trauma into easy lessons, choosing instead to explore how love and hatred often occupy the same space. Its use of music—featuring artists like Frank Ocean and Kanye West—acts as a "mixtape" for the soul, heightening every emotional beat. “Waves” Film Review: Love, Openness, and Forgiveness
Waves is more than a cautionary tale; it is an exploration of the cycle of trauma and the possibility of breaking it. By contrasting Tyler's explosive tragedy with Emily's quiet resilience, Shults creates a "deeply personal movie" that challenges viewers to find empathy in the most difficult circumstances. 'Waves' review by Michael Sicinski • Letterboxd