Waves
Waves

Waves

2019Movie136 minEnglish

A controlling father’s attempts to ensure that his two children succeed in high school backfire after his son experiences a career-ending sports injury. Their familial bonds are eventually placed under severe strain by an unexpected tragedy.

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Insights

IMDb7.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes83%
Metacritic80
Google Users87%
Director: Trey Edward ShultsGenres: Drama, Family

Plot Summary

A contemporary drama that chronicles the tumultuous journey of a suburban family. Following a devastating personal tragedy, the film explores the emotional fallout and the complex dynamics within the family as they grapple with grief, anger, and the need for healing. It delves into the pressures faced by a young man navigating difficult choices and the impact on his relationships.

Critical Reception

Waves received widespread critical acclaim, particularly for its stunning visual style, powerful performances, and emotional depth. Critics lauded its ambitious direction and its exploration of difficult themes with sensitivity and artistic flair. While some found its emotional intensity overwhelming at times, the overall consensus was that it is a deeply moving and memorable cinematic experience.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its breathtaking cinematography and striking visual language.
  • Commended for the raw and powerful performances from its lead actors.
  • Noted for its unflinching, albeit intense, exploration of grief and familial trauma.

Google audience: Audiences largely appreciated the film's emotional impact and artistic ambition, with many highlighting the compelling performances. Some viewers found the intense emotional journey challenging, but the film was generally seen as a powerful and thought-provoking piece.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for Best Actor at the 2020 Critics' Choice Movie Awards for Kelvin Harrison Jr. and recognized on numerous year-end best-of lists.

Fun Fact

Director Trey Edward Shults drew inspiration for the film's distinctive visual style and its use of music from his own experiences and observations of family dynamics.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

5 reviews
endedgale

endedgale

the 2019 box office is still one of the best today. and it is no secret that 2019 had some of the best theatrical releases, and i think _**waves**_ is one of them. amongst many of the box office hits there was a little hidden gem called ...
SWITCH.

SWITCH.

'Waves', while certainly ambitious, is so busy trying to be a future indie classic with its camera acrobatics and needle drops that it forgets to give any impetus to care about the supposedly profound stories it's trying to tell, instead co...
Stephen Campbell

Stephen Campbell

**_Bleak, but not despondent; brilliant, but not for everyone_** >_For me, style always comes out of the character and the substance. Everything we're doing is just to bring you more inside the main character's head - the camera moves, t...
Matthew Brady

Matthew Brady

I went into this blind, but as soon as it was over, I instantly knew I witnessed something special. This is gonna be hard to talk about since the movie doesn’t follow a conventional narrative. Although I believe that these type of movies...
itsalwayssunnyinchicago

itsalwayssunnyin...

Best film of the year by far.