A few months ago, I watched Waves(2019), directed by Trey Edward Shults, with my mom, and it’s one of those movies that sticks with you long after the credits roll. It’s emotional, raw, and beautifully shot. The film doesn’t just tell a story but makes you feel every moment of it.
Directed by Trey Edward Shults, Waves follows a suburban Black family in South Florida, focusing first on the main character Tyler (Kelvin Harrison Jr.), a high school senior with a very promising future. His dad (Sterling K. Brown) pushes him hard, expecting perfection, and at first, Tyler seems to have it all. He’s talented, popular, and dating a girl he loves. But as pressure builds, bad decisions pile up, and his life spirals out of control in ways that are hard to watch. Just when it feels like the movie can’t get any heavier, the focus shifts to his younger sister, Emily (Taylor Russell). Her story is quieter, more about healing and learning how to move forward after tragedy.
What makes Waves stand out is how it looks and sounds. The cinematography is incredible. The colors, the lighting, the way the camera moves—it all pulls you into the characters’ emotions. In the first half, everything feels intense and chaotic, almost suffocating. Then, when the perspective shifts to Emily, the tone changes completely. It’s softer, more open, like a deep breath after drawing in tension.
The soundtrack is just as important. I absolutely love the artists featured: Frank Ocean, Kanye West and Radiohead. Every song feels perfectly placed. For example, when Tyler is being romantic driving around with Emily, Frank Ocean love songs are playing. These songs add even more depth to the emotions on screen.
The performances are unreal. Harrison Jr. makes Tyler feel so real—he’s not just a troubled teen; he’s someone who’s trying but can’t escape the pressure he’s under. Brown plays a strict father who, despite his flaws, clearly loves his kids. But for me, Russell’s performance as Emily was the most powerful. She carries the second half of the film with so much heart, showing how love and kindness can help rebuild what’s broken.
Watching Waves changed me. It made me think about family, forgiveness, and how easily life can shift from happiness to tragedy. It’s not always an easy watch, but it’s worth it. It’s the kind of movie that makes you reflect on your own life, and to me, that’s what great films are supposed to do.