At its thematic core, Waves is a searing deconstruction of the pressures placed on young Black men to achieve perfection. The relationship between Tyler and his father, Ronald, is the primary catalyst for the film's initial tragedy.
The first half of the film follows Tyler Williams (Kelvin Harrison Jr.), a popular, affluent African American high school wrestling star. Tyler’s life is defined by momentum. Driven to the brink of perfection by his demanding father, Ronald (Sterling K. Brown), Tyler hides a severe shoulder injury, self-medicates, and spirals out of control when an unexpected pregnancy upends his relationship with his girlfriend, Alexis (Alexa Demie). This half is an escalating pressure cooker, filmed with frantic energy, that culminates in an irreversible, shocking act of violence. Act II: The Healing Tide waves 2019