Parents' Guide to Waves

Writer-director Trey Edwards Shults lobs a cinematic ticking time bomb here, using intense visual and audio elements to create palpable dread. When it all blows up, viewers watch, agape, as the smoke clears into a peaceful haze. The entire experience feels new and innovative, starting from Waves first moments, with 360-degree camera work gliding in rhythm with psychedelic rock (part of a phenomenal soundtrack) and encircling a young couple in love who are singing at the top of their lungs while driving down Miami's US 1. There's nothing about the scene that doesn't scream happiness, but the audience instantly understands: Don't get comfortable.

It's an intense experience, intent on evoking empathy and compassion. Waves looks at an act that most would call the work of a monster and then opens viewers' hearts to realize that there's more to the story. And that even if there is more to the story, that doesn't make it OK. All the moving parts that lead to the movie's central tragedy are accounted for, including the pressure parents put on kids to succeed. Ronald delivers a haunting line to Tyler (Kelvin Harrison, Jr.), one that speaks to the unfair struggle of the Black community: "We are not afforded the luxury of being average." It doesn't feel over the top, and it doesn't feel untrue, and yet the audience feels the weight of that statement on Tyler's shoulders: He cannot disappoint his family, his community, his race. More notably, as Tyler's story comes to a halt, the film transitions to his reserved younger sister. It's no coincidence that Emily (Taylor Russell) only starts to shine once Tyler's story goes dark; she represents all kids who grow up in the shadow of "star" siblings. The film hits on themes of love, forgiveness, redemption, and faith. It's an impactful film about a family, but it's not just for parents; with the phenomenal soundtrack, edgy cinematography, and honest reflection of high school culture, it's one that will serve as a magnet for teens, too.