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.
Direction
Shults splits the film in half like a broken heart.
Score
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross at their most aching.
Cinematography
Aspect ratio shifts that mirror emotional suffocation.
Director
Trey Edward Shults
Kelvin Harrison Jr.
Tyler
Taylor Russell
Emily
Renée Elise Goldsberry
Catharine
Sterling K. Brown
Ronald
Lucas Hedges
Luke
Alexa Demie
Alexis
Neal Huff
Bill
Clifton Collins Jr.
Bobby
Krisha Fairchild
English Teacher
Ruben E. A. Brown
Wally
Joshua Brockington
Stan
David Garelik
Ryan
Bill Wise
Coach Wise
Harmony Korine
Mr. Stanley
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The wrestling scenes were shot with real Florida high school teams; Harrison Jr. trained for months and actually competed.
Shults based the father on his own stepfather's death—a film about the man who raised him, made after he couldn't say goodbye.
US
