Sterling K. Brown heads this outstanding cast as a stern father whose demanding relationship with his son is the driving factor behind this film’s absorbing and powerful look at family. Interestingly, even though the family is black, it has nothing to do with the story or situations. The first half focuses on the son’s struggles that lead to tragedy, then it the centers around the daughter and the family’s attempts to rebuild their relationships. This sounds heavy and it is, but the uniformly riveting performances and the slightly experimental, always brilliant direction by Trey Edward Shults solidifies the skills of this important talent. The equally intense score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross amps up the drama, while adding a potent overlay of sound. Although this film could have been slightly shorter (it’s 2:15) and used fewer tears, it’s still an affecting and complex story told with impressive skill.
(4 / 5)