Having completed a handful of small roles in short films and TV, the 25-year-old actor got his big break in 2017 when he starred as Travis in Trey Edward Shults’ independent film It Comes at Night. Two years later, their opportunity to re-team in Waves would cement Kelvin Harrison Jr.’s reputation as an artist to watch and earn him the Next Generation honor at the 2020 Hollywood Critics Association Awards. What is so exciting about Kelvin Harrison Jr. is that he takes chances with his roles. Every character he embodies is layered with conflict, emotional urgency, and redemption. In what is sure to be the beginning of a long and prosperous career, here are three films to check out so you can tell your friends, “I knew of him then.”

 

Courtesy of Sundance Institute.

Luce

One of 2019’s smartest psychological thrillers flew under the radar, but that doesn’t mean it’s effectiveness is any less superior than last year’s heavy hitters (Us, Midsommar, etc). In Luce, directed by Julius Onah, Harrison Jr. play the titular role of Luce, an adopted high school student whose assimilation into “American life” comes easy as he is highly, almost scarily, emotionally intelligent. But being a young black man at a predominately white school, Luce experiences tokenism and heightened expectations from his family (Naomi Watts, Tim Roth) and his teacher Ms. Wilson (Octavia Spencer) that push him over the edge. Luce’s mental mind games on everyone around him begin to create an unsettling presence, which he knows and uses to his advantage.

Luce was a fantastic breakout role that highlighted Harrison Jr.’s ability to play two emotions at once: sweet on the surface, sour internally – I suppose it can be considered his sour patch kids performance. His delivery of many monologues are both heartfelt and piercing, and executed just right. He clearly keeps up with Octavia Spencer – who gives one of her strongest performances to date – and leaves the audience with an unforgettable sense of disillusion from his stellar performance.

Luce is available to rent on Amazon.

 

Courtesy of A24

Waves

His performance as a conflicted high schooler made Waves one of my favorite films of 2019. Directed by arthouse auteur Trey Edward Shults, Waves is a mesmerizing portrait of a hard-lived life and the discovery that every day is a new opportunity for compassion, acceptance, and peace. In an intensely moving performance, Kelvin Harrison Jr. plays Tyler, a high school athlete with a promising future, a steady relationship, and a supportive family. His father (Sterling K. Brown) takes the tough love approach to parenting, riding his son to always push harder, and faster. “We are not afforded the opportunity of being average,” he reminds Tyler, and that despite their suburban middle-class status, society will always identify them as only African-American. When a shoulder injury sidelines Tyler from his college prospects, his life begins to spiral out of control.

We see a different side of Harrison Jr. in Waves: one that’s chaotic and immature, trying to get through life with the best of intentions. His mental and emotional breakdown is so affecting, we empathize when he reaches his rock bottom, even justifying his uncontrollable actions. Harrison Jr.’s ability to make us root for him, even when in the wrong, is a sign of his acting power.

Waves is available to buy on Amazon on 1/21/2020.

 

Courtesy of Tribeca Film Festival

Gully

Gully, directed by music video veteran Nabil, is billed as a “slightly dystopian version of LA.” While there is truth in that observation, the dystopia isn’t a farfetched depiction of chaos – it’s all rooted in reality, which makes for an even more affecting watch. Best friends Jesse (Kelvin Harrison Jr.), Calvin (Jacob Latimore), and Nicky (Charlie Plummer) live within blocks of each other on the streets of South Central LA and all come from troubled backgrounds.

The effects of abuse, mental health issues, and an overall lack of supervision are contributing factors to the boys’ tough outer shells and their disregard for those around them. Out of boredom and abandonment, the boys cause fun-minded havoc around their impoverished community, despite the ominous warnings from the local homeless prophet (Terrence Howard). They may have been forced to grow up prematurely, but these are still young boys in need of a childhood, trying to figure out who they are and where they’re going amidst the chaos and unfair dealings that life has in store for them.

A release date is still TBD since its premiere at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival, but hopefully, fans of Harrison Jr. won’t have to wait long for this unique cinematic work to find a home. The Gully script gives this group of actors an outlet for more provocative expression, and while most of the choices they make are highly divisive, their commitment to character is unwavering. It’s a bold choice for Harrison Jr., who further proves his range is insurmountable.

Read more: Gully Review: An Aesthetically Rich Debut From Director Nabil

Gully does not have a release date yet.