Name: The Last Wave
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Fantasy
Released: 1977-12-15
Duration: 1 h 46 min
Cast: Richard Chamberlain, Olivia Hamnett, David Gulpilil, Nandjiwarra Amagula, Frederick Parslow

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Story

Hasn't the weather been strange ...could it be a warning?

A Sydney lawyer defends five Aboriginal people in a ritualised taboo murder and in the process learns disturbing truths about himself and premonitions.

Feels like

Atmospheric Mystery
Psychological Thriller
Aboriginal Spirituality
Premonition & Prophecy
Dreamlike Quality
Australian Cinema
Slow Burn
Crime Investigation
Social Commentary

Cast

16 of 16

Crew

Directed by: Peter Weir
Written by: Peter Weir, Tony Morphett, Petru Popescu
Produced by: Jim McElroy, Hal McElroy
Music by: Groove Myers

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Facts

December 15, 1977 · 1 h 46 min · PG

Released: December 15, 1977
Runtime: 1 h 46 min
Age rating: PG
Content: Disturbing Imagery
Genres: Drama, Mystery, Fantasy
Original language: English
Made in: Australia
Budget: $825,000
Box office: $2 million
Available in: 12 countries

Tropes

All Myths Are True, Giant Wall of Watery Doom, Proper Lady +9

All Myths Are True
Giant Wall of Watery Doom
Proper Lady
Psychopomp
Mad Artist
Cosmic Horror Story
Genre-Busting
Being Watched
Fish out of Water
Missing Mom
Apocalypse Wow
Wasteland Elder

12 of 29 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

5 questions, like "Where can I stream The Last Wave?"

Questions about The Last Wave

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Last Wave?

HBO Max

Criterion

In the United States, The Last Wave streams on HBO Max and Criterion. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 8 other countries.

Is The Last Wave worth watching?

77

GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 77 (IMDb 6.9, Rotten Tomatoes 78%, and Metacritic 85).

Is The Last Wave okay for kids?

PGDisturbing imagery

Better for older viewers: it's rated PG in the United States for disturbing imagery, and the viewing guide lists it for adults.

Will The Last Wave scare me?

Not scaryTerrifying

At times: scares are rated 6 of 10.

What tropes does The Last Wave use?

All Myths Are TrueGiant Wall of Watery DoomProper LadyPsychopompMad ArtistCosmic Horror StoryGenre-BustingBeing WatchedFish out of WaterMissing MomApocalypse WowWasteland Elderand 17 more

TV Tropes lists 29 tropes for it, including All Myths Are True, Giant Wall of Watery Doom, and Proper Lady.