A documentary that a review really can’t do justice. it’s hard to sit here and type, as a non-veteran, and convey the same emotion effectively as the veterans do in Netflix’s new documentary In Waves And War. The purpose of the film is to show how radical new drug therapies are helping soldiers with their PTSD, and in order to do that, we have to get to know the soldiers. they bravely served, and now courageously sit for this documentary feature and share their horror stories about what they went through. Most of these guys signed up just before 9/11, and became career soldiers, spending years fighting for this country. Then, when they return home, after seeing friends get killed, and facing some of the harshest situations, they are left with a really insufficient veteran’s affairs,and doctors trying to figure out just how many pills it takes to level them out. Waking nightmares, depression, and suicidal thoughts are only some of what they now face.

That is, until a radical new therapy, which involves an extracted drug and some toad venom, gives them the kind of relief. the problem is, it isn’t legal in America, so they have to travel to go through the therapy. they claim it works, and I hope it really does. These men deserve peace.

The film does such a wonderful job selling itself, until the guy in charge of figuring out which music to use decided to roll out some flower power 70’s music, which runs counter to the idea that this isn’t simply recreational or for fun, but rather necessary for men who have tried everything else. I didn’t appreciate the allusion, and I think it sets the messaging back. Our country has such a conflicted relationship with drugs, believing they have no place, that it can be hard to advocate for their medicinal use. When you make people think that hippies are looking to repopulate the earth, I’m not sure that gets their stuff legalized.

In Waves And War is a documentary about what we can really do to help the men and women who sacrifice so much for this country, and the least you can do is hear them out. their stories are harrowing and unforgettable.

Fresh: Final grade: 8.9/10