Kerby Brown is gearing up to face a monster wave – a ferocious ‘slab wave’ in the deep Southern Ocean that no one on the planet has surfed before. But the enigmatic West Australian man is also facing other monsters of his own – deep in his psyche. Facing Monsters is more than just a surfing story. It’s an unapologetic musing into the essence of Kerby Brown, whose connection with the ocean runs as deep as his love for his family. The film explores fear, addictions and family bonds; it asks what drives Kerby, what anchors him, and why he’s obsessed with pitting himself against one of nature’s most intimidating forces.

Facing Monsters is directed by Bentley Dean, who made Tanna, which was nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 2017. It features stunning cinematography by Rick Rifici (Breath, Blueback), which plunges us into the swell of the Southern Ocean, right there with Kerby. It’s suspenseful, action-packed and transportive, and dares to confront the real-world consequences that Kerby’s death-defying passion could have on his family.