Waist Deep 2006

Ex-convict Otis, known as O2 due to his remarkable ability to vanish from crime scenes, has served his time and is intent on leaving his criminal past behind, vowing never to abandon his young son, Junior. One afternoon, his commitment is put on the line when he arrives late to pick Junior up from school. As he promises to always return, tragedy strikes: O2’s cherished 1960s Chevrolet Impala SS Lowrider is stolen at gunpoint in a busy intersection, with Junior still inside.

Determined to retrieve his son, O2 embarks on a harrowing chase. However, when a violent confrontation occurs with the carjackers, he realizes he cannot risk involving the police. In an unexpected turn, he crosses paths with Coco, a streetwise woman who peddles stolen suits for a thug named P Money. O2 forces Coco, who he knows was involved in the set-up, to aid him in finding Junior.

To complicate matters further, O2’s unreliable cousin Lucky joins the fray. He works under Big Meat, the ruthless leader of the Outlaw Syndicate. After a few frantic hours, Lucky delivers grim news: Junior has been captured by Meat, who demands a staggering $100,000 ransom by midnight the next day—or Junior’s life is forfeit. Although O2 insists he has no money, Meat is convinced that O2 has stashed away part of their last heist’s earnings, which led to his incarceration.

With time running out, O2 devises a risky strategy: he and Coco will rob both P Money and Big Meat simultaneously, making it look like they are at war—a plan fueled by desperation to reclaim his son. They successfully seize money and valuable jewelry during their brazen heist but face unforeseen complications when Lucky, eager to prove himself, unwittingly takes the loot to Big Meat, putting everyone in jeopardy.

When they confront Big Meat with the ransom, the situation escalates violently. Just as O2 hands over the money, it becomes clear that Meat had never intended to allow Junior to live, leading to chaos as Lucky bravely intervenes, sustaining a lethal gunshot wound in the process. O2 fights off Meat’s henchmen, eventually confronting Meat himself. After a tense standoff, O2 kills Meat, securing Junior’s safety.

As they make their escape, O2 tends to Lucky’s grave injuries at a gas station, only to succumb to grief upon realizing Lucky has died. To protect Coco and Junior, O2 tells them to flee to the Mexican border while he distracts the pursuing police. With no alternative left, O2 drives into a lake to evade capture.

In Mexico, Coco and Junior find solace in a beachside home. One day, while walking along the shoreline, they spot a familiar figure in the distance. To their surprise, it’s O2, having escaped from the depths, fulfilling his promise to return. Their reunion is a poignant moment of hope amidst chaos, signifying family, resilience, and the unwavering bonds of love.