Movie Review: ‘Continue’

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Review by James Lindorf

Someone taking on multiple roles to realize a dream is nothing new. Still, it is seldom as all-encompassing as Nadine Crocker’s work to bring her film “Continue” to life. Crocker wrote, directed, and starred in this powerful drama based on her mental health experiences. Crocker also worked as a producer through her company, Hopeful Romantix Productions. “Continue” started getting buzz while on the festival circuit in 2022 before being purchased by Lionsgate for distribution. The studio was so happy working with Crocker that they signed her to direct last year’s “Desperation Road” with Mel Gibson. Now that September has come around again, the studio is releasing “Continue” on the 6th as part of National Suicide Prevention Month.

Crocker stars as Dean, a young woman suffering from depression, forced to get her life together if she wants to end her involuntary stay in a mental institution. Dean was trying to follow in her father’s footsteps, but her suicide attempt, while bloody and thorough, was unsuccessful. With the help of her therapist Janet (Emily Deschanel, “Bones”), new friends Bria (Lio Tipton, Vengeance) and Taryn (Annapurna Sriram, Feral), and a new love interest Trenton (Shiloh Fernandez, Evil Dead) she can find a life she never imagined possible for a girl like her.

It is hard enough for people to share deeply personal things with their friends and family. The courage it takes to write it down, act it out, and share it with millions of people cannot be overstated. Crocker is shining a light on her darkest times with the hopes that it will help someone before they reach the depths that she did. When you are telling a tale of drug, alcohol, domestic abuse, and suicide, it is easy to become self-conscious, and you can see bits of that in her performance. The overall strong performance has a few cracks, and you have to wonder if she was worried about people perceiving her in a certain way or judging her relationship with Trenton. Perhaps, if she had allowed someone else to play Dean, Crocker could have taken a step back and directed them to an excellent performance as she did with the rest of the cast. The highlight of the cast was Tipton, who was the sweet, funny, and aggressive Bria. The bonding moments between her and Dean, filled with emotional depth and genuine connection, are the film’s best part. Those scenes are emotional, but they still find humor in the darkness, an element lacking in the rest of the film.

The portion of the film where Dean is making the transition that will allow her to leave the mental facility is relatively underdeveloped. She hits a wall and decides she wants to get better, and that is pretty much all it takes. She promises to do the work, and then she is released and off to meet Trenton. While the film aims to be a darker, more honest version of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” it skimps on what it takes to get to that dream life. Geoge Bailey was overwhelmed and just needed to be reminded how good he has it and how he positively impacts the lives of those around him. Reminders like that are not enough for someone suffering from major depression and shouldn’t have been glossed over as quickly.

“Continue” is enthralling and emotional as it spins its warning message: You only get one life, and some decisions cannot be undone. The film’s powerful message encourages viewers to find a way to ask for help, find the people who will be special to them, and hold on to them. Despite a few shortcomings, the film’s emotional impact is undeniable, leaving viewers feeling moved and reflective. It may not be perfect, but it still comes in strong at a 4 out of 5.

Director: Nadine Crocker
Producer: Nadine Crocker, Jay Seals, Anthony Caravella
Screenwriter: Nadine Crocker
Distributor: Lionsgate
Production Co: Hopeful Romantix Productions
Rating: R (Suicide/Bloody Images|Brief Drug Use|Sexual Content/Nudity|Language Throughout)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Limited Theatrical): September 6th, 2024
Runtime: 1h 55m