Bobby L
I found this film very moving, and deeply personal. It resonated with my personal experience of grief and the complexities of dealing profound loss. The movie addresses mental health issues, especially among teens, and the impact they have on families and friends in an unflinching and heartfelt manner.
This movie is a must watch for anyone who have friends and family dealing with mental health challenges (and who doesn’t?) It brings about a genuine appreciation and highlights the importance of suicide prevention. The movie sheds light on a narrative that is as much about those left behind as it is about the one who leaves.
For viewers like myself, who has experienced a similar path of loss, the film is deeply relatable. it's an important film. Although this is a faith based film and I am not a religious person, and yet I had no problems relating to the parents or others in the faith community depicted. In one scene towards the end, when different parties come together to reconcile their differences and humble themselves in the presence of god, I actually found it deeply moving.
The characters are so human, the story so important, I would recommend this movie to everyone. I'm very glad I saw this film, and am grateful for the filmmakers for channeling their pain into something inspiring which I hope will help many others.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
03/20/25
Full Review
Andrew W
The Paulsen family appear to have it all- a beautiful home in Florida – spiritually full lives and a love for each other that can withstand anything until older son Justin (Ellijah Passmore) begins to exhibit disturbing behaviour which quickly spirals out of control leading to a suicide attempt hospitalisation and a diagnosis of suicidal obsessive compulsive disorder.
I Want To Jump is an ensemble piece and each actor in the Paulsen family brings so much to the table it's almost like their individual arcs are a dense nuanced story within itself.
Ellijah Passmore as Justin shows a complex and empathetic performance of a young person on the edge trying to hold on when everything else is screaming at him to give up.
Deborah played Jana Lee Hamblin is the well meaning mother who finds herself suffering a crisis of faith engulfed in a mixture of grief rage and paranoia.
Eddie Mclintock Shines as father Randy the charismatic Florida man obsessive over achiever fighting to keep his family together who seems to be able to accomplish anything he sets his mind on except for understanding his sons illness.
Youngest son Brandon (Brody Hull) barely says a word through out the film but his silent expressions contains multitudes. His restrained performance reminded me of Robert De Niros daughter in “The Irishman”. They say nothing but they understand everything.
The film highlights the challenges and frustrations navigating the complexities of the healthcare system and the complete inadequacy of organized religion in the form of the family's church who believe they should treat Justin's condition as a spiritual problem rather then a health issue with disastrous results.
I Want To Jump is not an easy film to watch but nor should it be. Its emotional authenticity and lived experience of the filmmakers make it a compelling story about grief and recovery.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
02/15/25
Full Review
TRAVIS G
I just watched the movie I WANT TO JUMP.
The movie has a lot of strong scenes that I enjoyed watching and were also quite comical.
The movie is directed and written by Deborah Paulsen & Jason Campbell. Lead actors I enjoyed watching were Randy Paulsen playing Eddie McClintok and Deborah Paulsen playing the character of Jana Lee Hamblin.
The movie takes a very serious subject and keeps you thinking deeply and has a good thought provoking spiritual message.
The movie has good suspense, very good dialogue and drama and tons of unique scenes. It’s definitely an original movie to watch! It was also shot in a cool way with many cool scenes to see and quite intriguing. The production value is quite high! The story pulls you in many directions as you're watching this movie. I also thought the lead actors had great onscreen chemistry– they were great together. The sets are great for an indie movie. I look forward to what this director and filmmaker can achieve in his upcoming bright career! Check this movie out! You’ll remember it!
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
02/12/25
Full Review
Alec Ybarra • Director of Photography Y
This film was well-paced and the subject matter is engaging and important. The film is also an independent production based on a true story from the director's own life and you can feel the heart, effort, and love that went into the project. The integration of not only Justin and his family's struggle, but also church-hurt and faith made for a more well-rounded viewing experience. There is power in the blood of Jesus for healing and I think this film will be used to reach the right people to give them hope. Keeping in mind this is an indie film, the script and acting still will leave viewers hooked throughout the narrative and it is something that leaves an impression.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
02/02/25
Full Review
Kolo P
What a hard film to watch! There's no getting around the subject matter of teen suicide in this film and you are forced to engage with the gritty issue rather than just sit and be entertained by a film. Great character acting by the actors playing the mom and dad and Justin as this is very much a dialogue story. Its certainly not not the kind of film where you can put on TV and scroll through your phone at the same time - nor should it be. There are some strong scenes here and hard to watch at times but I liked the ending message that God is in control and will use pain for His good and glory always, and this helps to lift the viewer out of the heavy subject of suicide without paying lip-service to it or overly neatly packaging the ending. Overall a well done film, strong story and solid message.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
02/02/25
Full Review
SkyRo P
I recently viewed the film "I Want to Jump," a faith-based drama featuring Eddie Minnick and several other actors I wasn't familiar with.
The plot centers around the sensitive topic of suicide, focusing on a mother, her son, and a father who are all navigating the son's struggles with his mental health. The mother is deeply committed to her son's recovery, while the father comes off as unsupportive and abrasive.
Among the three main characters, the mother, father, and son, only they seem to have any significant acting experience. The supporting cast, including the doctor and a younger character, struggled to deliver their lines convincingly, especially during emotional scenes, which detracted from the overall impact of the film.
While the film aims to convey a message of faith, it often feels more like a low-budget drama destined for streaming rather than a compelling narrative. Though it wasn't a terrible watch and had its moments, the lack of strong performances from several characters made it challenging to stay engaged.
The younger brother's portrayal was particularly weak, and both the older and younger pastors delivered performances that felt miscast. It would have benefited the film to hold actual auditions and select actors who could truly bring these roles to life.
I commend the filmmakers for tackling such a poignant topic and basing the story on real experiences. However, I wish Justin's character had been more fleshed out, allowing us to better understand his journey toward thoughts of suicide. Instead, the narrative felt somewhat flat. Overall, it's an acceptable film, but I don't see myself watching it again.
Rated 2/5 Stars •
Rated 2 out of 5 stars
11/04/24
Full Review
Read all reviews
Continue with Google
>
