The final weeks of high school can be either a wonderful time or a stressful experience. For students like Rori (Zoe Kelly), it’s an especially nerve-wracking period in her life as she grapples with complex emotional baggage and works to overcome years of abuse from her mother, Shelly (Jessica Morris). In the face of these challenges, Rori must figure out how to grow and move forward in order to get her life back on track. To help navigate this journey, she focuses her energy on small daily and weekly accomplishments, which she records in her journal, while confiding in her friend Hailey (Gabrielle Lenberg) and developing their ongoing relationship. One of Rori’s main priorities is running her school’s Spectrum Club, a safe space for students to discuss interpersonal relationships and trauma. The club tackles difficult topics like consent, identity, coping skills, and other issues affecting the school community. Writer and director Elliot Norton’s Stockton to Table Rock explores the complexities of teenage relationships, parenting, LGBTQ+ awareness, alcoholism, and the cycles of family abuse. In an unpredictable yet empowering tale, the film highlights the strength it takes to break free from these cycles and forge a healthier path forward.
Kelly delivers a fittingly uplifting performance as teenage Rori, skillfully navigating the intense emotions of her final days of high school while grappling with the overwhelming crisis unfolding with her mother. She brings the necessary gravitas to the character, balancing complex emotions with remarkable nuance. Kelly portrays a hyper-realistic young woman, one with both flaws and depth, as Rori embarks on a personal journey of mental health and self-discovery, finding direction along the way.
The audience witnesses the full spectrum of aloofness in Morris’ performance, as she fluctuates between a sincere willingness for growth and fervent anger at the prospect of redemption with her daughter. The skillfully edited (Elliot Norton, Chuck Norton) flashbacks featuring young Rori (Melia Kane) further highlight the dynamic range of Morris’ powerful and obsessive maternal portrayal. Kane delivers an exceptional performance for a young actress, tackling serious and challenging subject matter with maturity.
Lenberg plays a small but standout role, delivering a seductive and emotional performance that helps the audience evoke sympathy for Rori. She dazzles in her limited screentime, leaving a lasting impact. Her character plays a crucial role in guiding Rori toward a new direction in life, while also influencing Rori’s internal struggle and psychological dilemma.
The script explores intense and significant themes that have long plagued American youth, such as the cycle of abuse, identity struggles, sexuality, and the complex psychology of high school girls. Together, these elements form a unique and timely commentary on the lives of young people in today’s America. The dialogue is deliberately abrasive and shocking, aiming to provoke thought while offering an authentic portrayal of the challenges faced by high school students in Middle America. At its core, the script highlights the tension between Rori’s quest for self-revelation and the school administration’s perception of her impact on the broader school community.
The award-winning film explores the emotional struggle of alcoholism and its personal impact on a family. Each character grapples with their pain in different ways, and the film’s pacing allows the audience to experience this journey with them. As a result, the audience deeply feels Rori’s pain and they become invested in her ability to succeed.
Stockton to Table Rock is a powerful and quirky film with provocative characters and complex emotions. Rori’s journey of self-empowerment and personal growth provides a solid foundation for a unique exploration of mental health. In an era when a generation faces new challenges, the struggle of knowing when to ask for help becomes a crucial benchmark. While the perils of American youth and the quest for direction have long been explored in film, it’s refreshing to see such an honest approach to important issues like mental health, abuse, psychology, and single parenting. Norton crafts an uplifting story that offers a path forward and explores how to break the cycle of violence and abuse.
