Regent University graduate Jonathan Fox has quietly done what big-budget Hollywood rarely manages these days: he made a heartfelt, family-friendly film that refuses to apologize for hope and faith. Boardwalk Winter, written and directed by Fox and filmed in Virginia Beach, is a reminder that hardworking Americans still want stories that uplift instead of lecturing audiences with woke ideology.
The film follows Fern, a young woman who receives a terminal diagnosis and decides to spend her remaining time chasing a lifelong dream—finding a husband before time runs out—set against the salt-and-sand backdrop of the Virginia Beach boardwalk. It’s a darkly comic romance with a running time around 104 minutes, blending genuine emotion with moments of sharp wit rather than crude shock value.
What makes Boardwalk Winter especially notable for conservative audiences is the creative team behind it: Fox, a Regent alum with a background that includes military service and private-sector work before turning to filmmaking, intentionally centers faith and human dignity in his storytelling. The cast includes Natalie Veater in the lead and even Saturday Night Live alum Victoria Jackson, a rare and welcome conservative voice in entertainment, lending the project both credibility and charm.
Fox has said he wanted to find comedy through pain, to let light cut through darkness, and that intention shows on screen—actors and filmmakers involved repeatedly emphasize the film’s message that joy is possible even in tragedy. Lead actress Natalie Veater has spoken about the faith elements woven into the narrative and the film’s insistence that everyone deserves love and human connection, themes that echo the values many of us hold dear.
After premiering earlier in 2025, Boardwalk Winter has made the jump to wider distribution and is now available on digital platforms, giving ordinary Americans an easy way to vote with their attention and their wallets for content that celebrates marriage, community, and resilience. For conservatives tired of the cynicism from coastal elites, choosing to stream or buy independent films like this is a small act with an outsized cultural impact.
Independent reviewers have noted the film’s balance of humor and heart, and audiences seem to be responding to a story that refuses to mince moral clarity for trendiness. If we want Hollywood to remember its roots in storytelling that builds character and strengthens families, we must support filmmakers who take risks for truth and beauty instead of bowing to the latest cultural fashions. Boardwalk Winter is a modest, powerful example of that fight, made by Americans who still believe in joy no matter what.
