The Last Stop

The constant background music combined with a high tempo editing stresses me out, to an extent where I can no longer concentrate about the story. Two hours is a long time becomes a very long time.

Like Luluew I was in a similar program, at 13-16 I was in a "TC" were yelling ,screaming ,shaved heads for the boys, girls had to wear stocking caps, we were shoveling snow with a spoon I was super rebellious and got 'shot down alot" , i have to say I am so grateful this documentary came out and the light you guys shed on these "therapeutic communities". I never understood why after I was away at the young age of 13-16 when i left for the " real world " I was always so scared of being screamed at and life was very black and white I was either good or bad no in-between., I feel like pain shared is pain lessened and as crazy as that place was, my experience was both bad and good, and I have both horrible and great memories of that facility I was in. Elan was really out there on many levels! God Bless all the brave amazing strong people seen in the doc. You guys made it through there you can do anything !

Near the end of documentary it is revealed that state of rhode island sent 117 people there and over 70 were in prison after time at elan. That's a fail rate higher than 59.8%

This documentary exposing the abuses of a disciplinary school was quite interesting... to a point, that is. After a while the stories were quite repetitive (many past students sharing similar stories). So I felt it would have been better served as a 1 hour TV episode (like a 20-20 or Dateline) vs. A full-length feature. It was interesting psychologically in that it showed how a few in power can gain control over others and even turn them against each other. Also interesting is that some walked away with generally positive feelings and others were deeply traumatized.

As someone who was sent away to a similar program I think everyone should watch this to educated in an attempt to put an end to the "troubled teen" industry.

I know someone who graduated from Elan, and I had always heard stories about it, but I never truly understood them until watching this documentary. Even as someone with no ties to this school on my own, I found this documentary to be a gripping and masterfully assembled film that takes you for a walk into the twisted reality that many unfortunate adolescents had to endure. A truly unique story, paired with excellent execution from a young Director. I expect we will get more excellent films from Director Nilssen in the future!

This documentary shows why this is not the answer on how to treat bad kids. I remember an old friend told me that she knew someone that went to that school. The guy that went to that school had so many issues and problems. He hit a girl's face and choked her. It sounds like that school abused him which in turn he abused an innocent person. It appears that all of the bad kids that were sent to that school were never able to redeem themselves. They were hopeless cases that became even more hopeless.

This was one of those documentaries that you had to sit in silence for a few minutes after it was done to collect your thoughts. It's a thorough account of a heartbreaking and complicated truth around the history of elan, a school for troubled adolescents. Filled with visceral interviews of past residents, this documentary will evoke a series of raw emotions. Immersive and harrowing, this one will stay with you for a while.