"Hell Camp Teen Nightmare" takes us back to a controversial chapter in the history of teen rehabilitation, revolving around the infamous "therapy" camps led by Steve Cartisano. As a documentary, its strength lies in its ability to unearth a largely overlooked episode from the late 1980s, intertwining disturbing recollections with raw archival footage. The film succeeds in painting an unflinching portrait of the physical and psychological extremes these camps subjected troubled teens to. It's a stark and eye-opening narrative that highlights the lengths to which misguided interventions can harm those they purport to help.
Despite its promising premise and the important story it brings to light, the documentary falters markedly in its execution. A substantial portion of the film is dedicated to the viewpoint of Cartisano, proffering a platform for self-defense that uncomfortably skews the balance of the narrative. While the inclusion of multiple perspectives is fundamental to any comprehensive account, the meticulous attention afforded to Cartisano's justifications leaves a bitter aftertaste, underplaying the agony endured by the participants in his programs.
In its essence, "Hell Camp Teen Nightmare" offers a good documentation of events that should not be forgotten, but its empathetic lens toward a figure like Cartisano is a misstep that undermines the suffering of those he was responsible for. It's a missed opportunity to consistently confront the ethical violations of the past with the rigorous scrutiny they deserve. A score of 6/10 reflects a documentary that, while informative and potentially eye-opening, is hampered by an imbalance in storytelling that could distract from the central harrowing experiences it seeks to expose.
