AuthorMaryannGestwicki

Heartbreaking and haunting. Gabby's story reminds us how quickly a picture-perfect life on social media can hide the reality of abuse. This documentary shows the devastating impact of domestic violence while raising tough questions about family, loyalty, and justice. Gone too soon, but never forgotten. 💔

Phoenix Rising stands as a harrowing, necessary work-both a personal reckoning and a societal call to action. Its unfiltered portrayal of trauma, layered critique of systems, and earnest drive for change make it hard to watch, but immensely important.

Phoenix Rising is one of the most powerful documentaries I've ever seen. Evan Rachel Wood's courage in speaking out, reliving her trauma, and turning her pain into advocacy is beyond inspiring. This isn't just her story-it's a spotlight on how society fails survivors, and why voices like hers are so necessary. Heartbreaking, raw, and essential viewing.

The Carters: Hurts to Love You delivers a raw, unflinching portrait of fame's heavy price, told through the often-overlooked perspective of Angel Carter. As the twin sister of Aaron Carter and sibling to Nick Carter, Angel provides an intimate and deeply personal lens on a family torn apart by success, addiction, and unresolved trauma.

The film traces the Carter family's meteoric rise in the late '90s and early 2000s, as Nick skyrocketed to fame with the Backstreet Boys while Aaron became a teen pop sensation in his own right. Yet behind the glitz and sold-out arenas lies a haunting narrative of mental health battles, substance abuse, and familial dysfunction. Through Angel's voice, we witness the cost of stardom not only on those in the spotlight but also on those living in their shadow.

What sets this documentary apart is its balance between tenderness and tragedy. Angel doesn't shy away from difficult truths: the devastating spiral of Aaron's addiction, the painful estrangement among siblings, and the lasting scars of growing up in a fractured home under the glare of public scrutiny. The film handles these themes with empathy, avoiding exploitation while illuminating the human toll of celebrity culture.

Visually, Hurts to Love You weaves archival footage, personal interviews, and candid family moments into a narrative that feels both heartbreaking and cathartic. The pacing allows viewers to sit with the discomfort of loss while also appreciating the resilience that emerges from Angel's story.

Ultimately, this is not just a documentary about the Carters-it is a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked fame, the stigma of mental health struggles, and the complex dynamics of family bonds tested by public pressure. It is a moving tribute to Aaron Carter's legacy, an honest reckoning with Nick Carter's journey, and, above all, a reminder that behind every headline lies a family carrying unseen wounds.

The Carters: Hurts to Love You is a poignant, necessary watch for anyone seeking to understand the hidden costs of fame. Centering Angel's perspective, it gives voice to grief, love, and survival in the aftermath of tragedy.