The Last Stop

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 !

From start to finish this film takes you on an honest ride of horrific psychological, verbal and physical abuses that took place for decades in these teen houses of hell, in Maine run by Joe Ricci. I could not sleep the night I saw this film. It was screened in Atlanta at The Drug Policy Alliance Conference. The Director Todd Neilsson himself spent a stint here, but in its final years. Neilsson really captured the true atmosphere as he had access to the location. Elan still stands as it was like some sort of haunted asylum! Excellent film that deserves full distribution and should be shown on TV as well so parents know what these places are really like.

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.

Jeff Wimbelton here, not a fan of this "school". Glad someone made a doc about it. Elan is a hard place to explain so any efforts to do so deserve to be commended.

I really couldn't watch this, I could only skim it due to the personal trauma related to the clips and some of the people doing interviews.

I was surprised to see real video footage from House 8, don't ever remember any staff bringing in cameras or video recorders. Makes me wonder if they brought one in hidden as something else, like a pen or flashlight or something.

Seeing that real footage was too much for me of I am being honest. One day I may be able to sit down and stomach it all, but that day has not come yet.

For well over a year I waited with great anticipation for the debut of "The Last Stop" in Portland ME. Never in my life did I think that anyone would be interested in hearing my story. Thanks to this documentary the truth is now out about Elan! I wanted our story to be told and didn't care if people would come see it or not.

The film did not disappoint me either. I found it to be a truthful and accurate account of what went on their and it fascinated me more than anything has in a long time. I have seen the film 2 other times since (3 in total) and drove 600 miles round trip to see it each time.

Soon it will be released and that will give me the opportunity to share the experience of watching it with my wife and my daughter. They want to know more about my past which has always been somewhat of a mystery because it is hard for me to explain and for them to understand.

Anyone who has even a remote interest in this subject will not want to miss the opportunity to see this documentary. There is not and has never been anything like it.

Peter Arnold, Yarmouth, Massachusetts