The Last Stop (II) (2017) User Reviews

Weird and A bit Disturbing

[mycannonball · 6/10 · 25 November 2021]

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.

Great history; very interesting

[smiledaydream · 8/10 · 3 September 2023]

This movie is interesting from beginning to end. It seems very fair. It has many of the people who were there from the beginning to the end including those who worked there and those who lived there. It puts it in perspective of other things going on in society and treatment. It's very well edited in that there was probably a lot of dialogue and a lot of history that could be included was edited to enough to cover everything. Thought-provoking.

I have to say more because you can enter a zero character review in IMDb but if you enter an actual review you must say more than you need to say. I'm very sympathetic to a lot of the characters. The people come from many different experiences. I liked their personal history's also.

Through constant pained disgrace the young boy learns their rules

[JavaGurl76 · 10/10 · 14 December 2017]

"What's a life worth?"

Roughly 54k plus a year. The élan one corporation charged scared parents, fed up DCF workers, this exorbitant amount per child, per year.

Despite the fact élan received roughly 54K a year, per child, there were weeks without running water, heat, or electricity, children with ill fitting clothing and shoes, etc.

*Please note I am sharing experiences from the 1990 through 1993 era. *

Upon hearing that "The Last Stop" would (finally) be made, I met the news with joy, uncertainty, and hope. Hope that it was for real, this time.

That warm, beautiful, April night (of the premiere) I was filled with a palpable anxiety.

Walking into the movie theatre, seeing almost EVERY seat filled, filled my eyes with tears.

These were my fellow Elan brothers, sisters, friends, and supporters.

We were here for ourselves and for each other. This IS for real, this is going to happen.

TJ & Co. would be facing a Herculean task to tell all of our stories, represent both sides. I did not envy the job ahead..

That said, The documentary was refreshingly unbiased.

I knew it would be hard to walk that line.

TJ & Co. told the story with amazing accuracy and never once did you "feel" his personal feelings.

He allowed each individuals story to shine through on its own.

He did it in such a way that you could watch it and not feel forcibly swayed.

No matter your prior feelings about élan, you were allowed to consider all sides when each person shared their experience.

The blending of past and present was done seamlessly.

The integration of Joe Ricci's life outside of the élan one corporation did not cause any noticeable "hiccups" in the flow of the story.

The background on Mr. Ricci was eye opening.

We had been taught to revere this man like a "God among men".

Joe arriving on the ramshackle compound was met with noticeable glee and giddiness- amongst the staff and older residents that were "in the club".

People have jokingly compared this program to the "Lord of the Flies" , but there was no joke about it. It was sadly true.

No matter if you were a "golden child" or a "corner child" or fell somewhere in between, this program did eat a chunk of your soul.

Many of the "golden children" are no longer with us on this earth. Many of the "corner children" doomed to "die with a needle in their arms" as Mark Rosenberg so eloquently put it, are doing quite well with beautiful, enviable, lives.

I don't believe graduating the program as a "success story" meant a damn thing in the grand scheme of things.

If your success story came on the backs of verbally abusing and emotionally torturing others, then how successful were you really?

But again, that is my opinion and it is (probably) quite biased. (I feel the need to say not everyone falls under the aforementioned statement)

The one thing this documentary has taught me and will hopefully teach others, is that there is more than one way to handle "problem children" and that one size does not fit all when it comes to therapy.

Sadly many states and state workers and parents fed up with incorrigible children, overmedicated children , improperly diagnosed children , etc. allowed the élan one corporation to take the burden off of their hands.

While sticking them in a place like the élan one corporation may have eased their caseload/burden, all it did was further damage a young impressionable growing human.

Many say élan's tactics were a "necessary evil". I saw those tactics rip people to shreds, and destroy their lives- for years and decades.

Many of these people died before seeing that life was, and could be beautiful.

My trip to see the premiere of this documentary in Portland last April, allowed me to truly heal, truly forgive, and truly move on.

I suppose you could say I am FINALLY an élan success story.

PS: I just want to give much love to everybody involved with the creation of this film, with getting it out to the public, the film festivals, etc. for getting the message out there, for supporting all of us, and befriending us. Be kind to yourselves and each other.

Balanced and well done!

[alovera-52003 · 10 December 2017]

The Last Stop highlights some of the inadequacies and lack of appropriate resources for troubled teens with a primary focus on what was Elan' in Poland Springs, Maine. Elan', was a controversial residential behavioral modification program for teens which was eventually closed, largely through the outcries from alumni carried over the internet. I lived in Elan' from 1983-1986, I was 13 ½ when I entered the program and this was the first time I've seen the facility since then.

I really appreciated the way The Last Stop was shot with aerial views of the wooded area around the Elan' campus in Poland Springs and the long road which lead onto the property and views of the lake. I remember walking down that road to go to school etc. The pictures of the students working, video shot of rooms from inside the houses, signs/LE's and audio footage truly helped to capture the way it felt to be there, especially when the experience of being there was new and overwhelming. The colorful drawings were also very relate-able, eerie and emotional.

I remembered hearing "ghost stories," about Parsonfield and it was exciting to see the actual place the stories came from and to hear first-hand accounts from people who lived there. I didn't actually know it was a real place, 100%. Also, the way TJ captured what I would call sensory overload was from my perspective wonderfully accurate, validating, and an important tool to paint the picture for others of what it could feel like there day to day. It's easy to understand how for some, the anxiety from that level of confrontation and negativity may have contributed to PTSD.

I've watched the film several times over the past few days, once with my (adult) child and my boyfriend. The opening scene of someone "getting their feelings off," allowed me to point out to my daughter that what she was watching was what I had to do to her Grandparents, after not seeing them for over a year, to ensure I would be able to spend time with them. I've told her this story before but in experiencing it through the film, she was shocked and after a couple questions she was also speechless.

My boyfriend commented that the movie solidified the stories I have told him in a way that was more understandable for him and he appreciated the way Joe Ricci's history was elaborated on. He'd had no idea who he was. For me, it was my first opportunity to share my experience with people I care about, (or really anyone,) in a tangible way they could identify with. What a gift to be able to share it! I didn't know I would ever be able to do that.

I especially appreciated the authenticity in the way living at Elan' and the program was portrayed throughout the movie and the fact that it wasn't exaggerated nor understated, (based on my personal experiences) and focused on the experiences and stories of the people who were interviewed, along with history, which I found interesting.

The Last Stop seemed to fairly share multiple points of view. There are always many sides which make up a story. The first time I watched The Last Stop I noticed that I was very distracted by the hope that it would be a balanced and authentic take on the program so that I could respect it, and for me it was.

The film introduces us to a handful of people who were failed by their experience at Elan' in that the individual experiences they described seemingly did not propel most of them onto a more positive path, offer them peace of mind, clarity, a stronger more positive sense of self, or increased self-love. One way a successful psychotherapy practice could be described is patients come (in need) and leave (improved). The therapist becomes obsolete as the patient accomplishes what they need to and the environment as well as the one to one exchange is safe. I walk away from the film with a sense of sadness and compassion in this regard.

At one point while watching the film my daughter commented, "most of the pictures show kids smiling and it looks like they are happy and then I'm listening to what the people they are interviewing say and I'm wondering why they are smiling?"

I told her that living there WAS often scary and it was scary in multiple ways and at the same time, it wasn't only bad. Just like any other situation in life, it was what you made it moment by moment. I told her that for each thing I can think of which may have contributed to my life negatively I could also see how the same thing also created a positive take away, just like flipping a coin.

Thank you TJ Nilssen and each person who was a part of making and contributing to this film !! I deeply appreciate your dedication to completing this project.

Delving deep into the "Troubled Teen Industry"

[djkahle-78127 · 10/10 · 12 December 2017]

Both shocking and enlightening, TJ Nilssen gives viewers both sides of the Élan story. Making the best of the desperate situation. Some students managed to gain valuable life lessons, friendship bonds and discipline despite the horrific experiences. Other's tried desperately and failed to escape the secluded rural school and were severely punished. Other's still capitulated and perpetuated abuse in order to survive.

The Last Stop is the most thorough visual documentation of the Élan School and the multi generational turmoil and mental scars saddled on the students left in it's wake. Witness shocking interviews, footage and first hand experiences of students and staff detailing the day to day, highly controversial "therapy" and rehabilitation techniques employed by both staff and students alike. Élan used systematic forms of divide & conquer, peer pressure, social engineering, public humiliation and forced indoctrination in order to create a self policing social environment were just another part of the 'curriculum' at Élan.

While the bad and worst aspects of human nature are shown to have been on full display at Élan. The Last Stop shows that the oppressive system couldn't completely squash the inherent good and positive aspects of humanity even at it's peak. From start to finish The Last Stop is a riveting experience that provides the viewer with closure where previous documentary attempts, and the actual shutdown of Élan, failed.

The truth can no longer be denied!

[pdarnold-88281 · 10/10 · 13 December 2017]

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

The Last Stop is a shockingly realistic portrayal of Elan.

[eliscu-11863 · 10/10 · 29 December 2017]

The opening scene grabs you. You are never let go. The concept of Elan is an extremely difficult subject to communicate. I am very impressed with the way it was presented in The Last Stop. This film is wonderfully artistic and impeccably edited. The production as a whole is excellent. I think Director Todd Nilssen has real talent and I know we will be seeing more of his work in the future. I implore every one of you to watch this riveting documentary; it is just the tip of the iceberg. As a former Elan resident (1982-1983) it was extremely hard to watch. I can only imagine how hard this movie was to make by a former Elan Resident. It is a difficult story to tell, especially with the cult like language Elan used for programming. I was impressed with the way Todd was able to convey what a day in Elan was like. The animated parts were beautifully spliced into the film. Constant fear and anxiety was exposed to the audience in a very comprehensive manner. The interviews were brutally honest and although Tracy Hutchinson and I attended Elan a decade apart from each other the feelings and thoughts she expressed were exactly the same as mine. Life after Elan was a major adjustment. Many of my peers are dead. It would take hours to portray the horrific sadistic abuses I witnessed at Elan. I believe The Last Stop accomplished a certain amount of objectivity about Elan that I certainly would not have been able to achieve had I been creating the documentary. The Directors and staff at Elan honestly felt that they were helping us. "Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." C.S. Lewis, Many of us tried to tell this story after leaving Elan; we felt the need to do something about the place. To see it closed. Nobody, (including myself pre Elan) could believe that Children were allowed to be so horribly abused under the guise of therapy. It was beyond cruel and unusual punishment. I still find it hard to believe Elan was allowed to operate unregulated for 40 years. I personally spent 10 of those years trying to close it down. When Elan finally closed their doors in 2011 it was a bittersweet moment because I realized just how huge the Troubled Teen Industry had grown over the decades. I felt the ending left something to be desired. I was left with an unresolved feeling of "now what?" Most documentaries in this genre are shown to motivate some type of change. I believe this was the intent of the film but it did not direct the viewer to any further course of action. The Troubled Teen Industry has expanded to out of control UNREGULATED proportions. This was touched upon several times throughout the documentary but in my opinion could have been expanded upon at the end of the film. The Last Stop is definitely a documentary you do not want to miss!

The Government Accountability Office investigated Residential treatment programs for teens and testified during the House Committee on Education and Labor on October 10th, 2007. After the G.A.O. Investigated Abuse in Residential Treatment Programs for Teens they needed a whole separate investigation into the Deceptive Marketing by Residential Programs for Teens. Both of these hearings can be watched on YouTube by searching Congressional "Hearing on Cases of Child Neglect and Abuse at Residential Treatment Facilities" and Congressional "Hearing on "Child Abuse and Deceptive Marketing by Residential Programs for Teens" Clips from these hearings are seamlessly woven into The Last Stop.

As mentioned in the documentary legislation to regulate the Troubled Teen Industry has passed the house several times and died in the Senate. Please help pass this legislation.

H.R.3024 - 115th Congress (2017-2018) Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2017

This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to require programs designed to modify behaviors of children in a residential environment (covered programs) to prohibit child abuse and neglect and meet other specified minimum standards. HHS shall: (1) Implement a review process for overseeing, investigating, and evaluating reports of child abuse and neglect at covered programs; and (2) Establish a process to assist states in the oversight and enforcement of this bill. HHS must refer any violation of minimum standards to the Department of Justice for appropriate action. The bill amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to establish additional eligibility requirements for grants to states to prevent child abuse and neglect at residential programs.

The text of the Original bill can be found at congress(dot)gov by searching "H.R.911 Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2009 111th Congress (2009-2010)

Stressful editing.

[Kriegbaum · 5/10 · 19 July 2022]

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.

Americas Secret

[jainisms · 9 December 2017]

As a former resident of 'The Elan School' (1998-2000) I cant say that I didn't go into this Documentary without a certain element of bias. We all remember past events differently; and when they were tragic events, the lines blur even more. Enter 'The Last Stop'- A roller coaster of emotions, from the beginning scene, all the way to the ending. Capturing the fear, degradation, Stockholm syndrome, and psychological torture was no easy task for Todd(director). Each student involved in the story telling; had come from different backgrounds, with a different set of issues. The story was one of criminal enterprise, cult, and a sprinkle of playing God. At certain points throughout the Documentary, you find yourself asking, "maybe they truly thought they were helping kids". The power to tear someone down emotionally, and then "build" them back up, would make anyone think they are righteous. But, as with any business, money makes people do horrific things. What started out as a rehab for drug addicts,quickly turned into a money grab for the owner of the Elan School. There were many events in the Documentary that I wished were acted out. I think budget constraints ultimately hurt the potential impact this documentary could have made. However, Todd did an amazing job with what little budget he had to work with. Todd has put an exorbitant amount of effort into all the details of this documentary. I hope this is just the beginning, for there is more story to tell.

shocking but sadly true

[tiannone · 9/10 · 15 October 2021]

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 !

Elan didn't help

[an-kirwin · 9/10 · 26 December 2021]

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%

Disturbing -honest and powerful expose of abusive Teen Rehab Industry

[singermonica-918-57700 · 9/10 · 15 October 2017]

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.

Tough to watch but necessary

[lululew · 10/10 · 3 December 2020]

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.

Absolute Nonsense

[helenahandbasket-93734 · 1/10 · 11 July 2021]

I have no idea how reprehensible this 'school' really was, because I didn't even get through 25 minutes before I had to turn it off.

One thing you're not seeing in ANY of these stories, or any reviews is, THESE KIDS ARE NOT IN THIS SUPPOSED HELL HOLE IF THEY ARE NOT COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY AT THEIR LAST CHANCE BEFORE PRISON/DEATH/ABANDONED.

There seems to an awful lot of diverting attention from how abhorrent their behavior was to warrant being sent here in the first place- it's my abusive parent, it's alcoholism, it's assault, it's EVERYONE BUT ME!!!

There's plenty of us that suffered through alcoholic, abusive parenting, and didn't resort to becoming horrible monsters incapable of self respect and self care. Apparently it's cooler to blame everything and everyone else for your issues, rather than addressing them and making yourself a stronger person for the abysmal experience from childhood.

I have no doubt this school was an abhorrent excuse for therapeutic and/or rehabilitative, but from the impression one gets when watching- these now adults are still busy blaming others and facilities for their own lack of personal responsibility.

I've suffered through years of physical and mental abuse by a parent who was a drug user, and a passive-aggressive parent who saw fit to employ devious, deceitful abuse of the emotional and mental states. But I was able to escape into school, find activities to busy my mind and keep me away from home. I worked full time to put myself through college, became a psychologist with a PhD, and now have my own family with 4 children in various career fields and never went to 'that' level as I was brought up.

We have a choice in life- we can either learn from adversity- use experience trauma to build ourselves into being a better person

OR

we can refuse to become responsible- blame as many people in our orbit as possible for our issues, and constantly demand from others the things we are incapable of and/or unwilling to do for ourselves.

Your past does not define you; but clearly these people have formed their entire identity around this particular experience and still refusing to accept any sort of blame or responsibility for the path that led them to this place.

It's an horrific documentary that engages these adults and encourages apathy and deflecting in the name of a documentary.

Glad someone made a doc about Elaan

[JeffWimbelton · 10/10 · 19 April 2023]

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.

Adding my voice to the cause

[blockhead-18376 · 10/10 · 23 December 2017]

I finally had a chance to watch this outstanding film. The story was told perfectly , as you feel like you are there. The fact that attack therapy was ever used on kids and is still being used after what went on is now known absolutely sickens me and I will walk to the end of the earth to make sure it is stopped and never happens again. I was not there but have become friends with many who were .. do I understand what they went through.. not totally and I can only imagine what the ptsd must be like .. but I will always be a listening ear , shoulder to cry on and will do what I can to get this story heard. Beautiful job Todd, beautiful job done by all

I rate this a ten because

[gennasummers · 10/10 · 26 May 2020]

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.

It'll stay with you

[alm-73021 · 10/10 · 29 December 2017]

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.

A one-sided example of squeaky wheels

[OneAnjel · 2/10 · 27 November 2021]

I felt this film was extremely biased and lacked the most basic pro/con argument. Like most victimization stories, it's designed to enrage but has zero actual information.

I'll preface my comments by saying I was a teen in the 70s who was raised in an untenable environment. Having to constantly be on the defense and often fend for myself, I learned none of the tools normal people are provided to navigate their own emotions. Not until I was removed from that environment; after which it took years to draw a line between the present and the past. That is the case with many kids who become behavioral problems - they come from an abusive environment.

Almost as soon as I could read, I started studying psychology and childhood issues. I've also read about behavioral techniques, many of which are still used successfully by military schools and training facilities.

Out of the small handful of prior participants in this film, there were hundreds of kids who turned their lives around from being confronted with mastering their emotions and learning simple discipline. The fact these self-confessed victims are complaining about having to do chores is ridiculous. Whatever abuse many of these victims endured happened prior to Elan. Those who came out ahead mastered the program and found their way into a life where self-loathing and other-loathing served no purpose; where looking forward, not back, was how to become successful and find reward and purpose.

All this film tells us is that those who are stuck in their victimization will attract those who are susceptible to praising their own victimhood.

That's not to say there are no true horror stories. However, Elan is the least of them even according to this film.

These Elan participants clearly do not represent a majority. It's an alarming comment on the impact of social media when a facility that has helped countless families becomes the hunted because of the ranting of those who remain trapped by their own inability to move on.

I don't believe for a minute that the only goal of such a facility is financial reward. There are very real expenses associated with how these facilities operate and who they hire. There are prisons in existence that are actually for-profit and are much worse than what we see here. Those are what we should be worried about for our young people who don't find some way - through places like Elan - to stop going through the judicial system and ending up in for-profit facilities where they might never get out.

Captivating and informative from start to finish.

[nelsontylerk · 10/10 · 17 February 2018]

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!