Very well executed

Let's be realistic.

Absolutely brilliant

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

SPOILERS* This need to be watched, viewed, discussed. It puts a human angle on an inhuman subject and I am grateful it exists. It's not an objective documentary as none possibly can be, but it does allow for either side to be addressed. It covers many angles, those of the accused, the victims, the families. It shows what life can happen after for those who have suffered abuse, though all incredibly brave and tenacious. This past year (2017/2018) has taken a real gleam and shine away from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood -with claims of adult abuse by high up Hollywood executives and actors. This documentary really touches on that same topical subject, though not of adults, but of children. It deals with grooming, managers, entertainers, both TV and film and the innocent victims of children and families who wanted to believe in good people in the land of opportunity.Up until recently and even as an adult, I couldn't even begin to fathom that Hollywood would attract those to exploit ambition and talent. They were all in it to work collaboratively, to push the boundaries, to collectively and artistically change the world, right? I write scripts, I idolise directors, I applaud film writers. But I think the mirage has finally dissipated for me now.I guess it should for everyone because it's that mirage that reels in both the idealistic and the hunters. That is the point. It is the land of opportunity, but sometimes that comes at a cost- a cost that should not be present, cannot be regulated and continues to act above the law. It is terrifying to think how high it goes. If any of you have seen The Keepers- it was all rather familiar to that. Though this time, the power was the dream of making it and the fear of not, the Archdiocese was nowhere to be found.I found this harder to watch than I anticipated. Perhaps not only due to the content and theme but the injustice of it all, the lives ruined and the lack of retribution. I really do thank the filmmakers for taking the time and effort to make such a sensitive and balanced piece, for the victims who have spoken out and all those who were interviewed in it (well, bar one- you know who). It's important to keep this dialogue current, as it seems, it is not going anywhere- thank God we live in times now where we can at least have an independent documentary about it.

At time of writing this documentary still has been denied distribution through mainstream home video methods as well as video on demand online streaming. Before conspiracy theorists chime in, I imagine this is because of the litigation such a move might attract. It would be the distributors that would have to foot that bill. This is a shame because its an excellent introduction to the problem of pedophiles in the entertainment industry. The most famous name mentioned is X-Men director Bryan Singer who loves being around very young good looking boys. While its in doubt if he is guilty or not, his behavior comes across as really unwholesome and if guilty needs to be thrown in jail. This documentary, directed by Amy Berg, whose similar documentary on the subject, Deliver Us from Evil (2006) lifted the veil of pedophilia in the Catholic Church. So this is ground she knows only too well and she manages to avoid cliché, propaganda and aggressive judgement and instead focuses on the victims as it should. Its an important documentary and needs to be seen.

It's certainly an open secret that girls and women are sexually abused and exploited in the entertainment industry, but as this well-documented film points out, boys and young men are just as vulnerable to sexual predators--and the effect on their lives is just as devastating. We meet several victims who tell of their experiences at the hands of incredibly cruel, selfish men who used their positions of power within the industry to basically use them as sex slaves, then move on to victimize more boys with little or no consequences. Names are named, some of which you may recognize. As one of the film's participants points out, people who enjoy movies, TV and other entertainment featuring child performers need to start thinking critically about who these children are, what their lives are really like and how they're being treated by the industry they're working for.

The documentary about child abuse in Hollywood. It was laid out mostly like a conversation featuring former child actors, their parents and a few professionals on the subject telling their stories about how kids are targeted by pedophiles in the business, some of which were never convicted and still work in the industry todayIt's one of those subjects that should not be swept under the rug but exposed like a nerve for the world to see so things can be done about it. The movie is a little bit one sided however, as it focuses on only little boys who'd gone through sexual abuse as actors, and it neglects children as a whole. The movie talks about how pedophiles don't gender discriminate between boy and girls than apologizes for only using male subjects. But I noticed that the movie actually focus on one target, mainly a case that happen in the late 90s and everyone connected to that case including Bryan singer director of X-Men was pointed out ( I had previous knowledge of the case as a boy tried to sue singer some time ago for sexual misconduct)So the documentary does get a conversation going which is great but as a documentary I did not find it well rounded enough I must admit.