Documentary film showing the abuses suffered by unruly youth in the “treatment” camp.

90-minute feature film directed by Lisa Williams. It reveals a dark chapter in the history of youth reform in the United States. In the 1980s, Challenger Foundation It was founded in that country with the aim of reforming young people with serious behavioral conflicts. However, his re-education method soon became criminal and extreme, as the documentary reveals. Hell Camp: Teenage Nightmare (Hell Camp: Teenage Nightmare), in Netflix. This film provides a detailed look at the harsh conditions and abuse suffered by teenagers at this camp in the Utah desert.

Using archival material, testimonies and dramatic performances, the production showcases the hard work and training procedures these young people were subjected to. The pictures show people fainting and with scars, and tell the harsh reality of the regime, which has become a symbol of violations and suffering.

Leader of the Challenger Foundation Steve CartisanoHe claimed to “save many lives”, but scenes in the documentary greatly contradict his statement. The film shows young people living in inhumane conditions, as if they were animals, which eventually led to a judicial investigation.

The investigation also examines how these youth activity centres, usually seen as places for summer fun and learning, could be hiding more sinister truths. Infernal camp It focuses on the case of the Challenger Foundation, which charged more than $15,000 for a 63-day program and whose management style was based on combative tactics.

The narrative intensifies by revealing that these methods not only tragically impacted the lives of hundreds of young people, but also inspired the operation of similar sites in places as diverse as the Caribbean, Oceania, and the Pacific. Even famous Paris Hilton He was reported to be a victim of abuse at a similar behavioral treatment center.

The story reaches its climax with the case of Christine Chase, who lost her life in 1990 due to harsh conditions in the camp. This led to Cartesano facing a long trial, from which he surprisingly emerged unscathed, with no fear of resuming his activities elsewhere.

The documentary concludes with testimonies from survivors and other witnesses, including the Cartesano family, who give their perspectives on the events. Archival footage is shown that helps reconstruct the events of how Cartesano exploited a young woman in Hawaii, an accusation that her family has not disputed.

you can see Hell Camp: Teenage Nightmare In catalogue Netflix.