Limited Series – The Program: Cons, Cults, and Kidnapping

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Julie K @Julie615 Dec 21 Couldn't get past the first episode. Although the subject matter is astounding and absolutely terrible for those kids I found every person in the documentary so irritating that I started wondering how they behaved as kids, I'd rather not think like that. This topic definitly deserves to be done properly. See more TheMovieSearch R @TheMovieSearch Oct 21 “The Program: Cons, Cults, and Kidnapping” is a documentary with an important and disturbing subject matter—children being exploited and manipulated by dangerous adults. The story itself is heartbreaking, and there’s no question the kids involved are victims of circumstances that should have prompted intervention long ago. The topic is inherently compelling, but unfortunately, the execution of the documentary leaves a lot to be desired. While the educational value is present, the presentation is tedious and at times emotionally overbearing. The filmmaker leans heavily on the emotional reactions of the victims—understandable, given their trauma—but this approach overwhelms the narrative instead of structuring it in a way that clearly conveys the facts and context. Moments that should have felt tense or investigative instead come across as chaotic and unfocused. As a viewer, it’s difficult to separate the emotion from the substance of the story, which diminishes the impact of what should be a powerful exposé. From a storytelling standpoint, the documentary lacks balance. It spends considerable time on emotional testimony but provides little in terms of corroboration, follow-up, or exploration of the broader societal implications. This is problematic because it makes it harder for viewers to fully grasp the scale and seriousness of what’s happening. The narrative feels “driven into the ground,” as if the filmmakers couldn’t find a way to connect the pieces into a cohesive, compelling account. The pacing also contributes to the frustration. Key moments are either glossed over or buried under lengthy, sometimes repetitive dialogue. The audience is left struggling to stay engaged, and the urgency of the subject matter is diminished by the uneven structure. You want to feel motivated to act, but the delivery instead leaves a sense of fatigue and detachment. That said, the core truth remains—the kids are clearly victims of severe manipulation, and their stories deserve attention. The documentary falls short in its craft, not its intent. The educational purpose is there, but the impact is diluted by poor editorial choices, inconsistent narrative structure, and an over-reliance on raw emotional outbursts without clear contextual grounding. Ultimately, this is a documentary that could have been powerful, maybe even galvanizing, but instead comes across as flat and occasionally disorganized. The subject deserves to be revisited with stronger storytelling, sharper focus, and a clearer framework so that viewers can truly understand the severity of the situation and why intervention is necessary. As it stands, it’s educational but exhausting and misses the opportunity to make a lasting impression. See more Haley M Aug 19 Story was horrifying and I can’t imagine what it’s like to process the trauma that the producer went through. But the editing choices were strange and cringeworthy at times. See more Mandy M May 6 Heartbreaking look at what really goes on inside those horrible 'teen help' institutions. See more Melinda G Apr 4 I absolutely loved this series! It was very eye opening! I am so proud of Katherine and the others coming forward to share their experience! I feel so bad that this happened to them and is still happening! I definitely recommend this series and to make it known to others that this is going on!! Thank you See more Andrea M Mar 31 This could have been made so much better. It felt very amateur. For the most it was a bunch of young adults getting together on the old grounds to reminace and joke about their experiences. Most of it while laughing, swearing, smoking and goofing off. With throwing a few serious interviews in. It's terrible what happened. But where's the expert interviews? Stats on long and short term effects? Not just former students who should be in therapy mostly making a laughing joke of it. Doesn't feel like a documentary, just some former students looking for a way to make a "movie: See more Read all reviews

The Program: Cons, Cults, and Kidnapping — Limited Series

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