Follows the fate of Lyle, a violent adolescent who, in lieu of prison, is placed in a juvenile mental institution, where he encounters a group of equally troubled teens. This motley crew—abused, sexually confused, violent, and yet hanging on by their grit and anger—becomes Lyle's last lifeline as he fights to find meaning in a world that seems to defy understanding.
Acting
Gordon-Levitt's volcanic, career-redefining performance.
Direction
Handheld intimacy that refuses to look away.
Writing
Dialogue that feels stolen from real group sessions.
Director
Jordan Melamed
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Shot in an actual abandoned juvenile psychiatric facility in New Jersey; cast and crew slept on location.
This film helped Gordon-Levitt pivot from child star to serious actor, directly leading to Brick and Mysterious Skin.
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