Watch Kidnapped for Christ

"Kidnapped for Christ" is a documentary film that tells the story of teenagers who were taken to a facility in the Dominican Republic for reform and rehabilitation after exhibiting behavior considered rebellious by their parents. The film highlights the controversial and often disturbing practices of the facility, which include physical abuse, isolation, and the use of religion to control and manipulate the young adults.

The film begins by introducing three American teenagers: David, Beth, and Tai. Each one of them was sent to Escuela Caribe, a reform school in the Dominican Republic that was marketed to parents as a safe haven for troubled youth. However, the reality of the facility was far from what the parents were promised. The teenagers were subjected to a strict and oppressive regime that aimed to break them down and turn them into obedient, God-fearing individuals.

The film follows the experiences of the three teens as they struggle to adapt to their new lives at the facility. David, a bright and enthusiastic young man, had been sent to Escuela Caribe after his parents discovered he was gay. At the school, David was forced to participate in grueling manual labor and was subjected to emotional and physical abuse by the staff. Despite the harsh conditions, he remained optimistic and hopeful that he would eventually be able to leave.

Beth, on the other hand, had been sent to the facility because her parents believed she was struggling with depression and needed professional help. However, at Escuela Caribe, Beth was not given any counseling or psychological support. Instead, she was punished for speaking out and forced to participate in a series of humiliating and degrading activities.

Tai, the third teen, had been sent to the facility for exhibiting rebellious behavior towards her parents. Despite her tendency to act out and question authority, Tai remained strong and refused to comply with the oppressive regime at Escuela Caribe. However, her resistance only served to make her situation worse, as she was forced to endure even more punishment and isolation.

Throughout the film, viewers are presented with a chilling and shocking look at the practices and attitudes prevalent at Escuela Caribe. The staff at the facility use religion as a tool to control and manipulate the teens, convincing them that their only hope for redemption lies in obeying the rules and following the path of righteousness. Meanwhile, the parents of the teenagers are kept in the dark about the true nature of the facility, believing that their children are receiving the help and care that they need.

Ultimately, "Kidnapped for Christ" is a powerful and eye-opening documentary that sheds light on a disturbing reality. The film raises important questions about the ethics of the troubled teen industry, and highlights the dangers of allowing religious ideology to be used as a means of control and abuse. Through the personal stories of David, Beth, and Tai, viewers are given a glimpse into the dark and disturbing world of institutionalized abuse, and are encouraged to take action to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future.

Kidnapped for Christ is a 2014 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 25 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.0.