Boot Camp (aka “Straight Edge”) (2009)

A group of at-risk teens is sent to a what they think is a rehabilitation program on Fiji, but which is really a prison-like camp where they are abused and brainwashed.

Genre – Thriller

Director(s) – Christian Duguay

Writer(s) – John Cox and Agatha Dominick

Cast – Mila Kunis, Gregory Smith, Peter Stormare and Alejandro Rae

Blue Rider’s Role – Arranged bridge and gap financing

Distributor(s) – Kimmel International

Release Date – 2009

Synopsis – A group of troubled teens are sent to a rehabilitation program housed in a remote camp on the island of Fiji. What their parents believe is a state-of-the-art, deluxe institution in a beautiful natural environment turns out to be a prison-like boot camp where they are abused and brainwashed.

Critics’ Quotes 
“At times sincerely unsettling, Boot Camp turns out to be a surprisingly intelligent and thought provoking picture. It mixes the more horrific elements with some intelligent dramatic scripting and strong performances and uses its locations very effectively. It all comes together and works quite well.”
–Ian Jane, DVD Talk

“I came into Boot Camp with lowered expectations. It seemed to be just another teen exploitation drama, after all. Surprisingly, the content rose above the marketing and, in avoiding the black-and-white didacticism of most films that depict wronged teens struggling against mindless authority, there is actually a lot of substance here, with points made for each side. Now available on DVD, it would actually be a good family viewing choice. Intelligent enough for the parents, but focused enough on the kids for a teen audience, it’s an entertaining and thought-provoking ninety-nine minutes that might just get parents and kids talking to each other, in an intelligent manner, about the age old ‘Us vs. Them’ attitude that is an inevitable result of reproduction.”
–Jon Bastian, Filmmonthly.com

Awards and People
Director/producer/cinematographer: Christian Duguay (7 awards and 7 nominations [including 3 Emmy noms] for works including Coco Chanel, Hitler: The Rise of Evil, Joan of Arc, Human Trafficking and Lies My Mother Told Me).

Actors: Mila Kunis (13 wins and 54 noms for such works as Black Swan, Ted, Bad Moms and Friends With Benefits), Gregory Smith (3 wins + 14 noms for such works as Rookie Blue, Everwood and Small Soldiers), Peter Stormare (2 wins and 8 noms for works including Fargo, Chocolat and Dancer in the Dark)

Executive producers: Bob Greenblatt (3 wins and 7 noms including 5 Emmys for works including Six Feet Under, Elvis and American Family) and David Janollari (2 wins and 7 noms [5 Emmys] for Six Feet Under, Elvis and Heat Vision and Jack).

Producers: Michael Frislev (6 wins + 4 noms for Hellon Wheels, Fargo, The Incredible Mrs. Ritchie, Hooked Up and I Dream of Murder) and Chad Oakes (9 wins and 4 noms for works including Broken Trail, Hell on Wheels, Fargo and The Incredible Mrs. Ritchie).

Composer: Normand Corbeil (7 wins and 10 noms for works such as Heavy Rain, Human Trafficking, Cheech and The Art of War).

Editor: Sylvain Lebel (4 wins and an Emmy nom for The Last Casino, Cirque du Soleil: Corteo, Hitler: The Rise of Evil, Les Pays d’en Haut and Fakers).

Links:
Internet Movie Database entry for Straight Edge