Cruel Instruction

2022 1h 25m EN

👍

6.9

SOLID

⭐

6.5

IMDB

★6.9TMDB · 26★6.5IMDB · 586

TV MovieThrillerDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

The story of 16-year-old Kayla Adams, whose mother, Karen is advised by the school’s counselor to send Kayla to get treatment at a youth residential treatment center after she gets expelled from school. Kayla arrives at the Utah facility on the same day as her roommate Amanda, a treatment program veteran who knows exactly what the girls were in for. Led by headmistress Miss Connie, the staff uses draconian methods including force-feeding medications, arbitrary punishments, solitary confinement, verbal and physical abuse to keep the students in line. After being pushed to their limits and stripped of their lifelines, including any ability to freely communicate with the outside world, the two young women must band together to survive and fight to expose the abuse before it’s too late.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Where to watch · US

PhiloSubscription

Lifetime Movie ClubSubscription

Lifetime Movie Club Apple TV channelSubscription

Lifetime Movie Club Amazon ChannelSubscription

Cast

Kelcey Mawema
Kayla Adams
Morgan Taylor Campbell
Amanda Scheff
Camryn Manheim
Miss Connie
Cynthia Bailey
Karen Adams
Jason Gray-Stanford
Mr. Seckerling
Calder Stewart
Bryce
Sydney Scotia
Maggie
Genea Charpentier
Lindsay

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Stanley M. Brooks
Writers: Adrienne Rush
Languages: English
Countries: Canada, United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

85 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 4 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: Canada, United States of America.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Stanley M. Brooks, shot by Amy Belling. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Matthew Rogers. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Allan Lee shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Kelcey Mawema and Morgan Taylor Campbell and Camryn Manheim carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt17621226 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Stanley M. Brooks directs. Amy Belling behind the camera. Matthew Rogers scores. Allan Lee cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Canada, United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

185 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
2Released 4 years ago.
3International production across 2 countries: Canada, United States of America.
4Directed by Stanley M. Brooks, shot by Amy Belling. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Matthew Rogers. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Allan Lee shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Kelcey Mawema and Morgan Taylor Campbell and Camryn Manheim carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt17621226 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 26 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.