Melamed uses edgy handheld digital video to give the film a documentary texture, heightening the situations and taking us right inside the asylum with these kids. And we do get into their heads due to strong performances all around. But the script lets things down in more ways than one. Firstly, it shows an immaturity that makes it impossible to take seriously; the sequence of events is contrived, while key details seem all wrong, snapping us out of the reality. In addition, there's an improv aspect to the film that feels artificial, like the cast and crew spent a couple of days doing research and then got all the surface things right, but missed the raw meat beneath it all. There are several disturbing twists and turns as the film progresses, but it sometimes feels like a checklist of teen issues, not truthful storytelling. That said, this is still a harrowing film that raises issues that need to be discussed. And the cast deserves to move on to bigger and better things as a result of their fine work here.