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      Devil's Playground

      Released Jan 15, 2002 1h 16m Documentary List
      56% 9 Reviews Tomatometer 69% 5,000+ Ratings Audience Score Teenagers stream in and reach for bottles of beer with both hands while a deafening band tries AC/DC covers with two chords. The alcohol leads to cocaine and the party hits a fever pitch before boys and girls begin to pair off for the night. This could be a typical high school get together if it were not for one striking characteristic: These kids are Amish. Read More Read Less

      Audience Reviews

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      Audience Member Devils Playground has an interesting message about Amish culture. This documentary follows the lives and rituals of Amish minors who are deciding whether or not they want to join the church and be with their parents or be English and have all the things everyday Americans have. It's interesting to see what is socially acceptable to the Amish during this phase because the police have become accustomed to them partying, drinking, and even meth dealing. This is all a part of what these teenagers go through during the phase of rumspringa. The characters learn from their mistakes that they encounter and might not always correctly act on these decisions but in the very least we get a small lesson on what too much partying and drugs will do to you. This is the problem with the doc though is that it feels way too much like an informational video FOR the Amish and more of a history lesson for us which in the least is interesting sometimes. There's almost too much information on why we shouldn't do the things the kids did. The movie goes on way too long with Faron's life which honestly wasn't even interesting in the last 35 minutes. He made poor decisions and it just came off as really depressing and mopey the way it ended. I feel like Devil's Playground had good intentions to show how Amish kids act during rumspringa but it just carried on way too long with not enough interesting information to keep me occupied. C+ Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Audience Member This probably would have been more impactful if I hadn't already seen other specials on the same subject. It's still interesting to watch these Amish teens given free reign to the "English" world and how they handle that. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Audience Member This documentary starts off with flying color's but eventually falls a bit flat. The story of Amish Tradition when a child hits 16 and it's ability to try the outside world so to speak and the consequences & growing up they experience. I think the problem this Doco is that centered on only 2 main people and although not the whole case it did at times have a reality tv feel. The really are a unique people Amish but they are very devoted, not a great Doco but not entirely a waste of time. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member A somewhat interesting documentary that focuses on an old, ordered religious society and the temptations of the modern world. Director Lucy Walker explores Amish youth who go out to "sow their wild oats." The weakness of the documentary is that it sometimes seems voyeuristic. The strengths are the focus on Amish community in paradox with the modern world. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Audience Member A documentary about Amish teenagers during a period of "rumspringa" when they are allowed to do anything they want before joining the Amish church, if they so choose. Lots of teenage emotions. Very human. RECOMMENDED. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/16/23 Full Review Audience Member September 13, 2012--> Watched via HULU+... Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Photos

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      Devil's Playground

      Scene from the film DEVIL'S PLAYGROUND. Scene from the film DEVIL'S PLAYGROUND. Scene from the film DEVIL'S PLAYGROUND. Steve Cantor, Producer. Lucy Walker, Director. Devil's Playground (2002) Devil's Playground (2002) Devil's Playground (2002) Devil's Playground (2002) View more photos

      Critics Reviews

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      Film Threat Rated: 2.5/5 Dec 6, 2005 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 3/5 Oct 7, 2005 Full Review Martin Scribbs Low IQ Canadian Devil's Playground is a classic exposition of the choice between freedom and order, between a closed society and an open one. Jun 13, 2004 Full Review Michael W. Phillips, Jr. Goatdog's Movies More an Amish reality show than a serious look into the topic. Rated: 2.5/5 Mar 7, 2004 Full Review John A. Nesbit Old School Reviews a reasonably entertaining and extremely insightful 77-minute examination of Amish culture, giving us privy to a world we'd never otherwise experience Rated: B Nov 12, 2003 Full Review Marcy Dermansky About.com Lucy Walker neither criticizes, romanticizes nor patronizes her subject. Rated: 4/5 Oct 24, 2003 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Teenagers stream in and reach for bottles of beer with both hands while a deafening band tries AC/DC covers with two chords. The alcohol leads to cocaine and the party hits a fever pitch before boys and girls begin to pair off for the night. This could be a typical high school get together if it were not for one striking characteristic: These kids are Amish.
      Director
      Lucy Walker
      Producer
      Sheila Nevins, Julie Goldman
      Production Co
      Stick Figure Productions, Cinemax Reel Life, WinStar Cinema
      Genre
      Documentary
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Jan 15, 2002, Original
      Release Date (Streaming)
      May 3, 2017
      Runtime
      1h 16m