An Open Secret
| An Open Secret | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Amy J. Berg |
| Starring |
Michael Egan III[1] Corey Feldman[1] Todd Bridges[1] Joey Coleman[1] Mark Ryan |
Release date |
|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
An Open Secret is an American documentary directed by Amy J. Berg,[2][3] who decided to make the documentary after she was approached by Matthew Valentinas in 2011. Valentinas and Gabe Hoffman wanted to make a film about victims of sexual exploitation. Valentinas said, "We chose Amy because we didn't want it to be exploitative or tabloid. We wanted it to be empowering for the victims."[4]
Overview
The film is a look into the issue of underage sexual abuse in the Hollywood-entertainment industry.[1]
Synopsis
The documentary follows the stories of five former child actors whose lives were turned upside down by multiple predators, including the convicted sex offenders who owned and operated the now infamous Digital Entertainment Network.
Reception
The Hollywood Reporter says that the film offered a "sober look at accusations that lend themselves to sensationalism."[5]
Flavorwire claims that "the film feels less shocking as a cult-of-celebrity document and more just quietly horrifying, as it details the trauma and the abuse of power inflicted on young men with stars in their eyes."[6]
Indiewire described the documentary as "an incisive and utterly unflinching look at a subject too rarely scrutinized."[7]
It has a score of 66 on Metacritic[8] and a score of 93% on Rotten Tomatoes.[9]
The film has not been released to home video.
Recent developments
An Open Secret ran briefly in June and July 2015 in Seattle, Denver, New York, and Los Angeles. Following the announcement that Michael Egan had dropped his lawsuit against director Bryan Singer (also alleged by the film to have involvement with DEN), producers recut the film.
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 Witheridge, Annette (15 November 2014). "Bombshell documentary about Hollywood pedophile ring preying on child actors that's been linked to X-Men director Bryan Singer premieres in New York". Daily Mail.
- ↑ Setoodeh, Ramin (April 18, 2014). "Bryan Singer Allegations Part of Upcoming Sex Abuse Documentary". Variety.
- ↑ DeFore, John (November 14, 2014). "'An Open Secret': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ↑ Kilday, Gregg (November 12, 2014). "Hollywood Sex Abuse Film Revealed: Explosive Claims, New Figures Named (Exclusive)". Retrieved February 10, 2015.
- ↑ DeFore, John. "'An Open Secret': Film Review Amy Berg turns from molestation in the priesthood to Hollywood sex abuse". Hollywoodreporter. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
- ↑ Donnelly, Elisabeth. "'An Open Secret' Examines Hollywood Sex Abuse Allegations, Beyond the Tabloid Sensationalism". Flavorwire. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
- ↑ Cwik, Greg. "DOC NYC Review: Amy Berg's 'An Open Secret' Is a Devastating Exposé of Hollywood's Sexual Abuse Problem". Indiewire. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
- ↑ http://www.metacritic.com/movie/an-open-secret
- ↑ https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/an_open_secret