Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Teens show courage in investigation of harmful toxic dump.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
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Where to Watch
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Teenage Wasteland
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
TEENAGE WASTELAND recounts how, in the early 1990s, Middletown, NY high school teacher Fred Isseks and students in his Electronic English class discovered toxic waste at a dump sitting on top of an aquifer. The group used camcorders to record the waste as well as interviews with local politicians and neighbors, ruffling feathers with their coverage and learning civic courage in the process. Isseks and several of the students, now around 50 years old, reflect in interviews today about what the experience meant for them and how it changed their lives.
Is It Any Good?
This film conveys two themes—the life-changing impact an involved high school teacher can have, and the power journalists wield to uncover criminal and political activity. Teenage Wasteland recounts how a high school project in the early 1990s transformed into a community-wide expose driven by high school students and their dogged teacher. Although the documentary could've been edited for pace and length, the story has teeth and could inspire young people to get involved. Isseks certainly inspired his students, some of whom reveal how his class and mentorship helped them through difficult teenage years or home lives.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the circumstances that allowed for toxic substances to be dumped in Middletown, NY, as seen in Teenage Wasteland. Do you think this common? Can you think of any other cases similar to this one?
How did Fred Isseks and his students demonstrate courage and perseverance in their pursuit of information about the toxic waste dump?
Did the way the teens spoke out and conducted interviews impress you? How did the adults invited to speak treat the teenagers?
What is the status of the water today in upstate New York? Does the film answer this question? Where could you go for more information?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : September 1, 2026
- Cast : Fred Isseks , Rachel Raimist , Jeffrey Dutemple
- Directors : Amanda McBaine , Jesse Moss
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Documentary
- Topics : Activism ( Civic engagement ) , Friendship , History , School ( High School )
- Character Strengths : Courage , Curiosity , Perseverance
- Run time : 110 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : August 31, 2026
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