Educational Media Reviews Online

Tricked is a stark and gripping look into the life stories of the sex traffic industry in America. What most Americans are not aware of is that American slavery is alive and well. Today’s $3 billion sex industry is responsible for trafficking and victimizing thousands of young American girls, boys, women and men. Although the media focusses most on global/foreign trafficking infractions the U.S. is a major consumer of sex victimization.

The directors, Wells and Watson take us on an intense journey into the lives of several young women that have sold their lives to pimps. We explore their in-depth stories. We learn what lead them to the life they live, why they stay and in instances when they tire of the endless job of sex how they manage in some instances to escape the market. In relation to these stories we also hear the justifications of pimps, the fears of parents, and the condemnations of law enforcement as they attempt to create awareness and stop this type of crime.

This film is not for the faint of heart or for those that disdain extremely course language. It is shot at the raw street level of life. However, it is precisely this raw edge that makes this type of research helpful to professors. This film is positive in three ways. It gives a silenced population a voice and therefore is therapeutic for these lost individuals. Second, it provides professionals with better understanding of the reasons for this form of deviance/crime and how to assist these people to take back control of their lives. Third, these life narratives provide students in human services, sociology, criminal justice, nursing, education, and psychology an understanding of the magnitude of the sex trafficking problem and helps prepare them for their careers.

Well shot, excellent sound and editing. Watch the First Run Feature's trailer.