Prior to the film’s release, a 1990 documentary entitled Child of Rage: A Story of Abuse was produced by Gaby Monet based on interviews conducted with the film’s real-life inspiration, Beth Thomas. It aired on HBO as part of their America Undercover series. The film consists of interviews with Beth Thomas, followed by footage of her treatment and partial recovery at a treatment center for children.

Thomas, a former patient of psychotherapist Connell Watkins, would later – as a freshman – testify during the Candace Newmaker trial that she had benefited from treatment she had received from Watkins.^[3] Thomas has since graduated from the University of Colorado with a bachelor’s degree in Nursing^[4][5] and became an award-winning Flagstaff Medical Center Registered Nurse.^[4][6]