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Waco: The Rules of Engagement

Play trailer Poster for Waco: The Rules of Engagement Released Sep 19, 1997 2h 45m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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88% Tomatometer 16 Reviews 86% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
This documentary about the 1993 showdown between the FBI and the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas, presents an alternate theory about the tragedy. The government has long contended that this fringe Christian group was a danger, and that the siege on its compound, which resulted in the death of 70 people, was necessary. Director William Gazecki, using footage from the siege and the Congressional hearings that followed it, asserts that American forces may have attacked a peaceful religious group.

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Waco: The Rules of Engagement

Critics Reviews

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Globe and Mail Rated: 3/4 Apr 25, 2003 Full Review Marc Savlov Austin Chronicle A masterful, terribly engaging, and horribly affecting documentary. Rated: 4/5 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times It presents testimony from both sides, and shies away from cheap shots. We feel we are seeing a fair attempt to deal with facts. Rated: 3.5/4 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 3/5 Oct 9, 2005 Full Review Mark Palermo The Coast (Halifax, Nova Scotia) Rated: 4/5 Aug 23, 2004 Full Review Frank Swietek One Guy's Opinion Rated: 3/5 Mar 4, 2004 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Joel C Good doco, but disgusting events. Evil old liars calling the shots and orders carried out by child murderers, HOORAH! Not to mention the old white supremist pieces of s**t calling the radio station saying to go in and just murder them because it's costing the tax payers too much money to negotiate. I hope things are different these days with the ATF and FBI, I doubt it though. I honestly can't believe America sat back and let it happen. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/16/21 Full Review Audience Member Wow! This is a really well done 20+ year old Documentary. Like most Americans, I thought the Branch Davidians set fire to themselves, but this Documentary does a pretty good job of showing that might not be the case. This was a tragedy in US modern history and the ATF & FBI didn't do a good job handling the situation. They gassed children and tore down walls with those tanks. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/26/23 Full Review Audience Member Wow ... as a child of 12, my memories of Waco were sketchy: sex cult, law enforcement, and fire. While the film is something of a conspiracy theory, I would say it's compelling at best and raises some serious questions at least. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Audience Member Incredible documentry about the sidege that took place at Mount Carmel, near Waco texas as lies are uncovered and the truth about the ATF and the FBI' slaughter of religous leader David Koresch and his followers during a attempt to take control of their compound for almost 3 months. Excellent back story about the Branch Davidians and their beginings up until the siege. Proves how much power the government actually has over its people and those who oppose their tactics. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/23/23 Full Review Audience Member The raw footage is phenomenal. One of the most detailed chronicles of a police raid ever captured. Questioned who the most dangerous presence was on that fateful day - the cult leaders or the FBI. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Audience Member Powerful stuff except for the horrid synth music that I could've done without. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Waco: The Rules of Engagement

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Waco: The Rules of Engagement

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Movie Info

Synopsis This documentary about the 1993 showdown between the FBI and the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas, presents an alternate theory about the tragedy. The government has long contended that this fringe Christian group was a danger, and that the siege on its compound, which resulted in the death of 70 people, was necessary. Director William Gazecki, using footage from the siege and the Congressional hearings that followed it, asserts that American forces may have attacked a peaceful religious group.
Director
William Gazecki
Producer
William Gazecki, Michael McNulty
Screenwriter
William Gazecki, Michael McNulty, Dan Gifford, Ron Nelson
Distributor
New Yorker Films
Production Co
Fifth Estate Productions
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 19, 1997, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 3, 2016
Runtime
2h 45m
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