Waco: The Rules of Engagement
1997 · Movie · Not Rated · 136 min · ★ 7.6 · 83% critics
This documentary revisits the 1993 Waco standoff, using footage and recordings to trace how a tense confrontation between a religious group and federal agents escalated into disaster. It focuses on disputed decisions, competing accounts, and the questions that still surround the event.
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Details
- Years
- 1997
- Release date
- 1997-09-19
- Language
- English
- Rated
- Not Rated
- Runtime
- 136 min
- Critic score
- 83/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.6/10 (50 votes)
About
If you’re drawn to unsettling, debate-sparking documentaries about government power and public truth, this may appeal to you, especially if you liked Citizenfour or Oklahoma City; Not for you if you want a fully even-handed account.
Pros: gripping real footage; thought-provoking questions; emotionally powerful | Cons: noticeably biased; one-sided perspective; disputed claims
Themes
- fbi
- cult
- standoff
- atf
- waco siege
Awards & recognition
- Academy Award — Best Documentary Feature Film · 1998 · nominated
Cast & crew
- DG
Dan Gifford
as Narrator (voice)
- CD
Clive Doyle
as Self - Branch Davidian
- JH
Jack Harwell
as Self - Sheriff
- JP
Joseph Penno
as Self - Former Chief, Houston Fire Department
- DR
Dick J. Reavis
as Self - Author
- JT
James D. Tabor
as Self - Biblical Scholar
- DT
David Thibodeau
as Self - Branch Davidian
Joe Biden
as Self - U.S. Senate (archive footage) (uncredited)
Sonny Bono
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- HC
Howard Coble
as Self - U.S. Congress (archive footage) (uncredited)
Directed by William Gazecki