Ambush In Waco
Category: Movies & TV
David Koresh (born Vernon Howell, August 17, 1959 – April 19, 1993) was the leader of a Branch Davidian religious sect, believing himself to be its final prophet. A 1993 raid by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and subsequent siege by the FBI, ended with the burning of the Branch Davidian ranch. Koresh, 54 adults, and 21 children were found dead after the fire.
Ambush In Waco, the true story of insane cult leader David Koresh, is not easy viewing. The movie follows the rise and fall of Koresh, the leader of the Branch Davidians who, in 1993 battled the ATF and FBI for 51 days in a violent and deadly standoff.
The movie centers around the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, in the days leading up to, and including the now infamous standoff. We witness how Koresh taught his followers twisted lies, how he manipulated people into believing those same lies, and how they stockpiled weaponry, believing Armageddon was coming. And then when the authorities closed in demanding the surrender of all weapons and minors, who were believed to be in harms way, we witness how Koresh and his followers retaliated using deadly force.
Due to the fact that this is movie is based on a true story it does contain some thematic violence mainly involving gun play. There is no onscreen sex or nudity, although it is more than hinted at. And the truth of the Bible is twisted into blatant lies straight from the mouth of hell. Needless to say, there is definitely a chilling edge running throughout this movie; every time Koresh is onscreen, played brilliantly by Tim (“Wings” “The Fugitive”) Daly, I really felt like I was watching a man possessed by an evil spirit, which probably isn’t too far removed from the truth.
For the most part, this movie has been slated as not being that true to the facts, and many critics have condemned it altogether as being ‘fascist garbage.’ However, I thought it was well made for a TV movie, although I will admit that the story does tend to deviate from what actually happened. I have read quite a few reports and books on the Waco incident and would have to recommend that you read and swat up a little before watching this movie, as it does take a lot of liberties.
As I said above, the movie was quite disturbing. What disturbed me the most, and it’s something portrayed really well in this movie, is the fact that Koresh and his followers really believed that he was Christ come again to partake in a sinful life, a sinful messiah if you will. It has been alleged that Koresh advocated polygamy for himself, and asserted that he was married to several female residents of the small community. Some former members of the cult also alleged that Koresh felt he could claim any of the females in the compound as his, including girls as young as 10 years old.
There was a lot more they could have included in this film, but with this being a made-for-TV movie there was only so much the producers could get away with, especially back in 1993 when this movie was made. I wouldn’t go as far to say that this movie is FBI propaganda as some have claimed on IMDB.com, but it doesn’t really have a neutral “here’s the bare bones of what happened” feel to it. If for nothing else, this film is worth watching just to see how ‘false prophets’ take the Word and twist it to suit their own agenda, something that is happening all too much these days.
An interesting side note is that Koresh still has many followers that believe that he was the Messiah and that Koresh will someday return to Earth. Some hoped, based on Daniel 12:12, that this would occur 1,335 days after his death: December 14, 1996. The Hidden Manna faction believed that it would take place on August 6, 2000, then October 20, and now March 2012. However, I challenge all of them with a quote taken straight from the film… ‘If Koresh really is Jesus, bury him under a rock and see if he rises in three days.’
Christian St John
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