This is from 2020 so not totally new but it's a pretty fascinating look at probably the most dangerous amusement park--on purpose--in the history of amusement parks. Action Park was a park created by a former Wall Street stockbroker guru who loved cutting corners and cheating and wound up buying 2 ski resorts in northern NJ that he turned into this vast water/motor park.

It was featured on Headbangers Ball a few times on MTV apparently, according to some of the footage. There were tons of accidents, and even deaths (one is prominently and tragically featured in the film's final act).

Very absorbing and well made, but I still am not a huge fan of the "documentary format" that new wave filmmakers have adopted. Especially animated interludes. Michael Moore probably started it with "Bowling for Columbine" but it's really obnoxious now how it's always seemed to be used as a visual aid.

Some of the "park guests" are famous actor/comedians and some go a little over the top. But seeing some of these rides, the antics that teenage "lifeguards" had (that were like camp romps)...it's fascinating, sometimes funny, and sometimes really sad.

Only about 90 minutes, so a breeze to watch.

out of

I watched it when it was on Netflix, it also worked as a love letter to the late 80’s/ early 90’s. A very enjoyable watch.

I grew up in that area and have many memories of that place. The alpine racers at that place were fucking crazy they were so fast it was ridiculous, you could stand and watch the people lose control and fly off all day long. Everything about that park was completely insane and everybody knew it from all over the area.

I got through the first half hour and had to shut it off. It was getting a little repetitive. Fun documentary though, especially if you remember going to the park as a kid. Fun place to do stupid shit.