Documentary 'Class Action Park' Looks At 'World's Most Dangerous Amusement Park'

A new documentary looks at a water park dubbed the 'world's most dangerous' after multiple people died there and many more were left with injuries.

Class Action Park by filmmakers Chris Charles Scott and Seth Porges delves into the bizarre story of Action Park, which opened in New Jersey back in the 1978 and became popular during the 80s and 90s.

Staff at Action Park, which was also dubbed 'Traction Park' for its questionable health and safety track record, had to rescue around 100 swimmers from its wave pool on the very first day it opened.

And it didn't get much better from there - in fact, over the years six people died in incidents at the park and countless more were injured.

The documentary claims there was 110 injuries in just one year - including 45 head injuries, with the availability of alcohol on-site credited with contributing to these numbers.

Despite its reputation - or maybe even because of it - the park was still a popular spot for visitors, with comedian Chris Gethard telling Scott and Porges 'growing up we would try to die for fun'.

A synopsis released alongside the Class Action Park trailer reads: "During its 1980s heyday, New Jersey's Action Park was known as the world's most dangerous amusement park.

"It was as a lawless land, ruled by drunk teenage employees and frequented by drunker teenage guests. The rides ignored basic notions of physics, common sense, and safety. The end result lay somewhere between Lord of the Flies and a Saw movie.

"But despite countless injuries and deaths, Action Park is looked back at fondly as an insane but insanely fun rite of passage. The scars it left? Badges of honour.

"Class Action Park is the first-ever feature documentary to explore a place that has long since entered the realm of myth. The film peels away the trappings of nostalgia to reveal the shocking truth behind the park and its genius madman founder."

The trailer teasers viewers with footage of rides that definitely would not pass current health and safety standards; tales of tennis balls soaked in petrol, set alight and fired at visitors; and interviews with people who experienced the park first-hand - including one woman who claims the park had fake liability insurance.

As yet, Class Action Park doesn't have a release date, but you can keep up to date with its progress here.

Featured Image Credit: Class Action Park

Topics: TV and Film, US

Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]

@ClaireReid19