Punishment Park
In this fictional documentary, U.S. prisons are at capacity, and President Nixon declares a state of emergency. All new prisoners, most of whom are connected to the antiwar movement, are now given the choice of jail time or spending three days in Punishment Park, where they will be hunted for sport by federal authorities. The prisoners invariably choose the latter option, but learn that, between the desert heat and the brutal police officers, their chances of survival are slim.
Critics Sentiment
Police officers reveal that promised amnesty was completely nonexistent
Group 637 continues trek while being hunted relentlessly
The film surges from its weakest middle section during the desert pursuit to its devastating climax when the amnesty deception is revealed.
Punishment Park maintains strong audience engagement throughout most of its runtime, with particular praise for the tribunal scenes and documentary realism. The film builds to its most powerful moments in the final act, where the complete systematic deception creates devastating emotional impact. Despite some pacing concerns in the middle desert sequences, the overall reception celebrates it as a masterful piece of political cinema.
Full cast
Showing 20 of 58Patrick Boland
Tribunal Defendant
Carmen Argenziano
Jay Kaufman (Tribunal Defendant)
Kent Foreman
Lee Robert Brown (Tribunal Defendant)
Luke Johnson
William Luke Valerio (Tribunal Defendant)
Katherine Quittner
Nancy Jane Smith (Tribunal Defendant)
Scott Turner
James Arthur Kohler (Tribunal Defendant)
Stan Armsted
Charles Robbins (Tribunal Defendant)
Mary Ellen Kleinhall
Allison Mitchner (Tribunal Defendant)
Mark Keats
William C. Hoeger (Tribunal Chairman)
Gladys Golden
Mary Jurgens (Tribunal Member)
Sanford Golden
Senator Harris (Tribunal Member)
George Gregory
Mr. Keagan (Tribunal Member)
Norman Sinclair
Tribunal Member
Sigmund Rich
Prof. Hazlett
Paul Rosenstein
Tribunal Member
Lee Marks
Federal Agent
Sandy Cox
Stenographer
Frederic Franklyn
Defense Attorney
Ross Briegleb
Tribunal Doctor
Joe Hudgins
Chief Tribunal Marshall
Crew
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