The Purge
The great United States of America has been reborn and the year is 2022. Crime, unemployment, and homelessness are at all time record lows thanks to the new founding fathers. The catch? Once a year all citizens are allowed to release their hatred, criminal instincts, and violence for a 12 hour period known as “The Purge”– no laws, no aid, just pure animal rage, releasing the beast within. The working theory being that The Purge allows for a necessary release and allows us to remain civil with each other throughout the rest of the year. But crime can be big business too, and for James Sandin (Ethan Hawke) crime has been very profitable, you see James sells security systems designed to protect the wealthy from the madness of The Purge. Protected in their fortress like home on the night of the purge James, his wife Mary (Lena Heady), and kids Charlie and Zoey (Max Burkholder and Adelaide Kane) are set for the night. But, when an expected turn of events brings a bloody stranger (Edwin Hodge) begging for help and mercy to their doorstep the Sandin’s have no idea of what they’re getting involved with. What was supposed to be an easy night just got infinitely more difficult, how to survive?
A satirical and pointed mirror of our current society shines throughout Director/Writer James DeMonaco’s latest offering adding up to an effective suspense/thriller/action crossover; a message to illustrate that our biggest enemy may in fact be ourselves. Conceptually the story may not be the freshest idea on the block, but good old scares, including things that go bump in the night and lumps that lurk in the dark still prove to be effective plot devices. Acting from the ensemble feels about right, add in a few extra little twists and you’ve got a pulse changing ride. Clocking in at a brief 85 minutes of runtime this flick doesn’t overstay its welcome either. Fun for the thrill seekers, The Purge is rated R.