Review: The Purge

Director: James DeMonaco

Writer: James DeMonaco

Starring: Ethan Hawke, Lena Headey, Max Burkholder, Adelaide Kane, Edwin Hodge, Rhys Wakefield

Released: June 7, 2013

Plot: In the future, a wealthy family is held hostage for harboring the target of a murderous syndicate during the Purge.

2/5 Tonies

"You just gave our son a gun. You wanna tell me what the hell we're doing?"

The Purge, an annual 12-hour period during which all criminal activity becomes legal. The only rules during the Purge is that government officials of "ranking 10 or higher" must remain unharmed and usage of weaponry above "Class 4"  is forbidden.  All emergency services are suspended during this time and anyone who doesn't follow the rules of the Purge will be executed. The Purge is designed to act as a catharsis for the American people, so that they may vent all negative emotions and repressed urges however and on whomever they desire.

An amazing concept that is filled with an infinite amount of promise that gets thrown right out the window. This film lacked in so much it is hard to say if it was any good. Was I entertained? Yes, but that does not make up for this lackluster film.

Going in I had little to no expectations. I was it in for the ride, unaware the stability and safety of my seat. I don't feel like I should have skipped this film. My time was not wasted, but I did learn this: How to take a concept so grand and lend it the shorthand.

The film begins with an introduction of archived footage of past Purge(s)? Giving an idea of the cruelty and brutality that the annual event carries with it. And yes it is horrid. In fact it is a completely terrifying thought.

The story then continues introducing us to our main protagonist James Sandin(Ethan Hawke), a very successful and eccentric salesman as he drives home while conversing over the telephone about all the security systems he's sold. Along the way he interacts with his neighbors who seem quite friendly. James finally gets home and we are introduced to his all to stereotypical family. His wife Mary(Lena Headey) is the perfect housewife, the type you may only see in a tv show or MOVIE. We are then introduced to his two children. His son Charlie, an estranged tech-savy boy and  daughter Zoey, the typical rebellious teenager with a secret boyfriend whom her parents do not approve of. Time passes with nothing important or memorable happening.

Then it begins The Purge commences. A siren blares from out of nowhere and all people in the neighborhood including the Sandins shut down their house for the night. As the night continues all seems to be running smoothly until a very misfortune occurrence happens. A man is out in the streets yelling to be saved. Charlie with the big heart he has disarms the security system and let's the man in. This then causes a group of misfits in masks, who are hunting the man for the cleansing of their soul. They tell the Sandins they have a few hours to give up the man or they will break in kill the man and the whole family instead.

There you have it. That is plot. Nothing more or nothing less. It seems interesting, but goes nowhere. Like I said earlier, this film offers a concept that is so promising, but gets thrown out the window instead. It's as if someone were waving their middle finger at us the whole time.

The Purge moves so rapidly it makes this hour and half film feel like a mere thirty minutes. There is no development or real introduction of anything or anyone. You get thrown into the film as if you already contain a copious amount of knowledge of this certain happening. The action almost begins immediately, or at least it feels this way. People are dying and you sit there asking yourself, “Why?”

This leads into my next point. These characters are completely and utterly idiotic. They have no motive in any action they perform. It all feels like they go off that gut feeling times ten. Maybe, my mind would change if I knew who there characters truly were, but as of right now I can't do anything more than laugh. This could also be due to the acting. Which was far from good. The performance of each actor was so over the top it almost became unbearable to watch. But it must be hard to act with such an underdeveloped script. The only good thing about it was the twist at the end. It added some depth, but it was predictable and ended falling short.

The Purge was not all bad. It did offer some great ideas. I'll say it again The Purge itself was a brilliant concept. An idea that studies the true grit of man. It allows to see how nature takes over reason. A concept that contains so much promise and interest leaving questions of, “What if the Purge were real? Would man react the way they do in this film?' The concept alone brings along very insightful and intellectual thought, but the film does not.

As a fan of horror, I will say that The Purge succeeded greatly. But as fan of all films in general, this films lacked so much. All potential was lost on this one. An idea has again been misused and under appreciated. Although, I ask this: Will we see another Purge done in a completely different way? The way it was intended to be? Only time can tell.

I still recommend you watch it and gather your own opinion. Good or bad your own opinion is right.

Pros: Good plot twist, the Purge is a brilliant idea

Cons: Pacing moved to rapidly, acting, script, could have been done better.

2/5 Tonies

Written by Anthony Centeno