Boxset Review: The Purge

The Purge series

(2013-2016)

Director – James DeMonaco

Producer – Jason Blum, Sébastien K. Lemercier, Michael Bay, Andrew Form, Bradley Fuller

Screenwriter – James DeMonaco

Starring –  The Purge: Ethan Hawke, Lena Headey, Adelaide Kane, Max Burkholder. Purge Anarchy: Frank Grillo, Carmen Ejogo, Zach Gilford, Kiele Sanchez, Zoë Soul, Michael K. Williams. Purge Election Year: Frank Grillo, Elizabeth Mitchell, Mykelti Williamson

Synopsis – Following an economic collapse and rising social unrest, a political organisation called “The New Founding Fathers of America” (NFFA) are voted into government. The NFAA soon establishes a new totalitarian regime and police state. In a plan to help stabilise American society, the 28th Amendment to the U.S Constitution is ratified. This amendment establishes a 12-hour event known as “The Purge” which would take place from 7:00 pm on March 21st to 7:00 am on the 22nd, wherein all crime including murder becomes legal. The police can’t be called. Hospitals suspend help. It’s one night when the population regulates itself without thought of punishment. 


 FILMS

The Purge (2013)
The Purge: Anarchy (2014)
The Purge: Election Year (2016)


The Purge

On a typical Purge night plagued by violence and an epidemic of crime, one family wrestles with the decision of who they will become when a stranger comes knocking. After an intruder breaks into James Sandin’s (Hawke) gated community during the yearly lockdown, he begins a sequence of events that threatens to tear a family apart. Now, it is up to James, his wife, Mary (Headey), and their kids to make it through the night without turning into the monsters from whom they hide.

 

 

The Purge: Anarchy

Three groups of people intertwine and are left stranded in the streets on Purge Night, trying to survive the chaos and violence that occurs.

A couple are driving home when their car breaks down just as the annual Purge commences. Meanwhile, a police sergeant takes to the streets to get revenge on the man who killed his son, and a mother and daughter run from their home after assailants destroy it. The five people meet up as they attempt to survive the worst possible night to be on the streets in Los Angeles.

 

 

The Purge: Election Year

Charlie Roan was the only one who survived a horrific purge game that killed her family and vowed to one day eliminate the night for good. 15 years later, she gets her chance by becoming a candidate for the American election and promising the US that the purge will come to an end. The New Founding Fathers of America see this as a real threat and plan to use the purge to assassinate Charlie. Police sergeant Leo Barnes (Grillo) is the senator’s head of security and it is his mission to protect her from the night so she can live till the election is over.


PosterMovieYearCommentsRatingReviewer
The Purge 2013 An interesting story of a dystopian USA which leads to quite a bit of suspense and gore in equal measures, with a few twists. The whole film holds together well. 7 Simon
The Purge 2013 A brilliantly realised scary concept with dangerous social parallels to modern America. 8 Gordon
The Purge: Anarchy 2014 A worthy sequel. Taking the story outside is a good move and the suspense builds as it turn into a classic survival horror. 7 Simon
The Purge: Anarchy 2014 A 'Warriors' style cross town journey through hell that may not reach the heights of its predecessors, but has enough of its own thrills. 6 Gordon
The Purge: Election Year 2016 I thought a third film might be taking this series too far but it was not bad at all. Pretty much more of the same but still with enough action and suspense along the way to keep you entertained. 7 Simon
The Purge: Election Year 2016 Whilst it adds nothing new to the series, Election Year is a more than satisfactory conclusion to the trilogy. 6 Gordon
The Purge: Election Year 2016 The most visually stylish of the three films, and the concept is great, but the story doesn’t work as well as in the first two films. It is still a decent and logical conclusion to the Purge story so far, however. 6 Mat

 

  • The Purge
  • The Purge: Anarchy
  • The Purge: Election Year
3.4

Summary

A surprisingly good trilogy of thrillers that tries to take on a different genre with each chapter. The ‘home invasion thriller’, the ‘journey through hell thriller’ and the ‘political and social commentary thriller’ each deliver on their mission with style and with a prequel in the works and rumours of a TV series, The Purge doesn’t look like ending any time soon.

 


 


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