The Purge: Anarchy (15)
Directed by James DeMonaco.
Starring Frank Grillo, Carmen Ejogo, Zoe Soul, Zach Gilford and Kiele Sanchez. 103 mins
The premise of The Purge is possibly unique in that it is equally as intriguing and thought provoking as it is totally bloody stupid. A decade from now The Purge has become a part of American life: 12 hours during which all crime is legal and all the emergency services are given a half day off. The citizenry either barricade themselves into their home or take to the streets to vent their anti-social urges or get retribution.
That wouldn't work, would it? How would you run that as a policy in an election campaign? How would it play with focus groups? According to the film it has helped cut crime and reduced unemployment and while watching the film it does seem remotely plausible that the States might turn to leadership from a group called The New Founding Fathers and embrace the Purge. It is after all, a sacred merging of two things that America holds dear – the second amendment and trick or treat.
The first film was a small scale home invasion movie which proved surprisingly successful so a second, rather grander, installment has been made. This time it follows a groups of people who find themselves stranded on the streets of downtown L.A. during the Purge. They band together behind a mysterious figure played by Grillo, a heavily armed killing machine who is out on the streets to get personal vengeance.
I didn't see the first one but I'll happily wager that this is better. This horror/ thriller hybrid has more than a touch of John Carpenter about it: the menace of Assault on Precinct 13 with the satirical bulldozing of Escape from New York or They Live. Of course if it has been Carpenter film (or at least an early Carpenter film) the action sequences would've been staged better and it would've been a bit more fun. DeMonaco's handling of affairs is rarely better than adequate and his script relies a little too heavily on coincidences and nick of time interventions.
It is a belting little premise though, which the film uses to beat up right wing gun nuts and the filthy rich, in an enjoyable bit of rabble rousing. The Purge looks set to become the next long running horror(ish) franchise but unlike Saw or Paranormal Activity there is plenty of scope for a series of inventive instalments. It would be great to see what some up and coming talent could do with it.
Directed by James DeMonaco.
Starring Frank Grillo, Carmen Ejogo, Zoe Soul, Zach Gilford and Kiele Sanchez. 103 mins
The premise of The Purge is possibly unique in that it is equally as intriguing and thought provoking as it is totally bloody stupid. A decade from now The Purge has become a part of American life: 12 hours during which all crime is legal and all the emergency services are given a half day off. The citizenry either barricade themselves into their home or take to the streets to vent their anti-social urges or get retribution.
That wouldn't work, would it? How would you run that as a policy in an election campaign? How would it play with focus groups? According to the film it has helped cut crime and reduced unemployment and while watching the film it does seem remotely plausible that the States might turn to leadership from a group called The New Founding Fathers and embrace the Purge. It is after all, a sacred merging of two things that America holds dear – the second amendment and trick or treat.
The first film was a small scale home invasion movie which proved surprisingly successful so a second, rather grander, installment has been made. This time it follows a groups of people who find themselves stranded on the streets of downtown L.A. during the Purge. They band together behind a mysterious figure played by Grillo, a heavily armed killing machine who is out on the streets to get personal vengeance.
I didn't see the first one but I'll happily wager that this is better. This horror/ thriller hybrid has more than a touch of John Carpenter about it: the menace of Assault on Precinct 13 with the satirical bulldozing of Escape from New York or They Live. Of course if it has been Carpenter film (or at least an early Carpenter film) the action sequences would've been staged better and it would've been a bit more fun. DeMonaco's handling of affairs is rarely better than adequate and his script relies a little too heavily on coincidences and nick of time interventions.
It is a belting little premise though, which the film uses to beat up right wing gun nuts and the filthy rich, in an enjoyable bit of rabble rousing. The Purge looks set to become the next long running horror(ish) franchise but unlike Saw or Paranormal Activity there is plenty of scope for a series of inventive instalments. It would be great to see what some up and coming talent could do with it.
