The Purge Review

Rated R (Strong Disturbing Violence and Some Language)

Running Time: 1 Hour & 25 Minutes

Cast-

Ethan Hawke-James Sandin

Lena Headey-Mary Sandin

Adelaide Kane-Zoey Sandin

Max Burkholder-Charlie Sandin

Edwin Hodge-Bloody Stranger

Rhys Wakefield-Polite Stranger

Tony Oller-Henry

Arija Bareikis-Grace Ferrin

Dana Bunch-Mr. Ferrin

Tisha French-Mrs. Halverson

Chris Mulkey-Mr. Halverson

Tom Yi-Mr. Cali

Peter Gvozdas-Dr. Peter Buynak

Directed by James DeMonaco

Hide yo kids, hide yo wife, and hide yo husband, cuz they be purgin’ everyone out here!

Note: Screened on Monday, June 3, 2013 at the Angelika Film Center.

Famous comedian Bill Cosby once said that 'the main goal of the future is to stop violence. The world is addicted to it.' The Boston Bombing, the Sandy Hook massacre, the Aurora shooting…we are constantly surrounded by violence and it's gotten to the point where such events aren't even shocking anymore; we've become desensitized to them. Whether its resources, religion, ideology, or plain simple hatred, humans have been killing each other since the dawn of time and it all leads back to one age-old question: are we an inherently violent species? That's a very big issue to tackle, especially for a horror/thriller flick like James DeMonaco's "The Purge," the latest from low-budget producer Blumhouse Productions. Summer isn't usually the best time to release a horror film (Remember last year's "Chernobyl Diaries"? Of course you don't) but that hasn't stopped Hollywood studios from chasing after the next sleeper hit. This is DeMonaco's second time sitting in the director's chair (his previous credits include 2009's "Staten Island" and the script for the "Assault on Precinct 13" remake) and he's once again recruited Ethan Hawke to his cause by casting him in the lead role. Although "The Purge" offers up an intriguing social allegory between the haves and the have-nots, the film unfortunately devolves into a generic home-invasion thriller, thereby squandering what few good ideas it has.

In the year 2022, the United States is 'a nation reborn' and experiencing a wave of prosperity thanks to the efforts of the 'New Founding Fathers,' who've not only virtually eliminated crime and poverty, but also reduced unemployment to a mere 1%. Their success is attributed to the 28th Amendment, which institutes an annual 'Purge' over the course of one single night—March 21-22, from 7:00 P.M. to 7:00 A.M.—where all criminal activity, including murder, is legal. Police, fire, and emergency medical services are suspended during this twelve-hour period, with the only restrictions being that 'Level 10' government officials are off-limits and usage of 'Class 4' weaponry is forbidden. Taking advantage of the Purge is high-tech home security salesman James Sandin (Ethan Hawke), who's been making a killing in the business and is even planning on buying a boat! As the night in question gets underway, James locks down his home and settles in for a quiet evening with his wife Mary (Lena Headey), and teenage children Charlie (Max Burkholder) and Zoey (Adelaide Kane). When Charlie overhears a homeless, bloodied stranger (Edwin Hodge) begging for help, he panics and lets him in, throwing the Sandin's home into disarray. A stand-off ensues between James and the stranger but it is interrupted by Zoey's boyfriend Henry (Tony Oller), who attempts to gun her father down for trying to end their relationship. The Sandins are soon besieged by a group of masked Purgers led by a Polite Stranger (Rhys Wakefield), who gives the family an ultimatum: deliver the homeless 'swine' or he will kill them all.

"The Purge" definitely starts off on a strong and promising note as video-camera footage of previous Purges are shown during the opening credits while Claude Debussy's Clair de Lune plays in the background. It immediately sets a chilling and disturbing tone, with the grainy feeds depicting various acts of brutal violence. The rationale behind the Purge is that humans are inherently violent and that the only way to keep those urges in check is to let them loose for one day a year. It's not exactly the most original of concepts (the "Star Trek" episode 'The Return of the Archons' featured a very similar premise) but it does inspire debate and that's not something you see every day in a genre film. Various talking heads argue over the ethics of the Purge, with some accusing it of being a ploy to weed out undesirables. DeMonaco raises a number of interesting questions in regards to human nature and class warfare, and I found his dystopian vision of America compelling but it doesn't seem like he thought it through logically. The film is set nine years from now. How can our country be upended so suddenly to allow such an event to take place? Even more problematic are the rules and regulations, which contradict each other. It's stated that there is no police during the Purge so who makes sure that no one uses a restricted weapon during this supposed 'free-for-all'? By far the most puzzling aspect is why people don't just pack their bags and leave the country. There has to be those who don't support the Purge and honestly, can mankind's violent urges be contained to one single night? What's stopping them from committing crimes on any other day of the year? The more you think about the premise, the more holes that pop up!

Not only does DeMonaco fail to develop his ideas but he completely abandons them in the second half of the film as it devolves into a rip-off of "The Strangers." This being a Blumhouse Production, the Sandin's home is predictably plunged into darkness when the masked Purgers cut the power, leaving you to wonder why James would install a security system that can be broken into without any effort at all. What follows is a generic game of hide-and-seek, with suspense replaced by characters behaving in the most idiotic manner possible. Instead of sticking with the rest of her family, a hysterical Zoey runs off on her own for no discernible reason but she looks like a genius compared to her little brother Charlie. It is his actions that put his entire family in danger in the first place! There is one memorable scene, however, and it takes place in a rec room where James is surrounded by multiple intruders, forcing him to basically go Rambo. Although excellently choreographed, it has the unfortunate side effect of undermining the film's overall message. "The Purge" serves as a cautionary tale against violence yet we're expected to cheer when James is blasting away the loonies like he's in "Call of Duty." Sure, he's defending his family and home but killing is killing no matter the reasons. By fetishizing the very violence that he's critiquing, DeMonaco has created a film that's both morally confused and amoral.

Acting-wise, it's a mixed bag. Ethan Hawke is obviously only on-hand to pick up a paycheck yet he still manages to lend some weight to his character as he grapples with his moral compass. Lena Headey is fine but her interactions with Hawke feel stilted; it's hard to see the two as a married couple. Playing their children are Max Burkholder and Adelaide Kane, and while I have nothing against them, it doesn't change the fact that they're little more than poorly-developed horror clichés who run around making the worst decisions possible. The cast's sole saving grace is Rhys Wakefield as the Polite Stranger. Posh, creepy, menacing, and thoroughly sadistic with his Joker-like grin, the Australian actor certainly makes for an appropriately unhinged antagonist. Warner Brothers would be wise to look to his performance here when it comes time to fill the role for the Clown Prince of Crime in their eventual "Batman" reboot (You know it's happening!).

"The Purge" was released on June 7, 2013 to largely mixed reviews, with 41% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics admired DeMonaco's 'attempts to use thriller formula to make an intelligent point—but [the film] ultimately end up sinking in numbing violence and tired clichés.' Universal is obviously hoping for this to become the next "Paranormal Activity" and it appears their investment is paying off in a big way. Made on a measly production budget of $3 million, the film has already grossed five times this amount and is expected to finish the weekend with $35 million! I am honestly at a loss for words because it didn't seem like there was much interest or awareness among moviegoers, although the advance screening on Monday did pack a full house. It just goes to show how easy an effective marketing campaign can turn crap into gold. Its premise is ripe with potential but DeMonaco's "The Purge" fails to do anything meaningful with it, resorting to tired horror tropes and frankly, wasting our time.

Final Rating: 2 out of 5

"Our target for this year's Purge is hiding in your home. You have one hour to find him and give him to us or we will kill all of you."