THE PURGE
R
85 Minutes
Director: James DeMonaco
Writer: James DeMonaco
Ethan Hawke, Lena Headey, Max Burkholder
Cast
Ethan Hawke … James Sandin
Lena Headey … Mary Sandin
Max Burkholder … Charlie Sandin
Adelaide Kane … Zoey Sandin
Before we go any further. I want to emphasize: THE PURGE is NOT a sequel to FOR THE LOVE OF NANCY.
It’s A Game Of Hide-And-Seek, Except This Time...The Stakes Are Deadly
THE PURGE IS written and directed by James DeMonaco. You may know him as the guy who wrote JACK…Yes, JACK is a real movie, look it up.
The year is 2022, and America has evolved into a more peaceful society. But at what cost? After declaring himself King and Emperor of these United States, Obama unleashed a socialist, dystopian nightmare, so severe, that even Snake Pliskin couldn’t combat it.
One day a year, crime is legal in America. For 12 hours, people get to release all their violent urges. I’m sure there are many legal stipulations. But it’s probably best we don’t get caught up in the bullet-size holes of the premise.
Ethan Hawke is at it again. I don’t know how he still around. Going all ‘Woody Allen’ on his nanny. But Uma Thurman’s alimony will only go so far with paying the bills.
If ‘Murder Day’ really existed. I would go all out. First, I’m going to see a movie for free, record it, and upload it on the internet. Second, I’m donating blood (without telling anyone I had HIV). Third, download WHO’S THE BOSS episodes. And last, I don’t know…shoot Robin Williams. If I need a break from the ceaseless violence; I could always hide in a movie theater, where they’re playing an Ethan Hawke film.
THE PURGE might make a decent TWILIGHT ZONE episode. But not a feature-length film. If you like to see a good version of this movie, I recommend PANIC ROOM.
This film starts out by posing an interesting question. Without law, what really keeps human beings in check? But we don’t get much of an answer. Which leaves us with a violent remake of HOME ALONE.
That’s not to say there is nothing of value in THE PURGE. There were some positive elements to the movie as well. Like its overall message. Which is: people are never free to commit crimes. At the end of the day, we have to live with ourselves…forever. I hope you like that bowl of CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL I just served you. Bon Appétit.
Final Verdict: 50 out of 100
