The Purge: Anarchy

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The Purge: Anarchy
Starring Frank Grillo, Carmen Ejogo, Zach Gilford, Kiele Sanchez
Directed by James DeMonaco

Synopsis:
The annual Purge is about to begin.  One night out of the year where all crime is legal, including murder.  The New Founding Fathers of America see this as a way to reduce crime rate and unemployment, but people know that it's just a way for the privileged and wealthy to kill those they deem as not worthy to live.

For Leo (Frank Grillo), the Purge is a night to get revenge on a man for murdering his young son.  For Eva (Carmen Ejogo) and her daughter Cali (Zoe Soul), the Purge is a night to secure themselves in their apartment and survive.  For fledgling couple Shane (Zach Gilford) and Liz (Kiele Sanchez), it's a night to try to survive the streets as their car breaks down right before the Purge begins.  These strangers' lives will intersect in a night filled with terror, violence and the darkest side of humanity.

Review:
I never saw the original film, but I knew that the two really weren't connected (with the exception of one minor character), so I had the chance to see this so I did, and I found it to be an interesting concept of the battle of the social classes.  On the outside, those who instigated the Purge say it helps reduce crime, helps with the unemployment and cleanses those who participate in the Purge.  However, deep down, the Purge is really a way to kill second-class citizens, ensuring the wealthy and elite maintain their world of prosperity and snobbiness.

What I appreciated the most in this film - unlike most horror films - is that there's a very small group of survivors, and none of them are evil, mean, or people you generally dislike.  All of them are, at their core, good people, and I was rooting for them all to survive.  Of course, this being a horror film, that wasn't going to happen, and when the deaths occur it really moved me to actually care, instead of rooting for their demise. 

The actors did a great job with what they were given, and they tried to stay away from the generic stereotypes (such as the ditzy blonde, the annoying sidekick, etc.).  Instead we're given characters with a rich back story, people who we could associate with and see characteristics in them that we see in people around us.  It humanizes the film and makes it a real test of survival, instead of being too over-the-top and silly.

Summary:
"The Purge: Anarchy" is filled with terror, violence and fear, told through the eyes of characters that you can relate to, and that you root for.  That is what makes it a better horror film.

My Rating: A- 

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