The Forever Purge

The Forever Purge
Starring Ana de la Reguera, Tenoch Huerta, Josh Lucas, Cassidy Freeman
Directed by Everado Gout

"The Purge" franchise is an enigma in itself, yet wrapped up in a nice, concise package that everyone can easily understand. The pure concept of the films is that America needs a day where all crime, including murder, is legal so everyone can get their frustrations and grievances out for twelve hours, while maintaining a sense of security for the other 364 days of the year. Yet it's obvious that this isn't the main point of the films, or the idea of the Purge in the films itself, but rather a struggle between the wealthy and the poor, and the unrestricted access the government has on its citizens. Giving them a false sense of freedom in taking out your vendettas one day out of the year allows the government itself to come in undetected and eliminate those they feel aren't worthy of living in the great country of America. This has been told in previous "Purge" films, most notably "The First Purge," which saw a group of African Americans under the gun from a racist, white-only American society that sought to "purge" anyone not of white ancestry from their country. Now, "The Forever Purge" shifts attention from one minority group to another, focusing on Mexican Americans and the same sense of white entitlement that finds their lives at risk - but this time there's a twist, as those who participated in the Purge decided one night wasn't enough, turning one night of terror into something that seemingly has no end.

Married couple Juan (Tenoch Huerta) and Adela (Ana de la Reguera) immigrate to America just as the New Founding Fathers of America regain control of the government, re-instating the annual Purge. With white nationalism and white supremacy on the rise, Juan and Adela worry about the upcoming Purge, so they take shelter with fellow Mexican Americans in a heavily guarded compound. Meanwhile, Juan's boss Dylan Tucker (Josh Turner), his wife Cassie (Cassidy Freeman), and his family remain hunkered down at their family ranch, unaware that they're targets from a new faction, the Purge Purification Force. Having survived the Purge night, everyone thinks that life will get back to normal, but Dylan and his family find themselves under attack by the PPF, who claim that the Purge will never end. Juan and his friend manage to rescue Dylan, Cassie, and some other members of their family while he goes in search for Adela.

After finding Adela, they learn from the news that the Purge hasn't ended, and the PPF has erupted all over the country. Every big city in America is under attack, and not even martial law can prevent the PPF from fulfilling their true purpose: to make America white again, by exterminating anyone not of their color. Their only hope is to make it to Mexico before they close their border.

The first three "Purge" films didn't really drive the theme of "us versus them" as much as the last two did, and it's probably for obvious reasons. "The First Purge" was released at the height of the past President, who under his presidency we saw white supremacist groups grow in their size and voice, making it more and more likely that an actual Purge could occur. "The First Purge" centered on a group of African Americans living in poverty, being hunted down purely because of their race. "The Forever Purge" switches this up by moving the action to small-town Texas, and centering on the marginalized Mexican American community, who also saw an uptick in real-life violence in recent years due to misjudged preconceived notions as to why they came to America in the first place, also mentioned by the previous President. In recent years, these white supremacist groups have grown and become more bold, and this theme is really driven in these films.

Yet the "Purge" films are mostly known for their over-the-top violence, and "The Forever Purge" amps up the violence in the most obvious ways, especially centering on the fact that this Purge doesn't last just one day. We see how this once tight-knit plan unravels nationwide, as years of tension and hostility bubble to the surface with insurmountable violence that seems unstoppable. America becomes the new third world here, and Mexico and Canada are seen as the saviors - opening up their borders for American refugees, something that's counter to what we see in the world today...but also seems that it can only be a matter of time before this becomes an all-too-real reality.

This film focuses on two different families, and how their differences help each other become a tight-knit unit. Ana de la Reguera and Tenoch Huerta play Adela and Juan, Mexican Americans who are experiencing their first Purge, and find themselves between the cross-hairs of "pure, white Americans" who want them exterminated purely for the color of their skin. They're not helpless by any stretch of the imagination, especially Adela, who proves herself more than accurate with any sort of firearm. De la Reguera is a new action heroine who really showcases her action prowess here, while Huerta plays the more soft-spoken character who also more than holds his own against insurmountable odds.

Then there's Josh Lucas's Dylan and Cassidy Freeman's Cassie, who play unique characters in films like this: wealthy white Americans who also value their minority counterparts (for the most part, especially in Dylan's case). Dylan seemingly has racist tendencies at the start of the film, but reveals to Juan that it's more of a thought process that people should stick with their own kind, but as the film progresses they learn to rely on one another to survive.

As with the other films in this franchise, it's seeing the bad guys get their comeuppance that really makes the film entertaining. Yet this one also adds compelling, well-thought-out main characters who have a fully fleshed story that makes them easy to root for, and proves themselves as the true underdogs that we all want to see succeed. The film is filled with political undertones that seem more realistic than ever, and could serve as a history lesson years down the road if this country continues down its divided path.

Filled with great performances, a timely discussion, and balls-to-the-wall violence, "The Forever Purge" is a welcoming addition to the franchise that'll satisfy the bloodlust in the viewers and also supply thought-provoking questions about the world we live in today.

The Score: A