The original “Purge” was a sleeper movie hit in 2013, producing $89 million worldwide at the box officer – not bad for a movie that only cost $3 million to make. Its sequel, “The Purge: Anarchy,” which opened nationwide last weekend, may one day surpass its predecessor.
Goodness knows this is one sequel that tries hard, albeit with mixed results.
Like the film that spawned it, “Anarchy” has a simple, futuristic plot line. In 2023, the New Founders of America invite its citizens to participate in their right to purge during a 12-hour overnight spree during which all crimes are legal.
The nation’s economy has improved dramatically and the crime rate has sharply declined since their “democratic” takeover, national indicators the NFA cite as proof the purge is needed and just.
Like the original, “The Purge: Anarchy” follows some normal citizens during the 12-hour killing spree. Unlike the first, this sequel follows citizens as they try to make their way through the city, rather than focus on one family under siege inside their own home.
Our four “victims” in this instance all arrive together “on the streets” from different circumstances, a mother-daughter driven from their apartment and a young married couple on the verge of splitting up whose car had broken down.
They are joined by the film’s “hero,” an off-duty police sergeant who planned to exercise his right to purge by murdering the man who had beaten the rap after killing the officer’s son in a drunk-driving accident.
The small group runs the expected obstacles – roving gangs of heavily armed thugs enjoying their night of purging, individuals taking advantage of the night to speak out politically (and open fire), and lots of dead bodies from those killed during the event.
There are some twists along the way. Like the cast from the “Game of Thrones” on HBO, anyone can die at any time during the purge.
Writer and Director James Demonaco again delivers what his audience expects in “Purge,” an unrepentant dark film. Little character development. Lots of bloody death and violence. Political and societal overtones, i.e could our own future government behave this way? How would our society react if this was real? Is it really so far-fetched?
Veteran character actor Frank Grillo (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier”) gives a solid turn as the off-duty cop, torn between his pledge to serve and protect and his own desire to kill the man who killed his son. If I was caught in the open during the purge, I would want this guy on my side.
Make no mistake. This is a B-thriller, not a classic movie. It’s filmed and edited in rough fashion. Some of the decisions made by his characters make no sense, i.e who runs toward armed gunmen? It’s rated R for hard violence. It’s not a movie for the faint of heart … or the intellectual.
If you like the original Purge, you will enjoy this more ambitious sequel. If not … well, this one doesn’t offer a lot more.
Movie: “The Purge: Anarchy”
Director/Writer: James DeMonaco
Starring: Frank Grillo, Kiele Sanchez, Michael Williams, Carmen Ejogo, Justina Machado
Rated: R
Length: 1 hour, 44 minutes
I also took in “Sex Tape,” which opened this past weekend. Some funny moments. But it drags on far too long after the original problem crops up. Pretty mindless humor .. and not enough funny parts. I planned on seeing the live final performance of Monty Python at the movie house on Sunday afternoon, but a $17 ticket seemed too much to me.
