HOLLYWOOD—If you were given 12 hours, to do absolutely anything that you wanted with the repercussions just what would you do? It’s an interesting premise, but also a horrifying concept at the same time. Could you imagine getting away with murder, robbery, arson or some other horrific crime and not facing any criminal charges? That’s what the thriller “The Purge” presents to the audience. There are some crimes that the public can get into trouble for committing such as acts against particular government officials and using above level 4 weapons.
It’s a 12-hour lockdown period, where the government ceases to exist in the public sphere. It’s an idea that places many citizens on edge, particularly James Sandin (Ethan Hawke) and his family. Luckily he and his wife, Mary (Lena Heady) have already taken precautions to protect themselves by locking down their home preventing any entry inside the home.
Unfortunately, the curious mind of the couple’s eldest child places everyone’s lives at risk when they allow a stranger to enter the home. This entry of this unknown figure introduces the cat and mouse game that takes place for the rest of the movie as the stranger is being pursued by a group of individuals willing to kill anyone getting in their way from getting to their target.
The assailants wear some spooky looking masks that are very reminiscent of the picture “The Strangers.” That has become a trend in horror in the recent years; the return of creepy looking mask. The fascinating aspect of the movie is the concept of committing a crime without being persecuted for it. The picture does indeed have its fair share of screams and jolts, nothing out of the ordinary for a psychological thriller in my opinion.
Some may be surprised to discover the producers behind the movie include Michael Bay, Brad Fuller and Andrew Form, the same gentlemen behind reboots for “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” “Friday the 13th and “A Nightmare on Elm Street.” Out of those three movies, only “Texas” delivered the thrills in my opinion.
“The Purge” as it’s called by the government is a cathartic way for the citizens to release any frustration or negative energy inside of them. How about hitting a punching bag or doing something constructive? The picture is a thriller that works well to some degree; there are few flaws in the plot that will concern spectators. Like why in the world is it so important for these assailants to attempt to murder the Sandin family when they only want the hostage they have taken in? It’s a plot point used to propel the story, that’s why.
The movie is not a stab at a government gone bonkers; it’s a question about morals and ethics. It’s not only an issue of the crime that you commit, but it’s the question of whether or not you can live the rest of your life without any guilt of what you have done.
By LaDale Anderson
