The Purge: Election is the third “Purge” film from writer-director James DeMonaco. With each successive film, the creator of this world has sharpened his knife of political-sociological commentary and that is no more prevalent than in this latest chapter. It is fitting that the film takes place during a fictional election year that seems on screen almost as insane as the one we’re currently living through.
In the third film, it’s been two years since Frank Grillo’s Leo Barnes decided against killing the drunk driver who killed his son in The Purge: Anarchy. Barnes saw the evil that is the annual Purge and now has become the head of security for Senator Charlie Roan (Elizabeth Mitchell). She is a candidate for president of the United States, who is running on many issues; most notably she will repeal The Purge and send it to its historical grave.
That stance makes Roan a target for political hate from those who believe that The Purge has been a gift to American life. Crime rates have gone noticeably down since The Purge was established decades prior. The idea that one night a year all things are legal — including murder — will cleanse our collective system and make us stand-up citizens the other 364 days a year, seems to be working. But, as we saw in The Purge: Anarchy, it is the poor that are bearing most of the brunt of the carnage, dying in disproportional numbers to the wealthy.
The first The Purge focused on one family (led by Lena Headley and Ethan Hawke) and how they dealt with the annual assault. We were enthralled by the idea of The Purge. The first film satisfied, but we wanted to head outside. The Purge: Anarchy did just that. We followed a group of people stuck on the streets of Los Angeles when the bell went off, signifying the beginning of the annual Purge and how it played out on the broader landscape of America’s second largest city. At the center of it was Barnes and before he could get to his Purge mission, he encountered a slew of souls in need of help. Seeing first hand the horrors of The Purge, Barnes and Roan (who has a backstory that drives her desire to ban all things Purge) are quite a one-two punch of power against the annual night of mayhem.
One thing is different this time out. Political leaders are no longer immune to The Purge. Yup, this is the powers-that-be’s way to try to get rid of Roan. If it seems like everyone in Washington, D.C. is after Barnes and the senator, that’s not that far off.
That second film left us wanting to get a front row seat to the inner workings of the government and the New Founding Fathers. The Purge: Election Year does that and then some. We meet the players who set up this annual Purge and go behind the curtain of the rich and privileged who are the few who govern and set up the laws for the many. It is not a pretty picture. That is just one way that this film is timely. In this era of the one-percent versus the ninety-nine percent, DeMonaco’s razor sharp cinematic horrific journey hits awfully close to home.
We just wish that his script was a little tighter and a few notches down from being far fetched, dialogue-wise. There are moments throughout where antagonists are coming after our heroes and they say the most ridiculous tings. Maybe the laughter that is emitted by the audience as a result of these lines is on purpose, something to cut the tension. But, we think the power of what is happening on the screen should be felt with a hammer, and not lifted by humor.
The Purge: Anarchy is a pretty entertaining and enthralling thrill ride. Will there be a fourth film? If each successful film is any indication… then the answer is yes. In fact, there are a few throw away lines coming from a news anchor on the television as The Purge: Election Year is ending that provides a clue as to where they could go next. After all, as the NRA is mentioned as being in cahoots with the New Founding Fathers, and knowing how powerful they are in real life, you don’t think would go quietly into the night without a fight, do you?
Hardly.
Grade: B