The Purge

                                                         

                                   The Purge

        Let’s face it; the world sometimes is not a very good place. You have war, poverty, and famine as well as many other things that affect so many of us on a daily basis. The age old question is ‘how do we cure these ills that face our world?’  Scholars have tackled this subject and there most likely will not come up with an answer in the foreseeable future. Well it seems some filmmakers have an idea what could solve most of the trouble in the world, that idea in this case is called “The Purge”.

      What is the purge you ask? Well in our future, 2022 to be exact, unemployment is down to 1%, and crime is pretty much non-existent. What could cause such a utopia you ask? Well the government has given everyone twelve hours once a year to commit any crime they want. Whoever is bothering you, for one day you can kill them and no one will arrest you. James Sandin (Ethan Hawke) is a normal guy who is pretty well off. You see James sells security systems to protect people from what goes on during the purge, and let’s just say business is booming. James and his family live in a nice house with one of those great systems that James sells. His wife Mary (Lena Headey), daughter Zoey (Adelaide Kane) and son Charlie (Max Burkholder) don’t partake in the purge, instead opting to stay in and staying safe. All the family believes in the purge, well except Charlie, who thinks it is wrong to have such a night. After the purge has begun, Charlie notices a man running and begging for help, so Charlie decides to help him, and lets him in his family’s house. When the people who want to purge this man find out where he is at, they threaten James and his whole family if he doesn't give him back to them. James must make a decision on whose life he is willing to risk.

     The purge sounds like a great idea, not the actual idea, but for a movie. The story is pretty basic and moves along very well. The filmmakers do not disappoint and actually deliver an enjoyable movie. Written and directed by James DeMonaco who has more writing credits than directing, doesn't let up on the suspense as you watch the story unfold. The best part is DeMaonaco keeps the running time at just under an hour and a half, which keeps everything short and simple. Nothing over complicated and the plot is as straight forward as they come. The added benefit is that it could act as great birth control as both the children bring all the problems onto the parents by their actions. When I first heard of this movie I thought it was a good story idea. After seeing the movie I can tell you there are a lot of films I would love to purge from the multiplex, but this is one I would let survive.

Brian Taylor