The first experimental Purge is about to begin on Staten Island. As citizens of the island prepare for the unknown, many citizens are taking up offers of monetary compensation made by the government and the New Founding Fathers of America (NFFA) to remain on the island, or worse, participate in the experiment. Families will be tested, and bonds will be broken as desperate citizens are thrown into the dark and twisted world, hoping for a better future.
By the time this film was released in 2018, audiences were familiar with the idea of the Purge and needed little introduction in regard to the rules and regulations of the annual event. However, as a prequel to the first installment, writer James DeMonaco and director Gerald McMurray attempted to build on the existing story and make the annual bloodbath seem more plausible than before. While they effectively explained how the Purge came to be, they also introduced characters that were meant to reach audiences on an emotional level. While I can appreciate what DeMonaco and McMurray were trying to accomplish, trying to appeal emotionally using struggling brother and sister Isaiah and Nya took away from the idea that this was a social experiment and slowly turned it into an emotional experiment. Their choice to introduce and build these characters was damning and ultimately took away from the actual Purge.
The Purge which takes place is unlike anything seen in modern America, yet there is something relatable about it. Audiences are able to appreciate the actions of the citizens of Staten Island and the depths that people are willing to go to in order to survive and provide for the people closest to them. The film is very clearly a bloodbath and condones, on certain levels, crime and violence, yet, it appeals to audiences psychologically. The viewers do not necessarily empathize with what is taking place, but their ability to understand and appreciate the decisions made throughout the film added a new and appealing dimension. The film was action-packed and truly delivered on expectations of blood, gore and excitement.
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