Sunday, July 20, 2014

The Purge: Anarchy

Caution: Might Contain Spoilers!
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This film is a sequel to The Purge. Sergeant Leo Barnes decides to purge, so that he could get revenge for his deceased son. Eva and Cali (mother and daughter) Sanchez are attacked and hunted by uniformed people. Shane and Liz's car wires are cut forcing them to become stuck outside on purge night. Their lives all intermingle on the same night as they try to survive together.

This film was directed and written by James DeMonaco. The same director who worked on the first film. This film shifts it story telling from suburban family values to the streets. The original showed how a family would struggle to survive, but the sequel shows what happens on the streets to the unprotected. It is a marked improvement over the original, because it builds on the world it developed. However, this film is greatly hindered by its need to preach about the vileness of the government. It also further drives home the ideal that money is evil by making all the continued purge murders wealthy. The few poor purgers only seek revenge. There is also an underlying message about guns. Since it tries too hard to tell these aspects, the rest of the story lacks the deep emotional sympathy needed to make it impactful. The characters and the story remain very cliched and predictable. This film also lacks a staple villain to make the film terrifying. The main villain, another ploy at the government, is more annoying than anything else. This film tries more for jump scares than actual frightening or unnerving segments. Since its focus is on the ideals there are no real scares in this horror film. There is violence, but its nothing too morbid. There is a small nod to the predecessor with the return of a familiar character. Frank Grillo played the role of Sergeant Leo Barnes. He was great for the film, because he offered the film its controversial perspective: when is it right to purge? This character is used to showcase the obvious answer. However, he offers the series a humanizing hero. Zoe Soul played the role of Cali Sanchez. She is purely there to offer the rational thoughts to Barnes by being a loud mouthed teenager. Her character is irritating in the appropriate ways for this film. Carmen Ejogo played the role of Eva Sanchez. She was the highly cliched mother character that was seen in the first film. Kiele Sanchez and Zach Gilford played the role of Liz and Shane. They worked well at being the obvious targets. Their characters did offer the film most of its dark humor though.

I give this film 3 out of 5 stars. It is better than its predecessor, but it still boggled by its ideals. Those ideals are presented in a dark fashion makes it passable as a horror film. 

Answer to last blog: Actor Jason Clark, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, starred in the film The Great Gatsby.

Que: What film has actor Frank Grillo not starred in?

Warrior
The Grey
Captain America: The First Avenger
Captain America: The Winter Soldier

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