The Purge: Anarchy

                Last year, Platinum Dunes gave us the first film in their filmography that wasn’t a remake or prequel. It was a new film that was, gasp, an original concept: “The Purge.” In that film, they set up this world about America’s new government, ten years from now, setting up a holiday where all crime is legal for twelve hours; meaning, people could kill and beat the ever loving shit out of anyone they so please. The one big problem with the film? This world was wasted for a stupid home invasion movie, and having kid characters that make Leonardo DiCaprio’s character in “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?” have a higher I.Q. level. It was just boring, lazily paced, and made it seem like two-and-a-half hours, when the film didn’t even reach the ninety-minute mark. Waste of an idea, wasted potential, and waste of Ethan Hawke’s time.

                When a sequel was announced to come out the following year, I wasn’t too excited…however, when the trailer for the film started coming out, it looked like it was doing what we were asking for, and expand on this world and what it does. And that’s exactly what the film does, after I viewed it. No home invasions, no stupid kids (sort of), and no potential wasted.

                In “The Purge: Anarchy,” we see the people of Los Angeles prepare for whatever chaos may approach this year. It follows a cop, a mother with her daughter, and a young couple, being dragged out into the Purge, by groups of black-ops and bounty-hunters gathering up locals who are trying to stay out of the fray. That’s pretty much how I can describe the plot to you, because if I went any further, it’d pretty much spoil the rest of the film.

                Throughout the whole film, it actually felt like the film makers heard about the harsh comments said about the first film, and (in a rare occurrence from Hollywood) actually listened to the suggestions given out. The people in this film do question this day that goes on; they show the brutality that happens on the streets; they show us what changes have been made after a few years; they show what happens to the people who refuse to purge, or who have had enough. There’s even a rebellion that goes against the NFFA (New Founding Fathers of America) about the consequences of the events, which opens up to the many possibilities that can come about.

                While they do expand on this world and concept, I can’t say the same, completely, about the characters in the film. The characters in this film are basically playing archetypes of what they’re supposed to be, and don’t quite have an identity to them, making it hard to sympathize with them when tragedy is brought up or happens. Also, for a horror film, it isn’t that scary…but I digress.

                Writer/director James DeMonaco has shown some sensibility in doing something that most people in Hollywood don’t normally do, and that’s LISTEN! While it wasn’t really that perfect, I’m at least thankful that he took note of what the people were saying and was able to grant at least 75% of it. If anything, maybe this is going the path of an anthology series, which would lead into what else goes around the world during these dark hours.

                Overall, “The Purge: Anarchy” is an example of a sequel that took note of what the viewers had said, and did just that. In all honesty, I’d say it’s even Platinum Dunes best film to date. It’s not great, far from it…but it’s still good.

Rating: 7/10