Philosophical Horror. Low Budget Brilliance Exploits Timely Income Disparity To Create Authentic Fear.

Rating: 7/10 (22 August 2019)

I first saw this movie advertised in a pile of DVD's in the power aisle in front of the electronics department, as I held my breath and tried to escape a WalMart one afternoon. My first impression - probably another ****** low budget horror film that scored a PG-13 rating and got to hang a sign in 1000 WalMart locations for a couple of weeks. As the years went on, I saw more Purge ads for more films. I saw them on Netflix. I saw trailers for sequels on television and on YouTube. 'The Purge' seemed to be everywhere. It took me 5 years to finally watch the first film. Although I knew it wasn't a great movie, I became obsessed with the theme and quickly devoured the rest of the films and the season of television. So, what is it, exactly, that makes all of those WalMart customers and I so crazy for these movies?
'The Purge' series is 'Thinking Man's Horror', or 'Philosophical Horror'. We live in an era of political extremism, cultural intolerance, and income disparity. Our government admits that it drastically underestimates the true unemployment rate, by excluding entire groups of the population and placing a time limit on how long a person can look for work before they disappear from the government reported "total available workforce". So, if you happen to find yourself on the bottom end of any of these themes, or if you happen to be a member of a group that has been targeted by right-wing extremist politics, then you might find this future scenario quite possible.
'The Purge' series creates an almost universal appeal by leading each viewer to consider their own Purge behavior.
Would you go out and commit crimes on Purge Night?
Would you steal?
If so, what would you steal?
Would you do something worse than stealing?
Would you purge?
Would you purge someone you know?
If so, then 'The Purge' becomes more about criminal fantasy than political commentary. Tales of revenge are as old as the film industry, and they are ubiquitous. Most people have lottery fantasies, about what they would acquire if they suddenly didn't have to work for anything. My thoughts on my own personal Purge behavior have evolved over time. I have had discussions with many people that spoke passionately about their "Purge Fantasies", and they all seem to have put a great deal of thought into the subject... WAY more thought than most low budget horror films are able to inspire.
This isn't a perfect horror film. More people would use Purge Night to rape and pillage than to murder, and no theft or sexual crimes were depicted (or even implied) in the film. Boooo. Rule #1 in low budget horror - Nudity Is Necessary. Shame on you, Cersei Lannister... Shame.
This film is another example of how I was wrong to have prejudged a movie based on marketing. With open-mindedness, comes great movie watching experiences. Namaste, and blessed be our New Founding Fathers...
RealReview Posting Scoring Criteria:
Acting - 1/1;
Casting - 1/1;
Directing - 1/1;
Story - 1/1;
Writing/Screenplay - 1/1;
Total Base Score = 5
Modifiers (+ or -):
Originality: +1;
Believability/Consistency: +1;
Detrimentally Prudish Directing: -1 (How about 1 less murder, and add 1 graphic sex scene. Or, the good old 'Chick getting out of the shower' scene?):
Cultural Significance: +1;
Total RealReview Rating: 7