Mediocre

Rating: 6/10 (10 June 2013)

The film the Purge was an alright film. The idea and gist of the film is not original, taking the idea of one night where all crime is legal from an episode of Star Trek, 'the Red Hour' (ep. 45. Season 1). The very execution of the idea in a more modern setting is exceptionally well.
In this dystopia and modern future, a day known as the 'Purge'. There is one full night of crime as crime is legal to 'cleanse' the evil and stress inside of themselves. After finding a homeless man on the streets and picking him up, the 'Strangers' come to the Sandin house to reclaim the already wounded man that they claim is theirs to kill. The Sandins are then faced with the decision of bringing the man to them or keeping him safe.
There were a few things that I did not like about the film, the way the characters acted. The characters acted like they were in a bad horror film. The choices seemed a bit too...well, stupid. Stupid meaning they were unrealistic and seemed a little forced. I would have also liked it if the film had been more built up to the 'Purge' rather than the whole film being during the 'Purge' itself. That way, we could have liked the characters more and known more about them rather than their small traits. We are introduced to our main characters a bit unexpectedly and were told to react to the happenings and mishaps of the 'Purge' as told by the actors or the music.
The actors give a wonderful and thrilling performance in the film. Max Burkholder as the son, Charlie Sandin is quite good as a child actor, but I feel that Rhys Wakefield, pulls out the starring role as the unnamed villain. All other actors give it there all and were fairly well. Amazingly, I found myself liking some of the characters and wanting them to meet there struggle and make it out.
The action in the film, what little there is, can be quite suspense-filled. As I had already stated, I felt for the characters which was quite rare.
Overall, the Purge is a well-made movie and quite original compared to the other films released before it, (not counting 'Now You See Me' or 'After Earth'). Regardless, of the way the characters acted and the way we were introduced, I couldn't give it a one or a four. Truthfully, I simply give the film a six out of ten for at least trying.