Superb concept, average film.

Rating: 7/10 (1 June 2019)

Imagine an alternative future, a rather near future, in which the US federal government has created a new "holiday', during which all crimes (including and particularly murder) are decriminalized for a full 12 hours, starting 7:00 PM. In this future, the sad fact is that accurate data proves that unemployment, poverty and all manners of crime have decreased to the lowest levels in human history, all because citizens are able to "purge" themselves of all violent and anti-social behaviors, thoughts, emotions and tendencies once a year. How would people react to such freedom? Who would indulge in their darker sides, and who would see it as an affront to society, and indeed their very humanity? And what of those who can't afford weapons, fortifications and security measures? This is the general concept and notion of The Purge.
There's a story, which is rather nice; there are characters, which are rather likeable and relatable (or despised, according to their role); there's a cast of actors, out of which some perform adequately and others impressively; but the main feature of The Purge is the moral dilemma, the philosophical, moral and societal debate of the few vs the many, the collective vs the individual, complete natural freedom vs human boundaries. None of the other features are remotely impressive enough to revert the spotlight away from this feature, and I believe this feature is the one thing that remains with the audience after watching the film.
So, if you wish to be intrigues and compelled by such a conflict of moralities - I can't recommend The Purge enough, as it's one of the most original and innovative works of this field in cinema to date. It's even suspenseful enough for those who care less about such debates while watching, and have lowered expectations. However, if you're looking for top notch suspense with plot twist and clever screenwriting - The Purge would hardly serve.