Great idea, needed better execution

Rating: 7/10 (29 December 2013)

When I first heard about this movie, I was instantly excited for it. "Anything goes for 12 hours?" I thought. "This will be great!" Once I saw The Purge, however, I was left a little bit disappointed. With a concept like the one in The Purge, I expected more of a chaotic, all-hell- breaking-loose feel. It could be said that this was shown in the Sandin house, but I was expecting more of a citywide, even nationwide look at the effects of The Purge.
There are some redeeming qualities to this film, however, that make it worth seeing. Ethan Hawke and Lena Headey are great in their portrayals of James and Mary. In addition, the violent scenes were well-executed and, as they should be in a horror movie, shocking.
While somewhat predictable and a bit unpolished, The Purge is definitely worth seeing for its great acting and thought-provoking concept.