Really Good Home Invasion Movie

Rating: 7/10 (15 January 2015)

In the near future crime has fallen to an all-time low thanks to what is known as "the purge" - a yearly one-off 12-hour period where the government has allowed all types of crime to be committed without fear of consequence. James & Mary Sandin, along with their son, Charlie, and daughter, Zoey, are preparing themselves for the purge when Charlie let's a potential murder victim into their house for refuge. However, the group who have been chasing the stranger gives James an ultimatum - give them the stranger or face the consequences. Torn between the choice of protecting his family and morality, James has to decide what to do - and doesn't have much time to do it.
The Purge never had a really good write up by a lot of people but in all honesty I actually quite enjoyed it. It's nothing fantastic, but it delivers a good bit of tension & suspense with a couple of wee twists.
The idea of crime being down to only 1% is a fantastic thought, but the idea that the film puts forward on how to get that 1% is very contentious. I mean it makes you think - would you be OK with crime being at an all-time low if there was only one specified period of the year where all services are non-responsive within that time and crime is non-punishable? The film kind of raises those morality issues. But even if you don't want to get "that deep" into the movie, it's still good just to watch without too much thought.
The characterisation in The Purge I think is done pretty well too. Ethan Hawke does a good job as James Sandin, a well-off businessman but isn't arrogant about it. The "strangers" are annoying but they're meant to be with the leader being played well by Rhys Wakefield. You do find it quite hard drawing up any kind of sympathy for the Sandins' daughter, however, with her being the typical bratty 16/17-year-old.
Anyway, The Purge is a decent film to watch. It's not Oscar winning but it's not meant to be. Definitely worth a watch.