The Purge

Rating: Null/10 (9 June 2013)

With a high concept evoking a sense of morality reminiscent of 'The Hunger Games', 'The Purge' has an intriguing premise that it fails to fully explore.
In this thought-provoking thriller, the citizens of America are left without emergency services during an annual twelve-hour period where all crime is made legal. To avoid the anarchy which they simply must wait out, a typical suburban family lock down their house while 'The Purge' is occurring. When a persecuted stranger manages to take refuge in their home, the moral fabric of the family is tested as they must decide how to manage the situation and escape with their lives.
'The Purge' has great scope for exploring the sheer chaos that would occur in a realistic portrayal of these events, however an eye-opening first act becomes a typical horror-thriller, running with the home invasion thread and working it into the ground. Perhaps the micro-budget dictated this was all that could be possible, but the missed opportunities are far too many for the film to make a bold enough point about its subject matter. The marketing for 'The Purge' carried the foreboding tagline 'Reminder, All Emergency Services Will Be Suspended'. Why then, is there not a single reference to this concept besides the fleeting sound of sirens as the film closes?
As the generic horror the film reduces itself to, 'The Purge' is a minor success thanks to some solid performances across the board, and Jason Blum's trademark chills and thrills. But as the disturbing social commentary it should have been, 'The Purge' wipes itself out. If a sequel is developed, there is not only the chance to indefinitely up the ante, but also to give the premise some much needed depth.