Disappointing and average

Rating: 6/10 (7 June 2013)

I was looking forward to this movie because of the premise. It's a pretty unique twist on the home invasion scenario and I was hoping that the film would explore the actual event. Unfortunately the most we see of the actual purge is probably during the film's opening credits where CCTV footage is shown of various attacks. It was powerfully effective and set the whole film up nicely, but then the next scene has a family in their home....and this is where you are for the rest of the movie.
What is ultimately shown is an average thriller with a bunch of jump scares. I say average because it's not terrible by any means, but it certainly isn't memorable. The film relies on the same clichés: dark corners, serial killers in masks, random jump scares that don't mean anything...that sort of thing. If you like the feeling of tension from characters exploring a dark house them you'd enjoy The Purge. But if you were looking for 12 hours of crime and chaos being fully explored, you'll be disappointed.
That being said, The Purge does have at least some unique elements that set it apart from the other stale horrors out there. After 12 hours nobody can hurt anyone, so there's a sense of urgency for the night to quickly be over. It's also interesting knowing that the killers are just normal people in their messed up society, and not actually doing it mindlessly; they are after (and this is the only name I can really call him) a black man who we do not know much about. The mystery about him could have made an amazing, or at least surprising twist but that never really happens. Ultimately it feels like The Purge has some sort of racial message saying do trust black people, because they'll save your ass in the end.
It's a good premise that's not explored much, if not at all. The acting is decent enough although it doesn't match the acting of films like Funny Games where you can feel the true horror of a family's space being invaded. I jumped a few times but few were worthy. It's a fun time but that's all.