The Purge: Anarchy is officially my dark horse pick for film of the summer! In 2013 a film called "The Purge" was released and became quite the financial success. The plot revolved around "New Founders" of America making a new ritual where once a year, all crime would be legal. This event is called "The Purge". The premise is certainly frightening and gives way to infinite possibilities. Unfortunately the first film restricts itself to a lame home invasion plot that is poorly executed and even features someone getting lost in their own house. I really felt disappointed by the film. I went into "The Purge: Anarchy" with very low expectations. It's 2014, which means that's only a year between films. Typically when a sequel is ordered so quickly, it means danger. I am kind of glad I had low expectations because as a result, this film hit me like a sack of bricks! I absolutely loved this film and it surpassed the original in every way possible.
The film follows several different people and begins just 2 hours before the annual purge. This installment takes place in 2033. I think the near future is a good choice because it makes the political themes grounded in reality, which works to it's advantage as the film progresses. The cast of characters includes a waitress named Eva (Carmen Ejogo), her teenage daughter Cali (Zoe Soul), a young man named Shane (Zack Gilford),his wife Liz (Kiele Sanchez), and a police Sergeant named Leo (Frank Grillo). Each of these people have separate paths, but they all converge thanks to the purge. First you have Eva and her daughter, who live in the projects and due to medical expenses, they are barely getting by. Then you have the young couple who are going through a separation and are on their way to a relatives for protection from the purge. Then you have Leo the Sergeant who is dealing with the death of his son, and vows to exact revenge. Thanks to a range of mishaps and encounters with well equip psychos, the group ends up on the streets. I don't want to say the circumstances that land them there because they are critical to the "scare factor" of the film. The Sergeant reluctantly offers help to the group, and that's when the movie really kicks off.
Frank Grillo really steps it up in his role as Leo. I was already a fan of his work thanks to his appearance in The Winter Soldier but he really showed in this film that he could lead a group of actors, and take the starring role. I've heard rumors that he is supposed to be the main villain in Captain America 3, and after this film I'm sold on his ability to be bad-ass. The Sergeant is your classic tragic hero. He is a man who is filled with despair, anger, and thoughts of revenge. His character loses his son due at the hands of another, and he is using the purge as an excuse to take his revenge. This guy just doesn't want to take revenge, he wants to dominate. The early scenes of his character depict him armoring up, loading his assault rifle, putting on a bullet proof vest, and then he hits the streets in an armored vehicle that looks straight out of "Mad Max". A wrench is thrown into his plans when he encounters a group of innocent people (the ones mentioned before) and opts to guide them through the purge safely. He is a reluctant guardian angel, and often reminds me of "The Punisher". Seeing this character fight was certainly a highlight of the film.
The film really introduces A LOT of heavy political themes. The biggest theme revolves around class warfare. Civilians are starting to figure out that the Purge is targeted towards those who cannot protect themselves, the poor. A rebel group forms and through a series of viral videos, threatens to interfere in the Purge and make the rich pay for their blood lust. This brought a very real and often uncomfortable tone to the film. I felt like this situation may be exaggerated, but it is commentary on a very real class war going on in America right now. The story really pushes boundaries when it comes to vilifying the government. The government is really the main villain of the film. Without giving away too much, let me just say that big brother is watching and no one is safe. Eva the waitress and her daughter experience this conflict with the government first hand. The class warfare also comes up when a rich hunting game takes place, in which people bid on victims to hunt. It is very similar to the way a lot of sex slavery is handled in real life. Yet another disturbing tie to reality that makes you think of the real life villains that exist out there.
Not only do these strangers all deal with a series of psychos but they deal with a level of violence that rivals "Grand Theft Auto"! The way the city of Los Angeles is setup, it really feels like a video game battleground. I'm not sure how they got the streets so empty, but there are some beautiful and incredibly eerie shots of the empty city. It really makes you feel like this world is real, and adds to the tension. You could actually say this situation is more dangerous than "Grand Theft Auto" because in that game the cops at least try to stop people. If you're a fan of the GTA games, I have a feeling you'll love this film even more than the average viewer.
The film really touches on a lot of political themes, hits you in the face with a Tarantino level of violence, and throws together a team of unknown actors that fit together perfectly. The combination of those three things is what made this film good. I can't recommend this one enough. The great thing about this film is that it is also a stand-alone film. You don't have to see the original to grasp the sequel. "The Purge: Anarchy" is a gritty, brutal, emotional ride. I enjoyed the film so much, I'm actually looking forward to watching it again. If you like chaotic action films with a heart, this one delivers.
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