The First Purge (2018)

The First Purge (2018) (see below for trailer and preview images)

Directed by
Gerard McMurray

Written by
James DeMonaco

Starring: Y’lan Noel, Lex Scott Davis, Joivan Wade, Steve Harris
 
Budget $13M                          Box Office $137M
 
      IMDb 5.1/10                Rotten Tomatoes 54%               Metacritic 54/100

It has been quite a while since I have seen The Purge, which was the first Purge movie.  I do remember that it messed with my mind and I thought it was a pretty damn good movie, although I also remember it wasn’t something I was willing to watch over and over again.  Maybe that’s because of the idea behind the plot of the movie.
 
This film, The First Purge, is about the very first Purge in the United States.  Now, remember that the original movie was just a depiction of a typical “Purge” night.  By then the people have long fortified their homes and have chosen one side or the other, whether they participate or stay home.  
 
So, for those of you who don’t know, “The Purge” is an idea the government has put into practice that allows all crime, ALL CRIME, to be 100% legal and acceptable without retribution or consequences from the law for 12 hours each year, providing they don’t attack any government officials.  Medical and Emergency are available the whole time.  So, one night every year for twelve hours, all crime is legal and unpunishable.  
 
Again, remember the first movie took place in 2022.  THIS movie takes place in 2014, when the new government first passed the law allowing the Purge.  In, this film we see the original purpose of the Purge night and what happened therein.  Not to mention, we get a very good idea of how the agencies involved in the Purge exploited people in order to try to make it more successful.  It becomes a fight for survival as people start to realize that they really are free from the law for twelve straight hours.  
 
THE END

It must be the whole idea of this Purge thing that spooks me the most.  The idea that for twelve hours our government would say it’s acceptable to murder or rape someone just, well…scares the shit out of me.  There really aren’t many movies that can give me the willies or make me feel uncomfortable but, these Purge movies, they are some twisted stuff.
 
I liked that we got to see the origination of The Purge itself.  When I saw the first movie I was like, how did this happen?  Were there not people opposed to this?  Funny how, in this movie, they answered my questions completely.  
 
I liked this movie.  It made want to watch the first one again.  And the other Purge movies.  There’s a whole slew of them PLUS a television series now.  Definitely a major franchise.  So, I assume the other movies will be good too but, then again, we have Halloween III: The Season of the Witch…ummm yeah.  So, you never really know where they’re gonna take it at times.  Still, I think this is a good flick for a Friday Night Fright with friends and food.  There’s action, horror, a tiny bit of love, suspense.  Practically something for everybody in the horror club!
 
RATINGS
4/5 Stars