Review of The Purge (2013) by Marilena G — 13 Mar 2015

The Purge sounds like an interesting concept and honestly that's what made me want to watch this movie in the first place however it becomes a very standard run of the mill horror movie that falls into that now very unimpressive sub-genre of horror called home invasion movies.

The problem with movies like this is that the characters always act with little intelligence for the sake of plot progression and it happens here too. The actors add little to it which is a shame with Ethan Hawke and Lena Headey who can deliver the goods.

It's a movie that may stick with you for a while after you watch it but only because you'll keep finding flaws well after it's finished. The main problem as I've mentioned though is that the movie can't utilise it's concept and I don't really know what the movie is trying to say, are you saying that all humans secretly have an urge to kill? If so, explore that by means other than presenting two-dimensional villains who like killing just because.

Also the third act is a mess and the 'twist' ending is hardly unexpected and honestly I can be fooled prettily easily when it comes to twist endings. I'm surprised I have so much to say about this film but I think it's because the film is rather pretentious and is no way near as clever as it thinks it is.

The Purge is a sloppily made horror movie with not much going for it and not a movie I would recommend.