Review of The Purge: Election Year (2016) by Brett H — 11 Jul 2016

The Purge: Election Year is the third and potentially final installment in the Purge franchise and while it certainly has problems, it's still an entertaining ride with creative ideas and lots and lots of violence! The film picks up two years after the events of the second film (which is the best of the three) with Frank Grillo's character now working protective security for a presidential candidate, played by Elizabeth Mitchell, who's been targeted for assassination by the powers-that-be due to her plans to eradicate the annual purge, which she's had personal experiences with.

The film is directed once again by series helmer, James DeMonaco and he puts forth some fresh ideas such as murder tourism, where foreigners travel to America just to take part in the Purge as well as the concept of protective insurance for business owners, but unfortunately squashes those concepts in favour of over-the-top lunatics and cartoonish set-pieces rather quickly.

One of the weaker elements this time around is the acting which apart from our two leads, is pretty grating with Mykelti Williamson going overboard as the token black stereotype, Kyle Secor hamming it up as her presidential running-mate, and of course the bevy of absurd "Purgers" who act on every cliche in the "crazy playbook", most notably two young girls in a convenience store.

This installment lands in the so-bad-it's-good category: there's plenty of enjoyment to be had and the funhouse-style of scares is a riot, but the film gets too silly for its own good and ends pretty weak for the supposed "trilogy closer".

Lots of great Halloween costume ideas though!