The premise for The Purge was so intriguing that I saw it in the theater opening weekend. I was very disappointed as the premise wasn’t really explore. That disappointment kept me away from The Purge: Anarchy until today. Fortunately, this film is much more entertaining even though there are a few bad moments. I give The Purge: Anarchy the Not Quite Golden, Ponyboy.
The Purge: Anarchy was actually pretty good.
Three groups of individuals connect during the annual Purge as their respective plans all crumble. They have to work together if they are going to survive the many challenges they face on Purge night.
If Jon Bernthal hadn’t already impressed me as the Punisher I would be campaigning for Frank Grillo to take the roll. I have seen him in Captain America: Winter Soldier and Civil War, but I really liked him in Anarchy. He has the ruggedness of an action hero, but cold directness of an anti-hero. He nails the action sequences and I really like him on screen. He will be in The Purge: Election Year this summer and has sold me on the film.
Carmen Ejogo was also solid on-screen as is her on-screen daughter Zoe Soul. Most of the cast does a good job with their roles yet manage to blend in as forgettable. One of the weakest storytelling aspects is Michael Kenneth Williams character and his group that rush in at the last moment. I won’t say when or what they do, but it’s very much deus ex machina at its worst. If there is no actual danger then there is not actual fear.
Directed and written by James DeMonaco, who also wrote/directed The Purge, really expanded on his premise with this film. While it’s not perfect, I think it is leaps and bounds better than the original. One major difference is the mood the film creates feels more like “Running Man” than the survival thriller of the first film. I think it works better as a horror/action film than the latter.
If you saw the first one and it put a bad taste in your mouth then Anarchy is the palete cleanser. I am a Frank Grillo fan after seeing that movie. Not that he’s a megastar yet, but he gives a solid, gritty performance that works well in The Purge.
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