Welcome to the another installment of DON'T WATCH THIS ALONE!, where we review the best, worst, and everything in between in the world of horror. This week we review the 2014 horror sequel...THE PURGE: ANARCHY.
In an age where horror films tend to be hit or miss, The Purge was definitely a hit for me. An interesting, yet simple concept, The Purge was a nice addition to the 2013 summer horror movie season, joining such films as Insidious: Chapter 2, You're Next, and The Conjuring. Then in 2014 we got a new purge for a new year with The Purge: Anarchy.
Set one year after the events of the first film, The Purge: Anarchy takes the almost-dystopian feel of the first film and brings it back on a much larger scale. We move from one isolated cul-de-sac and one family trying to survive the night, to the entire city of Los Angeles and several groups a people.
The scope of this film is huge. It delves into the politics of the annual purge, how it affects the lower class, why it's "necessary" for society in the eyes of the government, and why it's not, in the eyes of certain people. I enjoyed this larger scope, breaking away from the isolated, contained story of the first film.
James DeMonaco returned to write and direct this sequel to his sophomore film, The Purge, and managed to bring the same dark, dystopian tone to this very different movie. The story was definitely interesting, although there was quite a bit going on, which made things somewhat confusing at times, but it came together in the end.
Taking the lead role this time around is Frank Grillo (Captain America: The Winter Soldier) as Leo Barnes, a man on a mission of revenge. He fit perfectly into this world, but throughout the majority of the film, I couldn't help but compare him to the Marvel Comics vigilante Frank Castle aka The Punisher.
He's joined by mostly unknown actors including Zach Gilford (Devil's Due), Carmen Ejogo (Alex Cross), Kiele Sanchez (The Glades), and Zoë Soul (Prisoners). Overall, the acting was pretty good, not Oscar worthy, but for a movie like this, that's not expected.
If you're a horror movie junkie like me, and especially if you're a fan of the first film, The Purge: Anarchy is definitely one to see. And make sure to keep an eye out for a nice little reference to the original film. So, if you're looking for a horror film to watch this weekend, definitely give The Purge: Anarchy a watch.
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