The Purge Sometimes, an interesting idea is just not enough on which to base an entire film. In the near future, American society has spiralled to the point where all crime is legal for one day a year. This government sanctioned killing spree is supposed to rid the society of it's undesirables whilst the 'good/rich people' lock themselves in to their heavily fortified houses. Not a bad starting point. Unfortunately, the idea is very quickly undermined and it soon turns in to a limp, lacklustre film that thinks it has something to say. Never tense, with nothing particularly scary to deal with, it doesn't manage to raise itself above the level of a violent 'Twilight Zone' episode, sponsored
by the NRA. The 'twists' and plot points are so heavily signposted that you just sit waiting to tick them off. Starring Ethan Hawke and Lena Headey as the parents of two kids that suffer from 'horror-film-stupidity', we watch as lame baddies lay siege to their fortress. It is a lazy, unimaginative effort that really wastes the basic idea and takes it nowhere, having very low levels of suspense and threat in the process. 'The Purge 2' is already in production, maybe a second film will make more effort. Poor, full of holes and mercifully short.
3 out of 10.
Cert 15 (UK).
2013. 85mins
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