The Purge: Anarchy (2014)

(5 out of 5)

The Purge:  Anarchy (2014)
directed by:  James DeMonaco
starring:  Frank Grillo, Carmen Ejogo, Zach Gifford, Kiele Sanchez, Zoe Soul, Justina Machado, John Beasley, Jack Conely

    I love this franchise.  Totally ridiculous premise for sure but once you leave that at the door and get into these three films it's a wild ride.  The first film was basically an introduction to the idea of these films and how it started and why and the story very much continues throughout the entire franchise.  I always prefer my sequels and prequels to follow the story-line pretty much to a "T" in any franchise.  To me if you are going to switch things up either make a remake or whatever name you prefer for that, or just make a whole new film and forget cashing in on particular franchise.  I will review all 3 films eventually but Anarchy was definitely my favorite so here we go.

     Picking up where the last film ended our United States has instilled a new annual "Purge" day which basically consists of 24 hours of murder and mayhem.  No laws, no police, no fire, no medics, just you and your neighbors and family members out to have at one another with no legal repercussions at all.  Now of course the problem with this story line is the fact that people in general would still have moral problems with this but really once inside the film's world you start to understand that the Purge is a fully accepted belief system.  Those who Purge do so because it is their, "right" to do so.  Everyone from the poor to the rich, the non-believers to the religious, the civilians to the government.  No one is safe and everyone is a possible victim.  Treat your neighbors well or suffer the consequences.  

    In this one our main characters discover that the government is now sending in tactical units to take out the lower class that depend on the government to live.  Which would in my opinion makes logical sense for a direction to go with the story depicted in this first film.  Reflections of our current politics cannot be helped and most likely is the purpose of these films.  Extreme as they maybe there is an underlying message most will surely miss. 

     The actors were all on point most especially Frank Gillo and Zoe Soul.  I really loved both their characters and in a film like this loving the characters for me is damned important.  I consider these movies well written and well thought out.  The fact that one person wrote and directed these is the icing on the cake.  Also always preferred with sequels and prequels for me even though this rarely happens. 

     The violence depicted in these films, especially this one are off the charts for most and given the story I mean why would it be any other way.  Most where masks, a lot of them quite creepy and if it's not a mask then it's make up so for me that makes the whole thing a hell of a lot cooler too.  Anarchy follows a group led by Frank Gillo's character after he saves all of them from being murdered by the government and a group of creepy mask wearing hoods.  The dynamic of the characters and their relationship was a great part of this script.  Zoe Soul's character is a teenager with all the attitude that goes with it and when the group discovers that their leader and savior is a Purger himself things get a little complicated and the end is just powerful.  I loved this one the most out of all the Purge films.  I just read that there is a TV movie and fourth installment to the franchise in the making both of which put a smile on my face.