SILVER TONGUED SILVER SCREEN: THE PURGE ~ ELECTION YEAR (2016)

When the first film in the Purge franchise was released back in 2013 the concept was frightening and it was an idea that had never entered my mind. One night a year all crime is legal in the United States. In short, the perfect makings for a new horror movie. The original film presented this expansive concept within an intimate framework, that of a home invasion film. The entirety of the film occurs in a single house. While executed with suspenseful precision the film only scratched the surface of the concept and scarcely showcased the scope of the world within the film.

With the second film in the franchise, THE PURGE: ANARCHY, the far-reaching aspects of the concept were shown, the narrative taking place in the streets and displaying not only crazies roaming the streets but also the rich, tactically trained, and well armed portion of the populace. And once again the narrative is told within the simple framework of a revenge story. The third and latest film in the series once again expands the scope of the story to the political theater. Thank the powers that be that they keep making more of these movies because...

THE PURGE: ELECTION YEAR is easily the best in the series.

THE PLOT

It is election year in the United States and an up and coming senator named Charlie Roan is running for the presidency. She is campaigning to abolish the Purge holiday. On Purge night she is targeted by the current government regime for murder. It falls on Senator Roan's bodyguard, Leo, to see to it that she survives the night. When a double agent sabotages all of the safeguards in Senator Roan's home, Charlie and Leo are forced into the streets with countless Purgers ready kill anyone who crosses their path.

DISCLAIMER:

I'm not going to delve too deeply into the allegories of these films because frankly I'd be a little out of my depth. But horror films are and have always been fertile ground for allegory and social and political commentary (look at just about any George Romero film) and the Purge films are more fine examples of this. Instead I'm going to focus on the narrative structure, layout, and characters. Do not expect any political commentary here.

THE GOOD

Expansion. One of the aspects I love about this series is the layout of the narrative. The first film introduces a huge concept that effects the entire nation but explores the story in a very closed off intimate setting. The second broadened the stage giving us more and this third film continues the expansion of scope and story. Finally we see more of the New Founding Fathers of America (the regime who set in place the Purge) and the battle is taken to them. At the same time we see the story from the point of view of the lower-middle class working men, the immigrants, and the homeless. All the while blood and carnage rains down upon them. In each film it is clear that the characters participating in the Purge are the antagonists but maintaining a subtle gray area. Here the film directly aims the cross-hairs on NFFA.

Frank Grillo. The central character from the second Purge film, Leo Barnes, returns as one of the main characters in this film as well. Finally we have a clear hero to root for and actor Frank Grillo is totally badass (makes me sad that they killed off his character in Captain America: Civil War). With a hard-hitting action presence that could rival Jason Statham, Grillo brings the hurt on all the badguys and then some. He played a wonderfully conflicted character with hints of Snake Plissken and the Punisher in the previous film. Now he shows us that same power more focused and driven.

This movie all around is exciting. The film score is ominous, frightening, and dirge-like. And the scenes of carnage and mayhem are brutal and terrifying.

THE BAD

These films push the limits of how much violence and gore audiences can stomach while still being entertaining. This has always been my qualm with the Purge franchise. The filmmakers never take the onscreen horror to Rob Zombie levels. This is probably a good thing in regards to most of the film goers in attendance. I just wish there were unrated cuts on dvd which take those moments to that next powerful level. Again, the filmmakers are riding the line of palatable horror violence and doing it well. But for rewatchability's sake I wish they'd go all in like the Evil Dead remake.

THE VERDICT

The Purge films keep expanding the horizon of the series and as a result keep getting better and better. We are given clear cut badguys in this film in the NFFA. And Frank Grillo shines as the badass hero in the film who puts the hurt on the corrupt regime. Well done and executed on all fronts from acting, directing, music, and action. I've seen all of the Purge films in theaters and will continue to do so should the series continue. Check it out if you enjoyed the previous installments in the series.

Overall Ranking: 6 out of 10

Nude-O-Meter: 0 out of 10

Want more to Purge? Check out my review of the previous film in the series...

THE PURGE: ANARCHY (2014)