By all accounts, THE PURGE: ANARCHY was never a film I was hoping would exist. Even being a horror fan, I can’t say I wanted to see a sequel to the disappointing 2013 surprise financial hit THE PURGE. I say disappointed mainly because I was hoping for so much more from a film that advertised one night a year of chaos to the point that the streets would literally run red. What we got instead was a siege film that never fully explored the simple but kind-of genius idea of an annual purge night instated by the government to “cleanse our souls.” James DeMonaco has returned to what will surely be a new franchise, and even with the same writer and director as the first film, I think you’ll be surprised to find that THE PURGE: ANARCHY is an entirely different beast.
The evening of March 21, 2032 is where we are introduced to two couples – a young couple Shane (Zach Gilford) and Liz (Kiele Sanchez) whose marriage is on the rocks and a mother/daughter team of Eva (Carmen Ejogo) and Cali (Zoë Soul). Both couples are thrown into the horrific events of the annual Purge night. One night a year all crime including murder is legal for a 12 hour period. Thankfully for them, they are saved by a mysterious stranger named Sergeant (Frank Grillo). His armored vehicle and artillery of weapons seems to imply that he too is enjoying the “holiday.” But all we know about him is that he needs to get across town before dawn for an unknown reason and will do anything to get what he wants.
Frank Grillo is one of those actors who shows up in the background of films quite often (THE GREY and WARRIOR just to name a few). His intensity on-screen always demands attention, even if he isn’t in the starring role. With ANARCHY Grillo is finally able to sit in the driver’s seat as the male lead of the film. It may not be the juiciest role to sink his teeth in but it’s something that lets him work to his strengths. His character is more of the silent and deadly type, but once again Grillo delivers on being threatening. You may even fear him as much as the masked men running around committing crimes.
One of the benefits that this horror franchise has established is setting up the option that anyone could be a villain. More than one armed maniac or group of individuals is to be feared in this universe. Masked gangs run amok and fight to the death with one another while the wealthy are clearly just as feared as they seem to harness indispensable means to fill their purge-lust desires. The first film gave us a just a peek into this world compared to the scope of the sequel. Bloody violence is in abundance and literally feels as if it’s around every corner. With the help of cinematographer Jacques Jouffret, DeMonaco consistently finds new alleys and buildings to explore. Between the neon yellow, green and red lights that ignite the city at night and the concept of having a ragtag group trying to make their way from one end of the city to the other in a matter of hours, comparisons could be made to Walter Hill’s 1979 grindhouse classic THE WARRIORS or even Carpenter’s ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK.
The political implications and the economical effects that result from the annual Purge become just as important as the gritty and grimy guts of the film. An underground, anti-government group that seems modeled off of the real life Black Panther Party – complete with a black beret-wearing leader whose hat and round spectacles scream 1970’s – uses online videos to ignite a revolution among the poor who can’t properly protect themselves during the Purge. Their inclusion here seems rather ambitious since it implies that DeMonaco is attempting to flesh out this future-set world and not just showcase the violence committed one night a year. It also sets-up an idea for a possible third or fourth film that might bring about revolution.
THE PURGE: ANARCHY is an exciting sequel that delivers suspense and action from start to finish. Much like earlier this year in the CAPTAIN AMERICA sequel, Frank Grillo succeeds in taking a simple, brute of a character and transforming him into an engaging force to be reckoned with. THE PURGE had previously setup an interesting premise but failed to deliver on the potential of the idea by delivering a tedious film that felt cheap and restrained. Thankfully the sequel has its sights to be so much more. Fans of 80’s action flicks will love this neon-colored blood-fest. Marvel Films might have cast Frank Grillo as Crossbones in their “Star-Spangled” franchise, but here he proves he would be perfect as the merciless and vengeful Frank Castle (Punisher). Even if he doesn’t return in a future installment, I’m now curious and very much excited to see what next year’s annual Purge has to offer.
3.5 out of 5
THE PURGE: ANARCHY is now in theaters everywhere
