Underground horror screenplay producer, James DeMonaco, directed and wrote the American horror-thriller film, The Purge, which was released on June 7, 2013.
The horror film takes place in the year 2022, when America’s new form of government, the “New Founding Fathers,” leads the country. Group leaders established a new law that allows citizens to commit any form of crime without penalty one night a year. On the designated evening of The Purge between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., the country appears to be a self-governed mad house.
A TV reporter states, “The Purge allows us to release the aggression we all have inside us.” Those supporting the twelve hour hysteria have a reason to, considering the nation’s unemployment rate is at one percent and the number of homeless people is nonexistent.
The word ‘purge’ means to rid of whatever is impure or undesirable. Perhaps the obvious-yet over looked-message DeMonaco was trying to put across was that in order for America to be back on top of their international ranking game was to abolish the lower class by resorting to manslaughter fueled by the desperate desire to be a part of society’s elite.
James Sandin (Ethan Hawke) is a salesman who specializes in home protection systems. After successfully selling a system to nearly all the surrounding neighbors, James and wife Mary (Lena Headey) build a new extension to their home. As the eve of The Purge approaches, James activates the security system in his home, a complex arrangement including cameras, monitors, metal window covers, etc. The couple and two young children begin their night of sitting and waiting, wishing for time to fast-forward.
What was thought to be an “intruder proof system” was no match for the malicious invaders.
Although the film did have scattered moments of surprise, the plot revolving around a home invasion has been done before: Panic Room. While some audience members found themselves laughing at the poorly strategized Sandin family, DeMonaco managed to achieve an opening weekend gross of $36,379,000 because of hype from the trailers.
With that in mind, the contemplation of what the country’s (and or the world’s) future looks like lingers in the conscious of viewers.
