THE PURGE
US, 2013, 85 minutes, Colour.
Ethan Hawke, Lena Headey, Max Burkholder, Rhys Wakefield, Adelaide Kane, Edwin Hodge, Chris Mulkey, Tony Oller.
Directed by James Di Monico.
The Purge is an above average thriller. It is set in a not-too-distant future, where there is a new government, new Founding Fathers, who in order to control crime allow for an annual Purge Night, where any citizen feels free to attack, to kill, anybody that they like. Targets are usually street people who are considered as human refuse, or other people who are targeted because of jealousy and envy. The permission and lawlessness last from 7 PM to 7 AM.
Ethan Hawke portrays a man who was invented a superior security system and who is benefiting financially, much to the annoyance of his affluent neighbours. He is married to being Lena Headey, who lives at home looking after the two children, one a young inventive boy and the other a teenage girl who is rebelling against her parents and allowing a boyfriend into the house. We have glimpses of them with their neighbours.
And then it is time for Purge Night, the family locking themselves into their house with their superior system. The daughter finds that her boyfriend is in the house and, taking advantage of Purge Night, he attempts to kill her father but his shot himself. The young boy, who has invented a robot that he can control mechanically, which has a camera, hears a man crying out in the street and opens security and allows him in. This leads to a group of young adults besieging the house to get the man, infiltrating and attacking the family. There is a great deal of tension in the sequences as the family try to survive, have crisis of conscience about whether they should send the man back out, are involved in killing themselves. The leader of the group is played with most sinister charm by Australian Rhys Wakefield.
Finally, a group of neighbours come in, motivated by envy and try to kill the family. It is the man from the street who actually saves them.
The screenplay left itself open for a sequel – which duly came.
1. The popularity of the film in the United States? Audiences identifying it, both right-wing and left-wing? Might is right versus bleeding hearts? A reflection of American gun laws?
2. The title, the knowledge of the Purge, the New Founding Fathers and their decrees, morality, purging aggression, purging lower socio-economic people, purging the objects of hate in envy?
3. A futuristic film? Much the same as the present? The changes in American society, morality, the end versus the means? Homes, security systems? The small focus on one family?
4. The family, ordinary, the good and the bad? Jim and his work, security systems, sales, the area buying his systems? His wealth, bonus? The affluence, the house and extensions, thinking of buying a boat? The American dream? Mary and her work at home, cooking, talking with the neighbours, exercising? Zoe, her age, deceiving her parents, Henry and his visits? Charlie and his age, the robot? The meal, Zoe only walking out? The review of the day?
5. The security room, the cameras and screens, tonight, Zoe going to her room, the others watching the screens? Issues of security, the family’s own security?
6. The discussion about whether Jim and Mary would participate in the purge? Would defend against intruders?
7. Charlie, watching, seeing the man in difficulty, opening the security, his sliding in under the door, hiding within the house?
8. Jim and his reaction, Mary, the discussions about defence? What to do with the man in the house?
9. The vigilante group, the leader and his polite manner, his message, the deal, masks, the others, young men and women? The arguments, bringing the heavy machinery, opening the doors and windows, entering, chasing the family around the house, stalking, deaths?
10. The man, hiding, Charlie and the robot with the lights, helping him hide? Jim finding him, his holding the gun to Zoe? Her collapse? The decision, binding him, the man’s plea? Mary, her change of heart, the attitude of the children?
11. Henry, sneaking into the house, with Zoe, purge night and his threatening Jim with the gun, his being shot? The effect on the family?
12. Jim, the guns, the pursuit, his being attacked, stabbed? The death of the leader?
13. Mary, killing, to protect the children?
14. The man, breaking free, saving the family, shooting?
15. Seeing the neighbours, the previous conversations with them, friendliness, about wealth, walking the dog…? There having Purge Parties, entering the house, the hostility, the envy, willing to kill the neighbours, Mary and her pleas? The man coming in, saving them – and his leaving the house?
16. Sitting at the table, Mary and control, the neighbours, the woman and her vicious envy? 7 o’clock and the end of the purge? The neighbours going home?
17. The effect of the experience, surviving, whether Jim would survive his wounds? The possibilities of a sequel?
