The Forever Purge
Year: 2021
Director: Everardo Valerio Gout
Starring: Ana de la Reguera, Tenoch Huerta & Josh Lucas
Runtime: 104 mins
BBFC: 15
Published: 22/07/21
Director: Everardo Valerio Gout
Starring: Ana de la Reguera, Tenoch Huerta & Josh Lucas
Runtime: 104 mins
BBFC: 15
Published: 22/07/21
I feel like people expect too much of The Purge franchise, or maybe I just don’t expect enough from it. Forgetting the underwhelming original, The Purge films have always presented the United States worst habits in an unapologetically blunt manner. Now in a post-Trump world, where white supremacy and hate speech is more accepted than ever, what does series creator James DeMonaco have to say on the matter?
Eight years after the events of Election Year, the New Founding Fathers have been voted back in by disillusioned ‘patriots’ and have re-instated the annual purge.
As expected the night is filled with blood and destruction as all crime is made legal for twelve hours. But once morning rolls around a large group of purgers refuse to stop.
Hounded by a group of white supremacist purgers, Adela (Ana de la Reguera), Juan (Tenoch Huerta), and Juan’s employers Dylan (Josh Lucas), Cassie (Cassidy Freeman), and Harper (Leven Rambin), must escape to Mexico or face the wrath of the forever purge.
Much like previous instalments, The Forever Purge is not subtle about its messages, preferring instead to be as obvious as possible, likely to help educate the types of people who would want to engage in a purge-like event that can only communicate in words that contain two syllables or less.
It’s the worst kind of politically driven film, because the subject matter is considerably more intelligent than the film itself…but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad film.
Eight years after the events of Election Year, the New Founding Fathers have been voted back in by disillusioned ‘patriots’ and have re-instated the annual purge.
As expected the night is filled with blood and destruction as all crime is made legal for twelve hours. But once morning rolls around a large group of purgers refuse to stop.
Hounded by a group of white supremacist purgers, Adela (Ana de la Reguera), Juan (Tenoch Huerta), and Juan’s employers Dylan (Josh Lucas), Cassie (Cassidy Freeman), and Harper (Leven Rambin), must escape to Mexico or face the wrath of the forever purge.
Much like previous instalments, The Forever Purge is not subtle about its messages, preferring instead to be as obvious as possible, likely to help educate the types of people who would want to engage in a purge-like event that can only communicate in words that contain two syllables or less.
It’s the worst kind of politically driven film, because the subject matter is considerably more intelligent than the film itself…but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad film.
If you’re going in expecting a Purge film, you’re going to get it, and arguably one of the better ones in the series with action and stakes on a much larger scale than before. But if you’re after anything more, you should really know by now to temper your expectations.
The characters are extremely shallow, but the performances are engaging enough to carry the film. As usual the story is more concerned about the bigger picture than the characters you’re following, and during the quieter moments of the film it can drag. But when the action gets going and the bullets are flying, The Forever Purge is a fun and competently made thriller.
Is The Forever Purge going to be heralded as the catalyst for change in attitudes to hate speech and racism? Of course not. But as always, the evolving world of The Purge proves to be an interesting sociological experiment, placing the lens on America’s greatest failings, and will hopefully spark discussion about how humanity can do better. A fun, yet superficial politically charged action romp.
The characters are extremely shallow, but the performances are engaging enough to carry the film. As usual the story is more concerned about the bigger picture than the characters you’re following, and during the quieter moments of the film it can drag. But when the action gets going and the bullets are flying, The Forever Purge is a fun and competently made thriller.
Is The Forever Purge going to be heralded as the catalyst for change in attitudes to hate speech and racism? Of course not. But as always, the evolving world of The Purge proves to be an interesting sociological experiment, placing the lens on America’s greatest failings, and will hopefully spark discussion about how humanity can do better. A fun, yet superficial politically charged action romp.