Going into The Purge, I was quite sure I knew exactly what I was about to see, another home invasion movie littered with jump scares and a cheap overall experience. In many ways, The Purge delivered just that, but where the movie differentiates from its common counterparts is where the entertainment stems from.

    The movie begins with a peaceful drive-around scene in which the main character, James Sandin (played by Ethan Hawke) is listening to talk radio about the upcoming national event known as The Purge. The audience is then informed that this event- a 12-hour period in which all crime is legal- has reduced both the overall crime and unemployment rates exponentially. We also learn in this scene that Hawke’s character has made a deal to sell a high-tech security system in order to protect them from the raging criminals of the purge. Soon though, we find out that the system isn’t as foolproof as everyone had thought, and when a blood-thirsty band of criminals arrives on the Sandin’s doorstep, looking to “purge” a homeless man the family brought inside, the family’s peaceful night turns into an intense race against time to save their own lives. The movie co-stars Lena Headey as James’ wife Mary, as well as Max Burkholder and Adelaide Kane as James’ son and daughter.

    The Purge actually happens to get a few things right. The premise surrounding the story is actually quite sound. The purge essentially ends all poverty (through violent means) as well as heavily reducing crime year-round. It’s actually quite an interesting concept and I was excited to see how America was going to react to it. Another thing this movie does correctly is the villain.  Akin to Heath Ledger’s Joker in The Dark Night, the main villain –played by Rhys Wakefield-  gave one of the most stellar performances throughout the entire film, and ended up becoming the most likeable character in the movie. It’s these aspects of the film that help it to stand out from others in the genre, but despite the strong premise and thrilling antagonist, the movie still manages to succumb to the usual tropes that describe all home invasion movies.

    This is the problem with The Purge, the plot has simply been done before. In fact, one of the previews of the film was actually another home invasion movie. The majority of the plot was predictable, and it felt like the director was re-hashing the same techniques over and over to “shock the audience.” The Purge is not only worsened by its thin plot, but its weak characters as well. Aside from the villain, every character felt fake and stereotypical, it was centered on a typical four person family terrorized by a typical gang of murderous outlaws. It gives off a very generic vibe that a lot of the audience would rather laugh at than attach to.

    The Purge feels like a wasted opportunity. The concept is there, it just needed to be acted upon properly, but unfortunately this was not the case. The film could have taken a different direction and been significantly more interesting, but the route it ended up taking was bland and contrived. While it managed to produce a thrilling antagonist and a unique ending sequence, there is not enough entertaining content to keep the audience happy. If you dare see The Purge, bring some friends along. At least then you can make fun of it on the way home.