One night a year, all crime is legal
Home invasion is defined as the illegal and forceful entry to a private household with violent intent to commit a crime against its occupants. Criminal acts such as assault, rape, murder or kidnapping are all usual offenses that are prominent during these incidents. With “Straw Dogs,” “The Strangers,” “Panic Room,” “When A Stranger Calls,” “A Clockwork Orange,” and countless more, it’s clear that Hollywood has found a niche for these home invasion inspired films. Most of these projects claim they are loosely based on a gruesome true story, attempting to create a raw and genuine element in order to heighten the buzz.
James DeMonaco has delivered the latest in this genre with ‘The Purge,’ a dystopian film set in 2022. When trailers and posters began to surface, interest in the upcoming thriller peaked and achieved a cult following before it even invaded the theaters. “Reminder: All Emergency Services Will Be Suspended For A 12 Hour Period During The Purge,” read one poster with an inverted red cross marked out in the middle. Trailers for “The Purge” went viral, where a security camera captured incidents such as murder occurring all over the world. You couldn’t logon to any social media platform without seeing ‘The Purge.’ Trending topics on Twitter included the very disturbing hash-tag #ifthepurgewashappeninginreallife, which only begged the question as to how many people would cheerfully partake in such an event. So the buzz is built and ‘The Purge’ has commenced…
‘The Purge,’ as previously mentioned, takes place in 2022 where the “reborn” United States has hit an all-time low for crime and unemployment. As a whole, the U.S. is flourishing, but not without a price. The annual 12 hour “Purge” instated by the government decriminalizes all crime including violent offenses such as murder. During this time period all emergency services are suspended and everyone must fend for themselves. “The Purge,” as justified by the government, allows people to release their negative and violent emotions that are a natural instinct for humans. During this night of citizen regulation, one wealthy family must face their basic instincts after taking in a homeless man who is being targeted by a group of collegiate students partaking in “The Purge.” In order to make it through the night they must defend themselves and their home without becoming the monsters that roam the street during the crime induced night. Besides Ethan Hawke (“Training Day,” “Sinister”) and Lena Headey (“300″), “The Purge” stars an unknown cast which gives it a strong foundation.
‘The Purge’ works – not for its violence and thrills, but rather for making the viewers constantly imagine living in a society that promotes such an event. “The Purge” is an accepted part of society and citizens openly talk about the people they plan to hunt down during the 12 hour rampage. Most households are fashioned with flowers in their front yard declaring the support of “The Purge” as a vital necessity in their community. It’s a wild concept to grasp and before you know it, the movie has concluded and you are left feeling overwhelmed and satisfied all at the same time. It’s impossible to not walk around following the movie wondering if the people you interact with on a daily basis or live next to are capable of such monstrosity – if no rules dictated our behavior.
What does “The Purge” prove? That humans are naturally attracted to bloodshed and violence. Sitting in the theater when Headey’s character faces the dilemma of perpetuating the cycle and killing her attackers, you will hear the crowd encouraging her to do it. An eye for an eye right? DeMonaco’s “The Purge” is a social experiment gone right. While walking out of the theater a woman was heard saying “if the purge was real I would’ve taken out the guy behind me for talking the whole time and I wouldn’t think twice about it.” Interesting stuff.
Ben Lester (bjams11)
