‘The Purge,’ another entry in home-invasion subgenre

The Purge, written and directed by James DeMonaco, is a cleverly scary look at our society and its need for security. Presumably set in the not-too-distant future, the movie takes place in a world where America’s problems are solved by one night of debauchery and unpunished crime. For 12 hours, any citizen in the United States is allowed to run amok — murdering, stealing, burning. There is no punishment for these crimes during the annual “purge,” and this means families not wishing to partake in the activities must lock up the doors and bunker down for the night.

James Sandin (Ethan Hawke) sells security systems for a living, and his neighborhood is relying on his expertise for the upcoming purge. His wife, Mary (Lena Headey from Game of Thrones), hears rumbles from the neighbors that the Sandins’ new addition on their house is because James sell so many security systems. Behind the gossiping banter there’s some evident foreshadowing. Watch your back, and remember we helped build your house.

When the purge hits, James and Mary gather their two teenage children (Max Burkholder and Adelaide Kane) in the homestead and lock all the doors. The outside world becomes dangerous for 12 hours, and the Sandins live a seemingly peaceful life on the inside of the home.

Of course, this being a suspenseful thriller, something goes wrong, terribly wrong. The family members are not exactly as secluded as they think.

DeMonaco’s film, which flies by at 85 minutes, does not amount to much beyond the usual jump-at-you scares. However, it’s nice to see a Hollywood film try to inject its plot with social commentary. Although the lessons learned in The Purge are slight, they are still present. The violence is not heinous and gut-wrenchingly graphic for no apparent reason. We witness a society gone crazy over the idea of committing violence with no repercussions. Watching these characters try to survive these 12 hours makes for an invigorating cinematic experience. Will they endure the ordeal? Would we save a life at the potential risk of our own family? How would we act under similar circumstances? Are there parallels to our own society?

The Purge is not the first movie to discuss organized violence (The Hunger Games, The Most Dangerous Game) or home invasions (Straw Dogs, The Strangers). In fact, if The Purge proves anything it’s that The Strangers has become one of the most influential horror movies of the modern era. That little film about a couple fending off unknown entities on the outside of their house has become a cult classic, and many film directors seem inspired by that intense movie. The Purge takes the smart route of trying to add something to this unusual subgenre. The movie displays action but also develops ideas. There is a reasoning behind the theatrics. Whether we buy into DeMonaco’s thesis is a matter of personal opinion (and tolerance for violence).

The acting from Hawke and Headey is well suited for the film. Hawke can play the smarmy man whose facade begins to crumble. Headey, making an easy jump from television to film, becomes the heroine figure for the picture. While James is an unsympathetic character, Mary has a lot of innocence and civility about her. The actors who play the invaders, including Rhys Wakefield as their fearless leader, are the right level of zany and terrifying. Their antics will make one think of A Clockwork Orange.

DeMonaco is one to watch in Hollywood. The Purge might feel underdeveloped, but for these precious 85 minutes, it’s able to pack a walloping punch.

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

• The Purge

• 2013

• Written and directed by James DeMonaco

• Starring Ethan Hawke, Lena Headey and Rhys Wakefield

• Running time: 85 minutes

• Rated R for strong disturbing violence and some language

• Rating: