Director: James DeMonaco
Writer: James DeMonaco (Screenplay)
Starring: Frank Grillo, Elizabeth Mitchell, Mykelti Williamson, Joseph Julian Soria, Betty Gabriel, Terry Serpico, Edwin Hodge, Kyle Secor
Plot: Years after sparing the man who killed his son, former police sergeant Barnes has become head of security for Senator Charlie Roan, a Presidential candidate targeted for death on Purge night due to her vow to eliminate the Purge.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Improvement All Around
Story: The Purge: Election Year starts as the movement going against the idea of the Purge when people learn that the government has been using the Purge to save money. With an Election coming up independent candidate Senator Charlie Roan (Mitchell) who is campaigning to end the Purge after she was the sole survivor or a Purge attack.
The government has been lining up a clean-up job for The Purge this year with Senator Charlie Roan and other people who are against them and Leo Barnes (Grillo) is tasked with keeping her safe through the Purge. On the other side of the story we meet Joe Dixon (Williamson) who runs a small deli and has to protect it during Purge Night after his insurance rates go up.
With the Purge underway who will survive the night when tourists have come to America to join in the killing for the fun. Can the world be changed with the outcome of this night?
The Purge: Election Year brings us into the world of The Purge where we actually see people turning against the idea for the first time. We get the idea of having both sides of a political debate which would happen through a Purge like event. Sure we do have some poorly written characters which are filled with racial moments at times. Overall the story is easy to follow and does lack twists but is fully embracing the idea behind the film to the fullest.
Actor Review
Frank Grillo: Leo Barnes is the returning hero who is against the Purge after nearly committing the revenge crime a few years ago. He knows works as head of security of Senator Charlie Roan who if she wins will end the purge tradition. Leo trusts no one which is the only way he knows how to keep the Senator safe. Frank is great as the leading action star in this movie becoming the face of the franchise.
Elizabeth Mitchell: Senator Charlie Roan is the sole survivor of a Purge game with her family, she has led a campaign to run for President so she can end the Purge forever. With the Purge night in full effect she becomes the prime target for the government so they can continue their Purge night. She must find herself outside surviving the Purge with her bodyguard Leo and anyone else who wants to do the right thing. Elizabeth is strong in this role being a leader in the making.
Mykelti Williamson: Joe Dixon is a local deli owner who just wants to defend his deli during the Purge night but when he comes to the defence to the Senator he does the right thing with his connections from his shady past. Mykelti is good in this supporting role where he gets to take what feels like a Danny Glover role.
Joseph Julian Soria: Marcos is the loyal employee of Joe’s who just wants to protect the deli with his boss, he also has a shady past from his time in Mexico but now does the right thing. Joseph is good in this supporting role even if the character is slightly stereotypical.
Support Cast: The Purge: Election Year has a supporting cast which does include the only member to appear in all three films Dante Bishop. We also get a full array of color psychotic characters who come out to Purge that give this the next level of dimension which we see improving each year.
Director Review: James DeMonaco – James gives us yet another improvement on the franchise which isn’t afraid to take on the social questions between the brutality offered.
Action: The Purge: Election Year could easily have the best pure action in a film so for this year to date, without any of the fantasy elements involved.
Horror: The Purge: Election Year does have brutal kills going on in the background of the film and while the concept is just about killing people for fun but the main story comes off full action.
Settings: The Purge: Election Year keeps everything inside the city throughout the film where the terror is going on which help show how one day you could be friends or stranger the next you are just going to kill that person.
Special Effects: The Purge: Election Year has great effects when it comes to the kills involved in the film.
Suggestion: The Purge: Election Year is one you should watch if you liked the first two, but it is also one for all the action fans out there to enjoy. (Action Fans Watch)
Best Part: Upping the action ante.
Worst Part: Some poorly written interaction with racial stereotypes.
Action Scene Of The Film: Church time.
Kill Of The Film: First founding father.
Believability: No
Chances of Tears: No
Chances of Sequel: Yes
Post Credits Scene: No
Oscar Chances: No
Box Office: $63 Million
Budget: $10 Million
Runtime: 1 Hour 45 Minutes
Tagline: Keep America Great
Overall: Improving upon the last one yet again as this franchise keeps coming off stronger and stronger.
Rating
