The Purge: Election Year

This third installment in James DeMonaco's subversive, low-budget, horror/thriller franchise is set in a futuristic America where mayhem and murder are legal one night a year. During the 12-hour Purge, people can either hide, or go on a crime-spree knowing that they will suffer no consequences for their actions. Sgt. Leo Barnes (Frank Grillo) now heads security for Senator Charlie Roan (Elizabeth Mitchell), a presidential candidate who promises to end the barbaric ritual, having lost her family during the mayhem several years ago. Abolitionist Roan is now a prime target for the NFFA (the New Founding Fathers of America), a white supremacist group that views Purge Night as a necessary escape valve. Their Oval Office candidate is a conservative Christian minister (Kyle Secor). When a betrayal forces Barnes and Roan out onto the streets of Washington, D.C., they must fight for survival against blood-thirsty, axe-wielding, paramilitary fiends wearing Abraham Lincoln and George Washington masks. They are joined by bodega owner Joe (Mykelti Williamson), who is furious about a spike in his “Purge insurance” premium; his immigrant employee (Joseph Julian Soria); and an anti-Purge EMT (Betty Gabriel). This latest entry taps into today's adversarial political climate, feeding on the anger and aggression, while also adding a layer of pop culture satire. A strong optional purchase. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include deleted scenes (8 min.), the behind-the-scenes featurettes “Inside The Purge” (6 min.) and “Character Spotlight: Leo” (4 min.), and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release are bonus DVD, digital, and UltraViolet copies of the film. Bottom line: a decent extras package for this uneven but often effective thriller.] (S. Granger)