The Purge: Season One

The titular mean-spirited, ultra-violent movie franchise—about an annual 12-hour period during which a fascistic American government gives citizens license to brutalize and kill with impunity—spawned this USA Network spinoff. Developed by James DeMonaco, the mastermind behind the films, the show contains numerous scenes of death and torture, but the mayhem is more muted than on the big screen. More importantly, the human dimension is explored with a bit more depth, thanks to the expanded running time of a TV series. The Purge follows the stories of a small group of characters from the hours preceding the start of the purge through its conclusion and aftermath: Miguel (Gabriel Chavarria), an ex-Marine trying to save his sister Penelope (Jessica Garza), who has joined a cult where members intend to sacrifice themselves as purge victims; Rick and Jenna (Colin Woodell and Hannah Emily Anderson), a yuppie couple trying to secure investment funds from a government bigwig (Reed Diamond); Jane (Amanda Warren), a financial specialist with grievances against her boss; and Joe (Lee Tergesen), a blue-collar guy whose rescue of prospective victims only masks a dark plan of his own. The acting is stiff, the dialogue wooden, the production cheesy, and the final revelations more than a little ridiculous, but at least this Purge is less gruesome and offensive than its big-screen inspiration. Presenting all 10 episodes from the 2018 debut season, extras include behind-the-scene featurettes, a conversation with cast and crew, deleted scenes, and a table read. Optional. (F. Swietek)