The Purge (2013)

A wealthy family are held hostage for harboring the target of a murderous syndicate during the Purge, a 12-hour period in which any and all crime is legal.

Director:

James DeMonaco

Writer:

James DeMonaco

Stars:

Ethan Hawke, Lena Headey, Max Burkholder

1 win & 6 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Ethan Hawke	...	James Sandin
Lena Headey	...	Mary Sandin
Max Burkholder	...	Charlie Sandin
Adelaide Kane	...	Zoey Sandin
Edwin Hodge	...	Bloody Stranger
Rhys Wakefield	...	Polite Leader
Tony Oller	...	Henry
Arija Bareikis	...	Mrs. Grace Ferrin
Tom Yi	...	Mr. Cali
Chris Mulkey	...	Mr. Halverson
Tisha French	...	Mrs. Halverson
Dana Bunch	...	Mr. Ferrin
Peter Gvozdas	...	Dr. Peter Buynak
John Weselcouch	...	Freak Interrupting
Alicia Vela-Bailey	...	Female Freak

Storyline

In an America wracked by crime and overcrowded prisons, the government has sanctioned an annual 12-hour period in which any and all criminal activity-including murder-becomes legal. The police can't be called. Hospitals suspend help. It's one night when the citizenry regulates itself without thought of punishment. On this night plagued by violence and an epidemic of crime, one family wrestles with the decision of who they will become when a stranger comes knocking. When an intruder breaks into James Sandin's (Ethan Hawke) gated community during the yearly lockdown, he begins a sequence of events that threatens to tear a family apart. Now, it is up to James, his wife, Mary (Lena Headey), and their kids to make it through the night without turning into the monsters from whom they hide.

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Plot Keywords:

violence | one night | killing spree | class differences | knife | 

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Taglines:

Reminder all emergency services will be suspended for a 12-hour period during the purge.

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Genres:

Horror | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong disturbing violence and some language

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA France

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 June 2013 (USA)

Also Known As:

Vigilandia

Filming Locations:

Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$34,058,360, 9 June 2013, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$64,473,115

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$89,328,627

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures,Platinum Dunes,Blumhouse Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital Dolby Atmos Dolby Surround 7.1

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The actresses Lena Headey and Adelaide Kane (Mary & Zoey Sandin, respectively) both play queens on separate shows. Headey as Queen Cersei in Game of Thrones (2011) and Kane as Mary Queen of Scots in Reign (2013).

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Goofs

In the game room, a masked purger shoots many times, narrowly missing his target but hitting the floor yet there are no bullet holes shown in the floor.

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Quotes

Mary Sandin: We are gonna play the rest of this night out in motherfucking peace. Does anyone have a problem with that?

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Connections

References Zeburâman: Zebura Shiti no gyakushû (2010)

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Soundtracks

Is 'e an Aussie, Is 'e Lizzie?
Written by B.C. Hilliam
Performed by B.C. Hilliam (as Mr. Flotsam) and Malcolm 'Mr. Jetsam' McEachern (as Mr. Jetsam)
Courtesy of JSP Records
Published by EMI Blackwood Music, Inc. (BMI)

User Reviews

Well I liked it…

America—the near future: the annual 'Purge'—a 12-hour period where all crime is legalised—turns into a nightmare for a wealthy family who had hoped to spend the time in the safety of their heavily fortified home.

The Purge has been the victim of a lot of negativity, but I found it to be a well-executed thriller with a satirical edge that deliberately adopts a far-fetched premise in order to take a pop at the USA's culture of violence, its undercurrent of racism and a legal system that favours the rich.

I imagine that much of the hate comes from Americans who simply don't like the messages the film so effectively illustrates—an understandable reaction, perhaps, but sometimes its good to take a long hard look in the mirror, and if you don't like what you see, do something to make a change.

On a more shallow note, the action was suitably hard-hitting, with the snooker room fight being particularly bad-ass, and both Lena Headey and Zoey Sandin are total babes.