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IMDbPro

The Purge

  • 20132013
  • RR
  • 1h 25m
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
227K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,777
245
Rhys Wakefield in The Purge (2013)
Given the country's overcrowded prisons, the U.S. government begins to allow 12-hour periods of time in which all illegal activity is legal. During one of these free-for-alls, a family must protect themselves from a home invasion.
Play trailer2:33
2 Videos
99+ Photos
HorrorSci-FiThriller
A wealthy family is 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.A wealthy family is 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.A wealthy family is 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.
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
227K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,777
245
    • James DeMonaco
    • James DeMonaco
  • Stars
    • Ethan Hawke
    • Lena Headey
    • Max Burkholder
    • James DeMonaco
    • James DeMonaco
  • Stars
    • Ethan Hawke
    • Lena Headey
    • Max Burkholder
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 864User reviews
    • 386Critic reviews
    • 41Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos2

    Version 1
    Trailer 2:33
    Watch Version 1
    Jason Blum: A Brief History of Blumhouse
    Clip 3:46
    Watch Jason Blum: A Brief History of Blumhouse

    Photos109

    Edwin Hodge in The Purge (2013)
    Ethan Hawke, Lena Headey, and Max Burkholder in The Purge (2013)
    Still photographs of "The Purge" (2013)
    Still photographs of "The Purge" (2013)
    Still photographs of "The Purge" (2013)
    Still photographs of "The Purge" (2013)
    Still photographs of "The Purge" (2013)
    Still photographs of "The Purge" (2013)
    Still photographs of "The Purge" (2013)
    Still photographs of "The Purge" (2013)
    James DeMonaco in The Purge (2013)
    The Purge (2013)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ethan Hawke
    Ethan Hawke
    • James Sandin
    Lena Headey
    Lena Headey
    • Mary Sandin
    Max Burkholder
    Max Burkholder
    • Charlie Sandin
    Adelaide Kane
    Adelaide Kane
    • Zoey Sandin
    Edwin Hodge
    Edwin Hodge
    • Bloody Stranger
    Rhys Wakefield
    Rhys Wakefield
    • Polite Leader
    Tony Oller
    Tony Oller
    • Henry
    Arija Bareikis
    Arija Bareikis
    • Mrs. Grace Ferrin
    Tom Yi
    Tom Yi
    • Mr. Cali
    Chris Mulkey
    Chris Mulkey
    • Mr. Halverson
    Tisha French
    Tisha French
    • Mrs. Halverson
    Dana Bunch
    • Mr. Ferrin
    Peter Gvozdas
    • Dr. Peter Buynak
    John Weselcouch
    John Weselcouch
    • Freak Interrupting
    Alicia Vela-Bailey
    Alicia Vela-Bailey
    • Female Freak
    David Basila
    David Basila
    • George
    • (uncredited)
    Boima Blake
    • Freak #1
    • (uncredited)
    Nathan Clarkson
    Nathan Clarkson
    • Freak
    • (uncredited)
      • James DeMonaco
      • James DeMonaco
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      According to director James DeMonaco, the famous road-rage incident awakening the idea for The Purge happened like this: He and his wife were driving on the freeway when a drunk driver cut them off nearly killing them. After both cars stopped, the other driver's lack of remorse enraged DeMonaco enough to engage in a fistfight and police eventually had to get involved. After the incident was over, DeMonaco's wife turned to him and commented how great it would be to have one free murder a year. He felt bad admitting this because she's normally a "sweet woman".
    • Goofs
      For a while in the middle of the movie, James has a shaped goatee and moustache, which he does not have during the rest of the movie.
    • Quotes

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

    • Crazy credits
      At the end Credits there are radio broadcasting about the Purge Night.
    • Connections
      Edited into Everything Wrong with...: Everything Wrong with The First Purge (2018)
    • Soundtracks
      Clair de Lune
      Written by Claude Debussy

      Arranged by Alfred Reed

      Performed by Symfonický orchester Slovenského rozhlasu (as Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra)

      Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.

      Published by Klams Music & Co, Inc.

    User reviews864

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    4/10
    Wasted potential, just a generic home invasion film.
    From the producers of Paranormal Activity (as is all horror films these days) The Purge tells the story of a near future were crime is at an all time low and unemployment stands at under 1% of the US population, to compensate for one night a year all crime (including murder) is legal for 12 hours allowing society some kind of release.

    The film revolves around the Sandin family who are confronted by a group of college students hunting a man on the night of the Purge who the family had allowed into their home after lockdown. The Purgers (lead by Rhys Wakefield) drastically try to break into the family's home causing James (Ethan Hawke) and Mary (Lena Headey) to protect their children from the invaders in order to survive the night.

    The main problem with the film is the premise itself, whilst interesting is filled with flaws and holes that just make the whole idea ridiculous. Such as what happens to the serial killers and career criminals of this world? Do they just control their urges to kill or steal for the other 364 days until the next Purge, as well what if someone has a heart attack on the night of The Purge? Is it just a case of bad luck you chose the wrong night to need medical care?

    Despite the flaws of the premise, the film repeatedly ignores the possibilities of the premise, instead of exploring the ideas behind the Purge or the events that occur on the night of the Purge from different perspectives and situations. Instead the film settles for a typical home invasion story that although done well, is nothing we haven't seen done in many other films. The Purge in the end seems to only be the premise of this film to stop the age old question of "Why don't they just call the police?" in home invasion films.

    To the films credit it is quite subtle, there's a running theme that the Purge is just an excuse for the upper classes to exterminate the poor, driven by all the attackers wearing prep school blazers and the person they are chasing wearing dog tags around his neck. The film also contains some strong performances, especially from Ethan Hawke (Training Day, Lord of War) and Lena Headey (Dredd, Game of Thrones) who carry the film throughout. The film also has a twist near the end which allows the audience to get inside the heads of the people during this night.

    That cant be said for the leader of the Purger's played by Rhys Wakefield (Sanctum, Home and Away)whose performance is slightly cringe worthy, hes trying to be psychotic yet in control of the proceedings but it just comes across as a amateur dramatics' version of The Joker. He just never seems like a really threat and just a creepy next door neighbour.

    The film also contains some bizarre and just plain weird set pieces, such as the families' son who builds a spy camera on a chard baby doll on the top of a rhino tank from Warhammer 40,000. The thing looks like a demented contraption from Sid's bedroom in Toy Story.

    Overall, The Purge is an OK home invasion film, there are moments of suspense and a couple of jump scares are effective. The wasted potential of the premise is the films main downfall which could have lead to a more effective and possible original film then what we got in the end.
    helpful•206
    68
    • dannyobrien247
    • Jun 10, 2013

    FAQ2

    • How plausible is the premise of this film?

    Details

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    • Release date
      • June 7, 2013 (United States)
      • United States
      • France
      • Official Facebook
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • Platinum Dunes
      • Blumhouse Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour 25 minutes
      • Color
      • Dolby Digital
      • Dolby Atmos
      • Dolby Surround 7.1

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