The Purge (2013)

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.

Director:

James DeMonaco

Writer:

James DeMonaco

Stars:

Ethan Hawke, Lena Headey, Max Burkholder

2 wins & 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

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

Ethan Hawke is an old friend of producer Jason Blum and director James DeMonaco, and was happy to appear in The Purge to give their low-budget movie some star-power. As usual in Blum's productions, cast and crew work for scale and receive a percentage of the profits, if any. Hawke reportedly received only $3000 upfront, but due to the movie's worldwide success and the back-end profits, he has probably received more money for this film than for any other in his career.

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Goofs

It also made no sense for Zoe to hide under a bed. She also should have known that Charlie's secret room was the best hiding spot in the house.

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Quotes

Polite Leader: There you are. Thank you for accepting my invitation. Now tell me, why haven't you delivered the filthy swine to me yet? Are you protecting him? I certainly hope not, Mr. Sandin.
James Sandin: No, of course not. I just can't find him. You see, this is a misunderstanding. My son let him in. He's a young boy, he doesn't know better... but I support what goes on here tonight one hundred percent, I sell security equipment. See, I would never deny yours or anyone's right to purge. You are very...
Freak Interrupting: Just give us the...
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in The Cinema Snob: Turkish Batman (2016)

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Soundtracks

End of the End
Written and Performed by Cathy Davey
Courtesy of Benair Churchill LLC and Cathy Davey
Published by Tune of Benair Churchill (PRS)/Benair Churchill (ASCAP)

User Reviews

The most selfish family

The protagonist, would have been better without his family. The movie shows irrational and illogical decisions by the protagonist's family members, it displays what happens when you pamper your family too much. You can predict the protagonist's fate as soon as you go through the family member's, A dimwit son without a speck of apology, making suicidal decisions in cold blood. A prostitute for a daughter, anchoring him down. A foolish wife, shadowing her children's faults and blaming it all onto her husband. His family has some kind of problem as to why he earns money or why their life is so smooth and prefect. The protagonist's blood for crocodile tears.

Concluding, this movie is solely to speculate what kind of family the protagonist had and what goes through their head to make decisions they make. Overall, a good movie, says more about bad relations than the purge itself.