The Purge: Anarchy (2014)

Three groups of people intertwine and are left stranded in the streets on Purge Night, trying to survive the chaos and violence that occurs.

Director:

James DeMonaco

Writers:

James DeMonaco, James DeMonaco (characters created by)

Stars:

Frank Grillo, Carmen Ejogo, Zach Gilford

3 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Frank Grillo	...	Sergeant
Carmen Ejogo	...	Eva Sanchez
Zach Gilford	...	Shane
Kiele Sanchez	...	Liz
Zoë Soul	...	Cali
Justina Machado	...	Tanya
John Beasley	...	Papa Rico
Jack Conley	...	Big Daddy
Noel Gugliemi	...	Diego (as Noel G.)
Castulo Guerra	...	Barney
Michael Kenneth Williams	...	Carmelo (as Michael K. Williams)
Edwin Hodge	...	Bloody Stranger
LaKeith Stanfield	...	Young Ghoul Face (as Keith Stanfield)
Roberta Valderrama	...	Lorraine
Niko Nicotera	...	Roddy

Storyline

A couple are driving home when their car breaks down just as the Purge commences. Meanwhile, a police sergeant goes out into the streets to get revenge on the man who killed his son, and a mother and daughter run from their home after assailants destroy it. The five people meet up as they attempt to survive the night in Los Angeles.

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Plot Keywords:

sabotage | held at gunpoint | brutality | 2020s | burned alive | 

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Taglines:

Welcome to America where one night a year all crime is legal

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Genres:

Action | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong disturbing violence, and for language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Edwin Hodge, Tyler Osterkamp, and Nathan Clarkson are the only actors with recurring roles from The Purge (2013).

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Goofs

Barnes' car is clearly armored to a high extent, as it suffers numerous direct hits from what is clearly a very high power weapon and emerges unscathed. At the same time, the car is shown accelerating very quickly from a standing position, making extremely sharp turn at high speeds etc. No car armored to that level could possibly handle like that. Characters are also shown opening and shutting the doors to the car as if they were normal doors: armored doors would be extremely heavy.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Title Card: America. 2023. Unemployment is below 5%. Crime is virtually non-existent while every year fewer and fewer people live below the poverty line. All thanks to...
Title Card: The Purge: anarchy.

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Connections

References Death Wish (1974)

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Soundtracks

No Me Reganes - Buscando Ambiente
Written by F.R. Machuca
Performed by The Countdown Singers
Courtesy of Countdown Media GmbH

User Reviews

Far more thoughtful and realistic - disturbing and scary

In The Purge Anarchy the new founding fathers sanction another murderous cleanse.

The Purge Anarchy revisits the gruesome dystopia in the not so distant future where for twelve hours all sanctioned crime is legal and all rescue services are suspended. The nation is reborn, unemployment and crime are at record lows, all because of the annual night for decriminalized murder to unleash pent up American rage.

Five virtual strangers join together to survive when, after several unrelated but harrowing events, all find themselves on the street and in jeopardy on purge night. There is no security system, minimal defense and there is little hope.

Despite being marketed as a horror film The Purge Anarchy feels more like a thriller. The potential for a despicable act of inhumanity is imminent and occurs frequently throughout the film. Yet, its display is the antithesis of a masturbatory gore fest relishing in the suffering, evocative of torture-porn. Instead, the brutality is appropriately out of focus in the background, almost as an afterthought, consistent with the desensitized society.

The approach of James DeMonaco's direction is on point with the message of the film. He creates a disconcerting feeling with a deserted cityscape, seemingly lit at night by flickering yellow streetlights casting shrouded shadows. Certain scenes are realistically and deliberately shaky and imperfect to draw the audience into the character's peril.

One can not talk about a second installment to a franchise without returning to its predecessor, in this case The Purge. Acclaimed as a novel premise and potentially unsettling look into the primal aspect of human nature, it left something to be desired. The story had so many places it could go that were raw and savage; yet, The Purge was slightly simplistic and flawed but still enjoyable. Once again James DeMonaco took the helm as writer and director of The Purge's sequel Anarchy. This time DeMonaco's execution was able to address criticisms by delving further into concept, but from a different perspective: the working class. In doing so we see a harsher existence, far less idealistic and a more depraved purge night.

The difference between The Purge and The Purge Anarchy is that the active tormenters for this purge are not all unhinged closeted maniacs hiding behind masks. Anarchy takes the end of The Purge and goes more in-depth. Those participating are frustrated and exhausted but ultimately they are people. Most terrifyingly it proposes a hypothetical and disturbingly feasible purge experience for the upper class. The nefarious top 10% obligingly exercise their civic responsibility and now government granted right in style and comfort. The Purge Anarchy is a commentary on society and social inequality in the most gruesome of circumstances.

The film's ability to play into our inner fears, that deep within anyone there is a darkness capable of unspeakable evil, is pivotal to its success. While I wish The Purge Anarchy hadn't tried to tidy the story up and resolve everything I did find it far more realistic and thought provoking than the former.

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Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA France

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 July 2014 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Purge 2

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$9,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$29,816,675, 20 July 2014

Gross USA:

$71,962,800

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$111,928,365

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Platinum Dunes, Blumhouse Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Datasat Dolby Digital EX Dolby Surround 7.1 Dolby Atmos

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1