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 |
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. Written by Anonymous
The first film was a generic home invasion flick with a gimmick that reduced the 'all crime is legal for 12 hours' concept to essentially a narrative countdown clock device - a family must survive for such and such more time and the film wasted a decent premise. The Purge:Anarchy rights the wrongs of its predecessor and delivers on the high concept. The characters are thinly written, but played with adequate skill by the actors and a more than decent performance by Frank Grillo as the lead. The satire is about as subtle as a round of bullets to the chest and the film never feels comfortable during the few moments the story calms down to spend time developing the characters, but this was made for visceral thrills and B grade enjoyment. The mayhem is relentless and while the low budget certainly reduced the amount of arson to a few fleeting glimpses, the violent set pieces are staged with enough wit to make this sequel a nice surprise.