REVIEW: The Purge Election Year
We give you dear readers a review for The Purge Election Year. Still showing in your favorite theaters and stars Frank Grillo, Elizabeth Mitchell, Mykelti Williamson, Edwin Hodge, Raymond J. Barry, Terry Serpico, Betty Gabriel, Joseph Julian Soria, Kyle Secor, Ethan Philips. Directed by James DeMonaco.
As early as now let me tell you, dear readers, that I am giving ‘Election Year’ a high score. The highest score, in fact, from the rest of the other two ‘Purge’ movies I’ve viewed through the years.
The film blends in what made the first two films such interesting flicks for the home-invasion subgenre of suspense films. Then takes it further down the road by adding political intrigue and a dash of zealotry for good measure.
Here’s the synopsis:
As a young girl, Sen. Charlie Roan survived the annual night of lawlessness that took the lives of her family members. As a presidential candidate, Roan is determined to end the yearly tradition of blood lust once and for all. When her opponents hatch a deadly scheme, the senator finds herself trapped on the streets of Washington, D.C., just as the latest Purge gets underway. Now, it’s up to Leo Barnes (Frank Grillo), her head of security, to keep her alive during the next 12 hours of mayhem.
We have an-about-to-explode-action-star in the form of Frank Grillo here who returns as Leo Barnes who was the protagonist of the second Purge movie working as the chief of security for a senator who might have the votes to finish the Purge once and for all.
The theme is as real as today’s headlines. I know you’ve read that a thousand times with different movies but for this film, it truly is. We’re at a time when violence is condoned, praised even. It’s also a nationalistic thing. But I’ll have to stop myself there because that’s not the reason why you’re reading this review.
The cast they have for ‘Election Year’ is entertaining. I wouldn’t call the Academy to hand them out Oscars but for a suspense film, its pretty good. Gabriel Betty’s Laney needs to get a special mention because she had the most satisfying moment in all of the Purge moments. As in I actually cheered when she showed up at some point in the film.
The film also doesn’t scrimp of gratuitous violence and unsettling visuals. From that scene with the bloodied Lincoln shrine in Washington D.C. to that scene with some girls dancing around hanged men, The Purge 3 will disturb you for a few seconds. Oh and there’s a guillotine here. That’ll totally creep you out.
Tons of great character moments, surprising laughs and loads of gunfight. If you’re coming in need of that particular fix then you are definitely in for a wondrous surprise. Musical scoring adds to the suspense factor as well as a few well-laden jumpscares here and there.
The morality play in this movie is pretty old but it works beautifully. Without spoiling it asks us whether we’re truly ready to become the monsters we’re trying to kill.
In terms of grandness and accessibility this film ranks # 1 among the Purge movies, but the original will always be the best. But between movie # 2 and movie # 3, I would definitely go for ‘Election Year’.
SCORE: 7/10
