Despite the bad reviews it garnered upon its release and ever since, the first movie in Blumhouse Productions and Platinum Dunes, and was released in 2013. Though the movie was panned by critics, it did gross $89 million against a $3 million budget, largely thanks to its promotional tactics and all-star cast.
The dystopian action thriller movie stars Ethan Hawke, Lena Headey, Adelaide Kane, and Max Burkholder as James, Mary, Zoey, and Charlie Sandin, respectively. The Sandins are a wealthy family living in a gated community in Los Angeles in the year 2022. The movie takes place on the annual "Purge" event, a night during which all crime is temporarily legal — even homicide. The Sandins, who thought they were safe behind their expensive security system, must survive being terrorized by a group of masked, armed people.
The Purge ultimately received poor reviews from critics and viewers alike. Upon its release, it was dubbed as being full of clichés and having a predictable storyline. Critic Gary Wolcott of the canceled after The Purge season 2. Despite a general consensus that the sequels are better movies, which is not often true at all for horror movies, it can certainly be attested that the original remains the standout installment — here's why.
All of The Purge sequels performed better at the box office than the original one, and received better ratings on Rotten Tomatoes. Still, the first movie remains, arguably, the best one. The main reason for this is that the concept - a family surviving a terrifying night during which all crime is legal - was fresh and thrilling in 2013. At the time of its release, no other movie had considered this type of horror story. Though the sequels aren't bad, they are less exciting than the original since the main plot lines have been hashed out before. Plus, the sequels focus more on how the outside world deals with the Purge, while the original uniquely homes in on a single family, resulting in a more claustrophobic and even hopeless feel.
Another key aspect that makes The Purge better than its sequels — the casting. A-listers Game of Thrones, offer extremely nuanced and believable performances as James and Mary Sandin. Without their solid acting and star power, the movie would not have been as enticing.
The actors who play the Sandin children are also part of the backbone of The Purge. Max Burkholder, known for playing Max Braverman - a child with Asperger syndrome - on the NBC show Parenthood, portrays Charlie Sandin perfectly. Viewers understand and even empathize with his instinct to disable the house security system in order to help an injured man. Adelaide Kane, who has seen success on shows like ABC's Once Upon A Time, plays Zoey Sandin as a daughter and sister that most every teenage girl could relate to. A fifth installment in The Purge franchise - titled The Forever Purge - is scheduled to be released in the summer of 2021. Because it's reportedly the final film in the franchise, perhaps it will pay homage to its roots with nods to the original movie, and in retrospect, audiences will realize how good the original truly is.
