With the fourth movie in the dystopian action horror films releasing tomorrow, July 4th, The First Purge takes us back to the very beginning and shows us how The Purge began. I have the scoop on six reasons why you should see The First Purge.
1. The Cast
The cast made The First Purge an unforgettable experience. With Y’lan Noel from “Insecure” and Lex Scott Davis from the forthcoming “Superfly,” it is hard not to connect with these characters as they endure the mayhem that is the purge. The cast also includes Joivan Wade from EastEnders and Marisa Tomei from Seinfeld and The Big Short. These actors and actresses portray the purge in a way that draws you into the movie and makes you empathize with them every step of the way.
2. Back Story
Yes, The First Purge is the fourth Purge movie in the series, but it goes back to the beginning of the Purge and how it all started. The film unfolds how the idea of legal crime for 12 hours hatched and how it did… or didn’t go as planned. Not giving too much away, the NFFA (New Founding Fathers of America) take matters into their own hands when people would rather party and celebrate than kill and terrorize the town. The First Purge is an interesting portrayal of the “experiment” and how it all began. It is nice to finally see the whos and whats that took place in the birth of this mayhem.
3. Suspense
If you are a suspense junky, The First Purge is absolutely the movie for you. Several times I found myself on the edge of my seat waiting for what was going to happen next. Also, with many of Purge participators wearing costumes and gory masks, you are bound to jump out of your skin when they suddenly appear out of nowhere. You feel for many of the characters and the fact that they are trying to survive for a mere 12 hours. This suspense is enough to have you holding your breath when the movie is silent or when the characters are sprinting from crazy Purgers.
4. Deeper Meaning
While this movie may seem like a killing fest, beyond that, it allows for a lot of contemplation and thinking. I’m not here to argue about the film and what it may or may not discuss but, I do want to say: pay attention to the deeper meanings of the film. A few things I thought about after seeing the movie: how different groups of people react to the Purge and why, availability and access to weapons/ protection between different classes, how people come together in times of terror and how, overall, something like this effects a community. Yes, The First Purge is just another movie in a series but it is interesting to think about what the directors and writers were thinking as they created the film.
5. The Good Guys
As individuals, gangs and other “groups” run around terrorizing Staten Island, this film will have you rooting for the good guys. Characters Dmitri, Nya, and Isaiah fight to keep each other alive and are willing to risk everything to stay alive for the 12 hours of the Purge. Every time these characters got one step ahead of the purgers, I may or may not have mentally thrown a celebration. They had me questioning what I would be willing to do to stay alive and help those around me stay alive. See the film and join team Good Guys.
6. The other 364 days of the year
A few times throughout the movie, when the Purge is discussed, characters mention “the other 364 days of the year.” They argue about how the Purge affects America when it isn’t happening. That being said, Blumhouse chief Jason Blum has announced that a new TV adaptation of The Purge will focus on these 364 days. The First Purge is a look into how it began and now this TV show will focus on how it continues.
Every tradition has a beginning. Now you can find out how 12 hours of all legal crime began. See The First Purge and let us know what you thought.