The Purge Anarchy Movie review

The extremely disappointing home invasion movie from last year gets a sequel...yikes! The first Purge was a big letdown for me, mainly because the creative plot was overshadowed by the weak, cliché elements that packed the runtime. I wasn't expecting much of an improvement, but I’m pleased to say, yet another 2014 sequel took me by surprise, with a far better installment than expected. 

The Purge Anarchy follows exactly what I wanted to see out of the first film and right away this got my full attention. Instead of showcasing the generic home invasion style, ‘Anarchy took it to the streets. Rather than following one protagonist, the film walks in the footsteps of five. These characters cross paths in a turn of events that take place during Purge Night, the one night a year where all crime is legal.  

Out of the five main characters I only took a liking to one, Frank Grillo. His role was a saving grace, and was one the most compelling aspects of the film, along with the plot.  The up-close and personal cinematography in the beginning of the film instantly connected me with the characters, both villains and victims. 

One thing I really respected about ‘Anarchy was it didn’t try be something it wasn't, much like 22 Jump Street; this is very important for viewers to keep in mind. Despite the extremely far-fetched plot, I thought ‘Anarchy came across as clever in some scenes, and handled fear and the action movie style the film heavily focused on, very well. I like how the action sequences were filmed, as they had just enough “shaky cam” to create visual action without giving me a headache. The film had an adult Hunger Games vibe to it, but still came across as original.           

The weakly cast supporting characters and repetitive plot twists became old and frustrating. Much of the acting felt rough around the edges and the dialogue occasionally came across as forced. There was a plethora of unrealistic and distracting scenes, which brought down the fear the movie tried to capture.

At this point I’m confident viewers know what kind of film they’re getting into, and what to expect. Even though it’s far from a perfect presentation, I found ‘Anarchy surprisingly fun and entertaining. I would recommend Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes over ‘Anarchy, if you plan on heading to the movies and are have to choose between the two. 

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