Review: Movie lacks scare factor to be horror

If you were expecting “The Purge” to be an intensely scary thriller full of action and audience appeal, then you are sure to be disappointed.

Advertised as a thriller/horror film, “The Purge” is set in America in 2022, where all people are allowed to commit any crime during a 12-hour period on one night a year in order to take out their aggression.

In this America, crime rates remain low and citizens appreciate and celebrate the day as a special one that protects their freedom. While the rich and successful lock down in their houses with expensive security systems, the poor are forced to tough it out on the streets and fight for their lives. The movie’s controversy lies in the fact this purge is a chance for the upper class to rid the world of the lower class.

You might think this sounds like a worthy setting and idea for a movie. Upon watching it, the reasons behind the idea and the fact that everyone in these citizens’ world could be a murderer but that no one seems to mind actually makes you lose all faith in humanity, however.

The entire idea is presented in a way that leaves the audience feeling like this is the most unbelievable and ridiculous scenario, even in the world of movies. I felt as though Freddy Krueger visiting me in my nightmares is much more likely than what I watched.

Approaching this film as a scary movie fan that easily scares, I was thoroughly let down that this movie didn’t make me jump once. Throwing this movie into the horror category just because the concept involves murder and chaos doesn’t seem fair. Director James DeMonaco is known for his work on a few other scary movies, most notably The Negotiator (1998), but this time around he fell a short.

One of the big issues is the acting. Ethan Hawke plays James Sandin, a successful businessman, suburban dad and husband who lives in a gated community with his seemingly perfect wife, Mary (played by Lena Headey, probably best known by “Game of Thrones” fans as Cersei Lannister), and two kids, Charlie (Max Burkholder) and Zoey (Adelaide Kane). Hawke does a successful job portraying the protective father willing to do anything to keep his family safe, even if his acting is a bit cheesy. After seeing her in the powerful role of Cersei, Headey is completely flat and her character has no appeal whatsoever, partially because the script gives her (as with the other characters) nothing to work with. Charlie and Zoey are also very annoying characters, with zero likability due to their poor decision-making.

The most entertaining character is primary masked intruder who calls himself the “Polite Stranger”– actor Rhys Wakefield. He makes the audience believe he is literally insane through his conversations with the security cameras, and does a great job adding a little bit of scare factor. Incorporating more of his character could have added a lot more to the movie.

Dialogue throughout the rest of the movie is more casual and less interesting than an everyday conversation with a gas station attendant. There is no interesting or witty dialogue between the main characters, very few instances of comic relief and the emotions behind the dialogue are as transparently fake as the setting.

While the movie did fall short of my expectations, it had a couple of enjoyable spots, like Wakefield’s acting. Another high point is when James’ protective instincts lead to some pretty awesome kills with various weapons, among the few scenes worthy of the horror genre title. The Purge is rated R, after all, so the audience should expect some thriller-worthy bloody kills, if nothing else. The use of light is great, specifically flashlights; Charlie’s remote-control video camera that he sends around the house, and also the home security cameras, give a unique view of the house and the outside while adding a little bit of creativity.

In the end, the takeaway message of the movie that people are inherently good regardless of the Purge is completely overshadowed by the evilness of side characters. “The Purge” left the audience feeling like something was missing, indeed.