Movie: The First Purge

This Review Reveals Minor Details About the Plot.

War On Poverty

Plot Overview

Replacing the Republican and Democratic parties is the New Founding Fathers of America (NFFA.) Under the adminis­tration of President Bracken, a beta test of a “societal catharsis” is to be conducted on Staten Island. Developed by “The Architect” Dr. Updale (Marisa Tomei) and over­seen by NFFA Chief of Staff Arlo Sabian (Patch Darragh), the idea is to suspend law and order for a 12 hour stretch to allow the strung-out poor to let off steam (on each other) in “a freeing violence.” The sorry country will then be copacetic the rest of the year.

Two days before the test run, “Protests are continuing.” Park Hill Towers resident Nya (Lex Scott Davis) is determined to “stand strong” in her protests. She and many of her (poor) neighbors, though, accepted a $5k payment to stay and observe the test. Her ex-boy­friend, gang leader “Dee” Dmitri (Y'lan Noel) doesn't trust “this bs experiment.” Her younger brother Isaiah (Joivan Wade) plans to exact vengeance on his tormentor Skeletor (Rotimi Paul.) Skeletor thinks it's psycho heaven.

Chief of Staff Sabian expresses his disappointment to Dr. Updale that, “You predicted a much higher ratio of participation.” Under Sabian's intervention the “two hours left” are turned into a “war zone” in “This … our home.”

Ideology

The opening scene is of a scary Skeletor being interviewed by a stone-faced shrink who asks him, “Who are you angry at?” Replies Skeletor, “Every­one … Every­thing.” Then, “Do you have an outlet?” The naughty “nigger” coins the word purge for what he needs to do about his anger.

The pastor at the local church preaches on Gal. 5:16 whose spiritual fruits include temperance as listed in Gal. 5:22-23. Webster defines “temperance n 1: moderation in action, thought, or feeling: RESTRAINT.” Skeletor was so excessive in his hateful feelings that any murder he committed wouldn't be a proper hate crime, because he hadn't singled out a specific group to hate; he just hates everybody.

The sign in front of the church declares: “Pray, not purge,” the idea being, (James 5:13) “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.” The guy who is afflicted with hate can get prayer at the church. The rest of the neighbors on hearing of the hands-off policy of the police this night can have a block party or two with­out being inter­fered with. That's how they can let off steam in moderation. This kind of first purge doesn't sound all that bad.

In fact the scientific evidence coming in that night shows our society relatively benign; there's no wide­spread violence … at least not to start off with. The NFFA needs some serious intervention in order to pass on their recommendation for The Purge as an annual event. They want to use it to decimate the poor and minorities. It's like “the green­house effect” in the 2015 movie, “The Martian.” Up on Mars where it's just the one fellow's survival, the green­house kept his plants warm by preventing heat loss through convection, keeping the warm air from blowing away. Every scientist on Earth concurred this was right. It's only back here on Earth where there's money to be made through carbon credits that suddenly the 19th century green­house science is touted that says green­houses are keep warm by preventing heat radiation, the escape of radiant heat.

Politics drives the “science,” sometimes away from God. (Ezek. 45:9) “Thus saith the Lord GOD; Let it suffice you, O princes of Israel: remove violence and spoil, and execute judgment and justice, take away your exactions from my people, saith the Lord GOD”. “Remove violence” would apply to The Purge, and “Remove spoil” to carbon credits.

This story seems to indicate that we are well off, or would be, practicing temperance. Modern Bible trans­lations for some reason render the established word temperance as “self-control.” In this movie self-control is self-deter­min­ation where the citizens did in fact (with monetary incentive) vote to initiate the first purge. Self-control and temperance are not necessarily the same animal.

Production Values

This horror film, “” (2018) was directed by Gerard McMurray. Its screen­play was written by James DeMonaco. It stars Y'lan Noel, Lex Scott Davis, and Joivan Wade. Davis & Noel both played to the hilt the besieged home team. Rotimi Paul was an awesome, unhinged, black terror Skeletor. Marisa Tomei was good and talented but she was given marginal screen time.

MPAA rated it R for strong, disturbing violence through­out, pervasive language, some sexuality and drug use. The movie is stereo­typical through and through.

Review Conclusion w/ Christian Recommendation

This movie opened on an impending disaster about to be unleashed. It then lulls us into complacency with bad business as usual. And finally the boot comes down on us poor worker ants. Great horror, great action, thrills & sci-fi. It's a worthy predecessor to the Purge franchise.

Movie Ratings

Action factor: Edge of your seat action sequences. Suitability For Children: Not Suitable for Children of Any Age Special effects: Well done special effects Video Occasion: Fit For a Friday Evening Suspense: Keeps you on the edge of your seat Overall movie rating: Four stars out of five.

Works Cited

Scripture is taken from the King James Version. Pub. 1611, rev. 1769. Software, print.

Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary. Springfield, Mass.: MERRIAM-WEBSTER. 1984. Print.