Film Review: ‘The First Purge’ is Nothing But Tedious Trash

Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 3, 2018 - 6:42pm

CHICAGO – I saw the original “The Purge” five years ago, but missed the other two installments. Let me say that nothing in the new prequel “The First Purge” makes me want to make up for lost time and catch up. The setup is the same… one night of legalized violence each year where the citizens are allowed to do whatever they want without the fear of prosecution.

Rating: 1.5/5.0

The Purge is dreamed up by a new political party – “The New Founding Fathers” – who seized both power and a social scientist (Marisa Tomei, continuing the long line of talented actors who should know better than to be in junk like this). Trash that at least knows its trash can offer some guilty pleasures, but trash that believes it’s a serious minded social allegory, slipped into a cash grab prequel to a series of cheaply-made-but-highly-profitable exploitation films, well that’s almost too much to take… and “The First Purge” is that kind of trash.

“The First Purge” opens everywhere in on July 4th. Featuring Marisa Tomei, Luna Lauren Velez, Lex Scott Davis, Y’lan Noel, Jovial Wade, Mugga and Rotimi Paul. Written by James DeMonaco. Directed by Gerald McMurray. Rated “R”