battlerealmsrule: The Purge Review

http://www.scifinow.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/purge-poster.jpgThis film certainly had my heart going on quite a few occasions. Like all films, it had it's positives and it's negatives which I will discuss within this review. 'The Purge' pulled out all the stops to create a jumpy and truly scary film, by the makers of 'Sinister' and 'Paranormal Activity'.The narrative is quite clever yet basic. In the year 2022, citizens of America are given the rights to 'Purge'. This means that for 12 hours on one night of the year, all crime of any form is legalized - The state's way of keeping crime below 1% throughout the rest of the year.The concept is interesting but as the narrative plays out, I found that it was too easy to guess what was to come. I believe this story could have been adapted somewhat better instead of being enclosed to one environment as it didn't really give the film the momentum boost it needed. I felt the character choices were very good and mysterious at times as at one point I thought that the young boy was going to be the ruthless perpetrator. Though the homeless man was predictable from the get go, which spoiled it slightly. The fact that he was out of shot for most of the film, made the ending more exciting! Talking of the ending sequence, it was rushed. 85 or so minutes were spent wondering around a dark house, waiting for someone to pop up and get killed - nothing really changed. They could have spiced up the killings or set some traps in the house to make it slightly more exciting! Back to the ending, it finished too quick for me, one minute people are dying and the next it is 7 o'clock the next morning (when 'Purging' ends) and the film has ended. All in all, this film had a really great narrative but I personally don't think it achieved the greatness that could have been achieved with such a well thought out concept. Saying that, I enjoyed it as it kept me on the edge of my chair every time a corner was turned. One thing I do think is that like 'Paranormal Activity', there will be more films to follow the path of 'Purging', let's just hope it doesn't loose the spark like PA did after several films.I would recommend people go and see this film but expect that 'The Purge' doesn't meet it's full potential.