Movie Series Review: The Purge

Aryan Gupta, Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab, Patiala

INTRODUCTION

The 'Purge' film series presents a dystopian scenario that has captured the imagination the of audience. It presents an alternate United States under the rule of the fictional New Founding Fathers of America (NFFA), featuring an annual event during which all crimes, including murder, are legalized for a 12-hour period. Initially promoted as a way for people to indulge in their dark desires, the movies progressively reveal a darker and much more sinister agenda.

The series begins with an experimental Purge in 2016 and the first official annual Purge in 2018. The NFFA, an extreme political party, utilizes the Purge to manipulate society, asserting that it helps maintain lawfulness throughout the year by allowing citizens to 'purge' their violent urges during this sanctioned time. However, the reality is far grimmer. The government sponsors violent groups and cults, arming them to target the most vulnerable and marginalized segments of society, particularly the impoverished, who are more likely to resort to crime out of desperation. The Purge effectively becomes a tool for social cleansing, enabling the powerful elite to eliminate those they consider undesirable. This starkly highlights the theme of class warfare and the brutal consequences of such a policy.

In 2040, the NFFA is ousted from power, resulting in a five-year halt to the annual Purge. Nevertheless, in 2048, they are re-elected, leading to the outbreak of "The Forever Purge" in 2049, underscoring the NFFA's resilience in holding onto power. This recurring cycle of violence and oppression serves as a cautionary tale, warning against the dangers of extreme political ideologies and the erosion of civil liberties in the name of social order.