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The Purge poster

The Purge

year 2013decade 10sdirector James DeMonacogenre Horrorgenre Thriller

85

Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

Ethan Hawke James Sandin
Lena Headey Mary Sandin
Adelaide Kane Zoey Sandin
Max Burkholder Charlie Sandin
Edwin Hodge Bloody stranger

The Purge | The Rewatchables

host Bill Simmonshost Chris Ryanproducer Craig Horlbeck
Explore episodeClose episode

Most Rewatchable Scene

The playroom fight

In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 00:22:51Read transcript
  • The opening credits are praised while the source of the apparent news footage remains uncertain.
  • The kid turning off the alarm and opening the door prompts repeated warnings not to do it.
  • The polite psycho showing up at the door and then killing his friend escalate the threat.
  • Catching the stranger and the invaders breaking in are nominations before the playroom fight is emphatically chosen.
  • The pool-table fight’s physical impacts and unusual room make it especially effective; more scenes of that quality are desired.
  • The neighbor betrayal and the stranger’s rescue are additional scenes; both hosts reaffirm the playroom fight.

What’s Aged the Best?

The premise; future-setting graphics; gun cabinets; 85-minute runtime; “Release the beast”; refrigerator reveals

In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 00:28:16Read transcript
  • The one-sentence legal-crime premise is compared with Carpenter films and 48 Hours.
  • Opening future-setting graphics work well, and passing the predicted dystopian date is satisfying.
  • A hypothetical Donald Trump presidential cameo is imagined as a striking missed coincidence.
  • Secret-code gun cabinets are praised, though the children were not trained and weapon-class restrictions are unexplained.
  • The concise 85-minute runtime is preferred to long modern films or a Purge television series.
  • Release the beast and the other ritual slogans are memorable; refrigerator-door surprise shots remain effective.

What’s Aged the Worst?

Mary’s wig and characterization; Zoe; the former novelty of Hawke in horror

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 00:39:51Read transcript
  • The wig looks cheap, and the character lacks depth despite the performer’s ability; social anxiety about the neighbor party could have helped.
  • The shock of Hawke in this genre has faded; the short production schedule and inability to leave the house are discussed as limits that also create claustrophobia.
  • Zoe is criticized for ignoring her boyfriend’s obvious threatening behavior on Purge night, compared with Scream’s boyfriend trope.

Apex Mountain

In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 00:57:21Read transcript
  • Hawke’s 2012–14 run is proposed over the earlier Training Day choice, stressing original projects and upcoming Boyhood.
  • Home-invasion films favor The Strangers instead.
  • Lena Headey receives a yes because she leads a successful movie while Thrones becomes a phenomenon.
  • Blumhouse’s peak is placed later with Get Out and the Halloween revival; this period is its ascendance.
  • Pre-Trump political commentary and bizarre evil boyfriends are raised without a settled affirmative answer; more Henry material is desired.
  • Anger at listener movie complaints is jokingly proposed as another Apex.

Who Won the Movie?

Blumhouse; Ethan Hawke

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:18:17Read transcript
  • Blumhouse is selected; another speaker had intended Hawke for his pay and performance but acknowledges Blumhouse’s breakthrough.
Podcast choices
Speaker not identified
Blumhouse