This October The First Purge, directed by Gerard McMurray, arrives on Blu-ray and DVD and I’m sure you are wondering what we thought of the film that takes us back to where it (the first experiment) all began.
Set on Staton Island, we see the new Founding Fathers, backed by the NRA, begin the first experiment to see how the public will react to a day where citizens are able to commit any crime without fear of punishment. We see the residents of Staton Island line up and given not only contacts to record their participation, but $5,000 with more promised if they go out that night, which is quite an incentive for those in desperate need of money.
But not all of the residents approve. Nya (Lex Scott Davis) leads part of the community in protest. Concerned about her brother Isaiah (Jovian Wade) after she finds out he’s been selling dope for Dmitri (Y’Ian Noel), she thinks he’s off the island, but he’s not. He’s signed up, put in the neon-lit contacts and is on the street while she and many residents take shelter in a church. But when he bites off more than he can chew, it’s big sis to the rescue.
The First Purge not only strives for intensity and violence, it carries a heavy social message about how the government has not only turned a blind eye to certain communities’ suffering but also their desire to keep population numbers down. It also makes references to police violence, racial groups, drugs, and the fight to keep families and communities together.
Fans of the franchise are going to be very happy with The First Purge, it’s filled with action, brutality, and drama. In my opinion, it’s the best film since the original, if not the best film of the franchise. The story makes you really care about the characters which is the key to the success of any movie. Of course, there is no lack of action. The body count rises every second making it the most violent and explosive of the franchise.
The cast is fantastic. Lex Scott Davis (Nya) really impressed me. She’s extremely talented and her character Nya is the heart of the movie. Joivan Wade really delivered. He made Isaiah’s sensitivity, innocence and fear feel so real. The badass hero of this story is Y’Ian Noel‘s Dmitri. It’s often hard to make a drug boss come across like a good guy but Noel accomplished it. When he comes not only to Nya’s rescue but sets out to save the community from the government hired mercenaries you can’t help but cheer for him.
I’ll be honest with you, after the first film, I felt the franchise lost something maybe it became a bit too commercial and a little predictable, but The First Purge brought back the drama and action that has made it possible for the franchise to thrive. Everything is bigger, better, and more badass this time around.
I truly enjoyed The First Purge and I think you will too. I’m giving it 5 out 5. Luckily, you don’t have to wait long to see it for yourself. The First Purge is now out on Digital and arrives on Blu-ray and DVD on October 2nd, from Universal Pictures.
