Do you know what is frightening?
The fact that all these Purge series films, including the latest entry, The Forever Purge, are dangerously plausible. Each one takes constant jabs at the capitalist and racial issues that plague this country. They follow a similar template: rich men implemented the Purge to dismantle those residing at the bottom to retain their power. As a result, it backfires because the poor fire back at the NFFA (New Founding Fathers of America) due to horrendous social conditions or constant misery over those who reside at the top. Then it is continuous chaos and warfare that unravels, which humans cannot even contain themselves. By the end, the world becomes left with devastation and loss of life that counteracts all moralities or philosophies.
This franchise bestows horror among the people who participate in the event. All human morality vanishes. No law can stop them. The life you own or others you care for residing in your hands. The fifth entry ingrains itself in cruel violence while stumbling over its horrifying social commentary. It touches upon essential themes such as immigration, racism, and class divisions. But the effort to consider them becomes washed away when the guns roll out.
We are introduced to Juan and Adela, played by Tenoch Huerta and Ana de la Reguera, respectively. The two travel from Mexico to the US, picking up nearly a year later with Juan working at a ranch. The ranch remains owned by Caleb (Will Patton) and his son Dylan (Josh Lucas), Cassie (Cassidy Freeman), and Harper (Leven Rambin). The Purge date approaches, and (mostly) everyone stays stocked up with steel walls and reinforcements. The event comes and goes, but then the violence and mayhem proceed to continue after, with many reinforcing the idea the “Purge is forever.” Everyone now must band together to protect themselves and get across the border to Mexico safely.
America, as the film depicts, is going to become run down by Nazis and supremacists. No place for people of color, even when the Army becomes sent in to contain the violence. The movie is not about exploring the dark themes; it’s a battle for survival. Director Everardo Valerio Gout flirts with it all too much, settling in on the action and not giving enough groundwork for the characters or the story.
If anything, this is propaganda and politics at its finest. It is chaotic and painful. Like The Hunt and its attempt at violent social satire, The Forever Purge stands as misanthropic exploitation of real-world matters. Sure, it is scary both as a thought and reality. But why anyone, particularly this franchise, continues to linger over it is highly contentious.
The franchise was supposed to end with this outing officially, but it seems like Universal has plans for another one. Time to hang up the guns and masks Universal; this series has run its course because the action continues, but the story and themes have purged away.
