The Purge: Anarchy ~ Some Just Try To Survive - It's A Trap

As it is today, in 2023 the middle class are a shrinking class and find themselves continually disenfranchised.  In the world of the New Founding Fathers the lower middle class are dissapearing.  Eva and her daughter Cali are struggling to maintain hope as Eva's father quietly succumbs to cancer.  On the night of the annual world, her fragile world will fall apart.


A small group of survivors fight their way through the Los Angeles embattled streets.  Carmen Ejogo ("Sparkle"), and Zoe Soul ("Prisoner") are a mother and daughter whose home was invaded and they find themselves out on the streets with no where to run.

Frank Grillo ("Captain America: The Winter Soldier") plays Leo Barnes, finds himself the de facto leader of this group. Zach Gilford ("The Last Stand"), Kiele Sanchez ("A Perfect Getaway") are Shane and Liz a couple being hunted for sport. 

In the clip below shows Eva, Cali, Liz, Leo and Shane find themselves witnessing a brutal kidnapping.  While trying to get to safety, Shane finds himself in a trap and Leo must fight their way out of it.

Blumhouse Productions and Universal studios open, "The Purge: Anarchy"  on July 18, 2014. "Safe Night"

Related

The Purge: Anarchy ~ A Review Of A Revolution In the Making
The Purge: Anarchy ~ They're Coming Some Purge For Revenge
The Purge: Anarchy ~ Some Purge For Kicks

The Purge - Has Come And Went ~ Are We Any Better For It?
The Purge - Survive The Night
The Purge - New Trailer Official Trailer
The Purge - Coming in June 7th
The Purge - One Night

Movie Data

Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Year:  2014

Staring: Frank Grillo, Kiele Sanchez, Zach Gilford, Carmen Ejogo Zoe Soul 

Director: James DeMonaco

Producer(s): Michael Bay,Jason Blum,Andrew Form,Bradley Fuller,Sebastien Lemercier

Writer: James DeMonaco

Rating: R

Running Time: 103 minutes

Release Date: 7/18/2014

Read More

The Purge: Anarchy ~ Some Purge For Kicks

The United States elected into office New Founding Fathers of America, have been in power for 9 years, and have turned the United States into a strictly enforced martial law state. This year's Purge is an opportunity for those who the government has taken away their illegal ways of making money.  They roam the street, raping, pillaging and looting.  They dress as if is was dia de los muertos or if they were attending a bloody Mardi Gras.  Their death masks are created to cause fear in their prey.

A small group of survivors fight their way through the Los Angeles embattled streets.  Frank Grillo ("Captain America: The Winter Soldier") plays Leo Barnes, the reluctant leader of this group. Zach Gilford ("The Last Stand"), Kiele Sanchez ("A Perfect Getaway") are Shane and Liz, and  Carmen Ejogo ("Sparkle"), and Zoe Soul ("Prisoner") are a mother and daughter whose home was invaded and they find themselves out on the streets with no where to run.

In the clip below shows that the Purge is an American institution and people are preparing for it.  Some are checking the news and making their way to safety where they will lock down their homes to wait out the night.  While others are preparing to take revenge on those they felt wronged them.  Two women are dragged out of their home by military thugs.  One man stands up to them.  The group is chased throughout the streets of L.A. until we come to rich old lady holding a auction. Death stalks the night.

Distributed by Universal Studios and produced by Blumhouse Productions, "The Purge: Anarchy" opens in theaters on July 18, 2014

Related

The Purge: Anarchy ~ A Review Of A Revolution In the Making
The Purge: Anarchy ~ They're Coming Some Purge For Revenge

The Purge - Has Come And Went ~ Are We Any Better For It?
The Purge - Survive The Night
The Purge - New Trailer Official Trailer
The Purge - Coming in June 7th
The Purge - One Night

Movie Data

Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Year:  2014

Staring: Frank Grillo, Kiele Sanchez, Zach Gilford, Carmen Ejogo Zoe Soul 

Director: James DeMonaco

Producer(s): Michael Bay,Jason Blum,Andrew Form,Bradley Fuller,Sebastien Lemercier

Writer: James DeMonaco

Rating: R

Running Time: 103 minutes

Release Date: 7/18/2014

Read More

The Purge: Anarchy ~ They're Coming Some Purge For Revenge

The New Founding Fathers of America, have been in power for 9 years, and have turned the United States into a strictly enforced martial law state. The time has come to Purge, and now sergeant Leo Barnes has a score to settle.  In this now a self-regulated Darwinian government he has the opportunity he has been looking for. Over a year ago, Leo lost some one very close to him.  Now, with nothing to loose, he is ready to make the justice that the NFFA could not give him.

Producer Jason Blum of Blumhouse Productions whose many horror films include "Oculus," Scott Derrickson's "Sinister," James Wan's "Insidious," and "Insidious: Chapter 2," "Paranormal Activity," Rob Zombie's "The Lords Of Salem" and the grossly underrated "The Bay," brings to us once again, James DeMonaco's dystopian society.  

 Frank Grillo ("Captain America: The Winter Soldier," "End of Watch") plays Leo Barnes, a man out for revenge. Zach Gilford ("The Last Stand"), Kiele Sanchez ("A Perfect Getaway"),   Carmen Ejogo ("Sparkle"), and Zoe Soul ("Prisoner") star in this darwinian tale of survival of the fittest.  

In the clip below shows Leo (Grillo) reluctantly leading a young couple and a mother and daughter through the dangerous streets of Los Angeles.  "Don't stop, don't look back, run for your life."  "Survive the Night"

Look for "The Purge: Anarchy" in theaters July 18, 2014

Related

The Purge: Anarchy ~ A Review Of A Revolution In the Making

The Purge - Has Come And Went ~ Are We Any Better For It?
The Purge - Survive The Night
The Purge - New Trailer Official Trailer
The Purge - Coming in June 7th
The Purge - One Night

Movie Data

Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Year:  2014

Staring: Frank Grillo, Kiele Sanchez, Zach Gilford, Carmen Ejogo Zoe Soul 

Director: James DeMonaco

Producer(s): Michael Bay,Jason Blum,Andrew Form,Bradley Fuller,Sebastien Lemercier

Writer: James DeMonaco

Rating: R

Running Time: 103 minutes

Release Date: 7/18/2014

Read More

The Lords of Salem ~ A Review of Rob Zombie's Latest Horror Flick

“Something about it really upsets me.”

Rob Zombie films are an acquired taste.  His films, although ambitious, have a tendency to aspire for something great, but fall short.  The same is true with "The Lords of Salem.”  Staring Zombie's wife Sheri, the duo continues down the path of hard-core horror.  Released officially in only 354 theaters on Friday, April 19, "The Lords of Salem," attract only the truly devoted.  Zombie's visuals are shocking, stunning, and somewhat uneven.  The story is not all together new, but what is, now a days?  The music is orchestral and disturbing.  The film is rated R, and the director takes full advantage of the rating and all it implies.  This is Rob Zombie's fifth feature film, with 2007's Halloween grossing the most with $58.2 million, the most of all his films.

Not only did Zombie direct "The Lords of Salem," he wrote the story and screenplay too.  The story centers solidly on the dread-locked Heidi Laroc (Sheri Zombie), a late night DJ on an Indy station.  Heidi and the two Hermans form the “Big H” radio team that features the late night hard-core shock-rock radio format.  As her co-hosts, Jeff Daniel Phillips plays Herman "Whitey" Salvador.  You may remember Phillips from his Geico Caveman commercials.  The other Herman is played by Ken Foree.  His credits include George Romero's 1978 classic "Dawn of the Dead," as well as Zac Snyder's remake in 2004.  Foree was also in 1989's "Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III,"and in the 2008 Serbian flick "Zone of the Dead." 

Set in present day Salem Massachusetts, Zombie takes advantage of the towns wicked past.  He does this by showing us not only the witch trials led by Reverend Jonathan Hawthorne.  Historically, the interrogator in 1696 was a Magistrate by the name of John Hathorne.  Poetic license, I suppose.  Introducing us to what takes place when a coven of witches comes together in the forest to perform rituals petitioning Satan.  These scenes are shocking and disturbing with a quality of horror films of the 70's.  In the 1696 scenes, there is a coven of cavorting naked hags led by Margaret Morgan (Meg Foster), performing a ”Rosemary's" baby type of birthing ritual.  When it comes to disturbing visuals, Rob Zombie doesn't pull any punches.

The first act, of a three-act story, is usually the longest.  The director does this in order to take time in creating the environment and building his characters.  Heidi's world is what I would describe as Bohemian at best.  Although her show, “The Big H” radio team is the top rated in there market, she lives a humble life.  She walks everywhere she goes; she lives in an old house, where it seems she is the only tenant.  We don't see anyone else living there but we do get a glimpse of the person that lives in the dreaded room #5. Heidi's landlady, Lacy Doyle (Judy Geeson), upon being questioned about the "new" tenant in #5, replies "Oh, I hate to break it you but there is no one in number 5." 

The real acting comes about when Lacy brings in her two other lady friends.  The most interesting one is Megan, played by the red haired Patricia Quinn ("Rocky Horror Picture Show").  her character is not only prim and proper, as in style of the British, she is downright creepy.  Dee Wallace of “E.T.: The Extraterrestrial,” and “Cujo” fame plays Megan's and Lacey's other friend, Sonny.  Sonny too gives off the properness of a classy older woman, while exuding a vibe that is downright sinister.  These three women's acting is what makes this film standout.  However, their scenes, which start out powerful, tend to lose momentum, as Zombie, holds the camera on them just a bit too long in the dim light, thereby encumbering the scene's flow. 

Working a late night radio gig has a tendency to mess with ones' psyche.  I know this for a fact as I DJ'd the graveyard shift in the minor LA market back in the early 90's.  Not helping is that Heidi has a drug or drinking problem.  It isn't clear which one it is, but she has one.  This is where I have an issue with either the direction, or the editing.  There are times when Zombie and cinematographer Brandon Trost tend to follow Heidi around in a somewhat languid fashion.  However, it turns out these scenes tend to be somewhat gratuitous, as they don't seem to have any relevance to Heidi, or the story.  While at other times, like when we Sheri leaving a group of people, sitting in circles, we realize, only in passing, our protagonist has addiction issues.

Understanding Heidi's state of mind is important to determine if the events around her are actually happening, or are these just "psychotic beliefs brought on by a delusional state of mind.”  

Believing that she was sent a promotional album, and not finding any additional information about it, except that it came from the “Lords,” She takes it home and she and Herman Whitey give it a listen.  The other Herman dubs the album’s vocalists, which he supposes a band, as “The Lords of Salem.”  Heidi plays the vinyl album, and finds the music disquieting.  Zombie intersperses a heavily orchestrated musical score with songs by the likes of Lou Reed, Rush Bach, Motzart, Manfred Mann's Earth Band, and even the song “Sugar,” sung by Vic Damone.  While not forgetting his hard-core rock roots, the creative duo throws in "Crushing the Ritual," by Leviathan the Fleeing Serpent.  Which probably are just Rob Zombie and DJ 5?  The unfortunate thing about the music selection is that Zombie relies too heavily on the music to set the mood and create the tension.  John-5's theme for the film however, is disturbingly effective.  The dissonance that the melody creates is, indeed, memorable. 

As the film progresses, we meet Francis Matthias (Bruce Davison) and his wife Alicia (Maria Conchita Alonso).  Matthias is a local historian, and curator at the town's wax museum. He begins to reveal layers of truth behind the "actual" Salem Witch Trials.  In the last act, the pacing quickens and the imagery becomes, more strangely, spectacular and less coherent.  Characters are lost, and action becomes confusing and inconsistent.  I wonder if Rob Zombie's intent was to overwhelm the audience's senses hoping that they won't notice the issues with the plot.

"The Lords of Salem" is not for the casual moviegoer, nor is it for your average horror film fan.  This film may not even be for die-hard Rob Zombie fans.  Those who watch this film, though confused, will find the concepts interesting, the symbolism is a curiosity, and in some parts of the film captivating.

Movie Data

Genre:  Horror, Thriller

Year:  2013

Staring: Sheri Moon Zombie, Bruce Davison, Jeff Daniel Phillips,Ken Foree, Sid Haig

Director: Rob Zombie

Producer(s): Rob Zombie,

Writer: Rob Zombie,Oren Peli,Jason Blum,Andy Gould,Steven Schneider

Rating: R

Read More