The Conjuring's Annabelle Stars In Her Own Film ~ Trailer

So far the only information we have on the plot of this sequel to last year's summer hit, "The Conjuring" is what is on the trailer below.  "The Conjuring" featured paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. In the film, the Warren's explain that they have been investigating the occult for some time and have come across objects that tend to be possessed by an evil entity.  In order to remove these objects from circulation from humanity, they keep them in their private museum. One of these items is a doll named Annabelle. The large doll sits behind a cabinet with a sign that reads Do not touch!  The doll is creepy and sinister looking.   I don't know how any kid would want the thing.    

James Wan of "Saw" & "Insidious" fame will produce "Annabelle" while John R. Leonetti ("Mortal Kombat: Annihilation," "The Butterfly Effect 2") directs this one. 

The story is by "Swamp Devil" script writer Gary Dauberman.

The trailer below starts with the 60's group The Association's hit "Cherish" playing in the background. A women is in a nursery when her husband presents her with a long box.  Inside the box is the doll which she adds to her collection on a shelf.  The next scene shows the husband and wife asleep in bed at night.  A breeze blows open a curtain and we can see a light go on at their next door neighbor's house.  A man enters and kills the neighbor with an axe.  She wakes her husband and he leaves the room to go investigate. The woman gets up and puts on a robe. As she is about to follow her husband, another woman enters holding the doll, "I like your doll" the woman says. From behind the woman the crazed Axe murderer enters.  Chaotic shows a fight.  The crazy woman holding the doll lies dead against a bloody wall. Written in blood above the dead woman, written in blood is the Anarchist A.

We don't know if the doll is possessed at this time, or if this is where the doll attains the demonic presence. I think this is a pretty shocking trailer, but I am not sure what they are hinting at.  Annabelle is produced by Evergreen Media Group, which owns the rights to Ed and Lorraine Warren's case file. Warner Bros. is distributing the film. 

Look for "Annabelle" to hit theaters in time for Halloween.  The theatrical release date is set for 10/3/2014

Related

The Conjuring ~ Summoning Up the Supernatural
The Conjuring ~ Right Behind You Trailer
The Conjuring ~ Arranging the Pieces

Movie Data

Genre: Horror, Thriller

Year:  2014

Staring:  Annabelle Wallis, Alfre Woodard, Ward Horton, Tony Amendola, Eric Ladin, Brian Howe 

Director: John Leonetti

Producer(s): Peter Safran, Joan Mao, James Wan

Writer: Gary Dauberman

Rating: Not Rated Yet

Running Time: 

Release Date: 

Read More

Ouija - Keep Telling Yourself It's Just A Game Trailer

I am not absolutely sure that creating a film around a board game is the best idea.  Especially if the game is about the occult.  That is exactly what is going on in this year's film titled "Ouija."  Some of the board game centered films turn out to be benign and fun, while others aren't.

I remember in 1985 Tim Curry along with Eileen Brennan starring as Mrs. Peacock and Madeline Kahn as Mrs. White with Christopher Lloyd playing Professor Plum, Martin Mull as Colonel Mustard and Michael McKean as Mr. Green. Did I forget someone?  Oh yes, there was also Lesley Ann Warren playing Miss Scarlet in Hasbro's "Clue." The gimmick for this film was that the director, Jonathan Lynn, filmed three different endings that would show in different theaters across the country.

One of my favorite films that feature a board game as the center of the plot is the Joe Johnston adaptation of Chris Van .Allsburg's book "Jumanji"  The film starred the wacky Robin Williams, Kristin Dunst, Jonathan Hyde, and Bonnie Hunt. When the film came out in 1995, I saw it as a cute family film that challenged the imagination with some silly fun.

In 2005, Dax Shepard, Josh Hutcherson, and Kristen Stewart starred in another  Van .Allsburg book adaptation, "Zathura: A Space Adventure."  This one was also aimed at kids and was a fun space adventure that also centered around a board game. 

2009 found Eliza Dushku and Mike Vogel starring in the horror-thriller "Open Graves."  The film follows three friends as they visit Spain.  After obtaining a elegantly carved board game they meet another American tourist visiting the Iberian peninsula. They all set about to play the board game only to find that each person who is eliminated from the game start having accidents that lead to their deaths.  

2012 was the year Hasbro and director Peter Berg released their film version of the classic board game, "Battleship."  The big budget Science Fiction, visual effects driven film only made $65,422,625 domestically. The production budget was $209 million.  Worldwide the film made $303 million with $237.6 million coming in from foreign markets. However, it is the domestic ticket sales that the studios depend on to determine if a film is profitable or not.

Does anybody remember Captain Howdy from the "Exorcist?"  He is Regan's imaginary friend  who played Ouija with Regan before she succumbed to full possession. 

"Ouija" stars Olivia Cooke ("The Signal," "The Quiet Ones"), Ana Coto Daren Kagasoff ("The Secret Life of the American Teenager"), Bianca A. Santos, Douglas Smith ("Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters").

This is Stiles White's directorial debut.  However, he has been working with Stan Winston Studio as a special effects production coordinator since 1994 when he worked on the Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt film "Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles." Since then he has worked on a variety of films such as "The Relic," " Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me,"  "Lake Placid," "The Sixth Sense," and "Galaxy Quest" to name a few. 

Stiles White and Juliet Snowden wrote the script for "Boogeyman."  In 2005, the pair worked on the Nicolas Cage Sci-Fi film "Knowing."  Then in 2012' they took an article by Leslie Gornstein titled "Jinx In a Box?" and turned it into a major motion horror flick aptly titled, "The Possession." The film starred Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Kyra Sedgwick and the Jewish rapper Matthew Paul Miller better known as Matisyahu.

Here is the synopsis for "Ouija:"

In Ouija, a group of friends must confront their most terrifying fears when they awaken the dark powers of an ancient spirit board. Stiles White directs the supernatural thriller that is produced by Platinum Dunes partners Michael Bay, Andrew Form and Brad Fuller (The Purge, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Friday the 13th) alongside Blumhouse Productions' Jason Blum (Paranormal Activity and Insidious series, The Purge), Bennett Schneir (Battleship) and Hasbro. Juliet Snowden and Stiles White wrote the script for Ouija, and Universal will distribute the film worldwide.

In the trailer above,  Elaine (Cooke) invites her friend Debbie (Shelley Hennig) to go out, but Debbie declines and ends up dying in a freak "Final Destination" type of death.  Elaine recruits her friends to hold a seance in the house that Debbie died in.  She uses a Ouija (aka spirit board) board to call her friend's spirit from beyond the grave, but unleashes something malevolent instead.

Also appearing in "Ouija" is Blumhouse Productions alumni Lin Shaye from the "Insidious" movies.

"As friends we gather, hearts are true, spirits near we call to you."

"Ouija" is due out on October 24, 2014 just in time for Halloween.

Movie Data

Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller

Year:  2014

Staring: Olivia Cooke, Ana Coto, Daren Kagasoff, Bianca A. Santos, Douglas Smith 

Director: Stiles White

Producer(s): Michael Bay, Jason Blum, Andrew Form, Bradley Fuller, Brian Goldner, Bennett Schneir

Writer: Stiles White, Juliet Snowden

Rating: Not Rated Yet

Running Time: 

Release Date: 10/24/2014

Read More

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

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes: Apes and Humans ~ A Lesson In Tribal Leadership

I never thought "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" was profound in any way.  I did, however, thought it was an interesting film as an attempt at reimagining a favorite franchise from my youth, I watched it with some anticipation.  However, I thought it was more of a CGI driven film and not much in the way of social commentary.  Its sequel "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes," is something much more.  There is no monkey business involved in this film but a serious Science Fiction drama that plays archetypical characters together in a classical story of family, betrayal, and revolution.  In some ways, "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" plays like a Greek tragedy.  

A decade has passed since the Apes ran into the Muir Woods and the Simian Flu has spread across the world.  As you recall, Will's (James Franco) jerk of a neighbor (David Hewlett), an airline pilot, spread the ALZ-113 virus across the world.  Caesar (Andy Serkis) is an older, wiser leader of the simian population.  He and Cornelia (Judy Greer) have a son who for being about 10 years seems to be more like an older teen.  His name is Blue Eyes (Nick Thurston) and he has all the insecurities of a human teen growing up in his father’s shadow.  Blue Eyes is a young prince, impetuous, a careless know-it-all who doesn't listen to his dad.

Many of the themes from the "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" play out in this film as well.  As in the first film, this film also starts with a hunt.  This time the hunters are the Apes and they are hunting a deer.  The Apes, led by Caesar herd the deer toward a cliff.  Blue Eyes doesn't wait as his father ordered and attacks too soon.  A giant brown bear attacks him and Koba (Toby Kebbell), the Ape his father freed from abusive testing, saves him.  This scene is important as we see the relationship between leader, his son, and a trusted lieutenant.  

“Dawn Rise of the Planet of the Apes" is different in that, although there is plenty of PG-13 type of violence, the film is centered on family.  One can see a sense of family on several different levels.  Caesar's nuclear family has a new addition, his wife Cornelia has a newborn chimpanzee, but she is weak.  Andy Serkis' facial features that emote through the digital effects are one of a caring husband fearing for his wife's health, and concern that his eldest son makes the correct decisions in his life.

Caesar and the various Apes he freed from the zoo and the Gen-Sys research lab have built a simple communal civilization.  Notice I didn't say primitive, because it isn't.  The Apes just don't need much, like electricity, and all the technology that comes with it.  They ride horses, and live with only one commandment, "Ape not kill Ape.”  Maurice the circus orangutan, who already knew sign language when he first met Caesar, teaches the other somewhat evolved apes and their young.  Most of the Apes have rudimentary speech skills, however, they all know sign language, and that is how Caesar communicates.  He uses his voice only when he wants to make a point.  

Good stories have conflicts that matter, and family does matters.  Not too far away in the woods, Blue Eyes and his friend Ash (son of Rocket, another of Caesar's lieutenants played by Larramie Doc Shaw) walk through the woods when they come across Carver (Kirk Acevedo).  Carver and Koba are similar in type as they are both loyal to their leaders, but they both have distrust and hate for each other's species.  Carver shoots on instinct and wounds Ash.  Behind him is a small group of humans led by Malcolm (Jason Clarke), his new wife, Ellie (Keri Russell), Malcolm's son Alex (Kodi Smit-McPhee), and Foster and Kemp.  From the trees, the apes descend, prepared to defend themselves and their land. Malcolm, the leader of the humans, deescalates the situation, however, Koba and Carver both wants revenge.  Caesar, shocks the humans when he roars, "don't come back!"

Malcolm and his group are from the city of San Francisco, and they need power.  There is a hydroelectric plant in the mountains now on the Ape's land.  The humans want to get to the plant and restart the power.  Historically, the scenario is similar to the takeover of American Indian land by white settlers.  In San Francisco, Dreyfus (Gary Oldman) decides that if the apes won't let them have access to the hydroelectric plant, he and the citizens of the town will take it by force.  Malcolm promises that if Dreyfus gave him a chance, he would try again to negotiate with the Apes for access to the power plant.  In the meantime, Dreyfus orders the armory to prepare the weapons just in case war is inevitable.

Malcolm is able to convince Caesar that the humans mean no harm, and both of them negotiate in good faith.  Unknown to either Malcolm or Caesar, betrayal lurks in their own groups.  One condition that Caesar gives the humans is that they must submit to simian gun control laws.  Give up their weapons and Caesar with break them into pieces.  

Writer, producer, and director of “Felicity,” Matt Reeves balances the points of view of both races delicately and fairly.  Like Caesar, Malcolm too worries about his son, and his wife Ellie.  He also sees the advantage of a peace whether separate or not.  Ellie also shares this belief as demonstrated when she helps Cornelia by giving her some antibiotics to help her recover from her sickness.  Carver fears the Apes because as far as he is concerned they started the pandemic that killed most of the population -- except for small groups who are genetically immune, including the folks still alive in San Francisco,  Ellie reminds him that it was a manmade virus that caused all the deaths.  Koba, still angry for the pain he endured at the hands of man wants retribution.

Writers Mark Bomback ("The Wolverine," "Unstoppable"), and the husband and wife team of Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, take what was a respectful reimagining of a classic Science Fiction film and update it for a new technological society.  Also updated are our thoughts, not just on treating other human beings equally, but also in light of changing mindsets on human exceptionalism, our thoughts turn now on how we can better take care of the planet and the creatures that live on it with us.  Of course, the underlying message has always been that we should all get along.  Where “Rise of the Planet of the Apes" was more about rebellion and gaining freedom for the oppressed, “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" is more about mercy versus vengeance and which race is the more savage.  The first film contained the underlying message of greed and how messing with science without the necessary precautions can backfire, “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" is more about how both societies are blinded by their own prejudices.

Jason Clarke of "The Great Gatsby" and "Lawless" does a wonderful job as Malcolm.  He holds your attention and portrays that sense of honesty needed for this role.  Keri Russell ("Dark Skies,"  "We Were Soldiers") carries her part well as the medic, wife, and step-mom.  Kodi Smit-McPhee is no stranger to post-apocalyptic worlds.  He starred alongside Viggo Mortenson in 2009's "The Road.”  I felt for these human characters as much as I did for Caesar’s family.  Gary Oldman's Dreyfus character seem like a reasonable man, however, he too succumbs to his prejudices and ultimately fails his mission.  I have seen Kirk Acevedo playing this kind of shoot first, survival of the fitness kill or be killed attitude.  He does it very well, but now I think he may be typecast in theses hate filled, morally bankrupt roles.  

Honestly, the best actors were the ones who played nonhuman characters.  Andy Serkis deserves an Oscar for his part in this film.  Although an accomplished actor and now a director, his work as Gollum in "The Lord of the Rings" films has made him the de facto consultant on all things motion capture.  For reasons that I am unaware of, or maybe technology took another leap in the last three years, but I feel the digital creatures in “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” are superior to “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”.  Toby Kebbell ("The East,” "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time”) is excellent as Koba the vengeful ape who is ungrateful of what he has and is filled with hate.

Michael Giacchino's ("John Carter," "Lost") thoughtful score is both tender and at times grand.  As the first big battle scene of the film is approaching, strains of Jerry Goldsmith's original tribal theme could be heard.  Also of note was the celebration after getting the water plant working.  With power restored, the humans gather to listen to "The Weight" by the 60's group, The Band.  As I mentioned before, Applause to the visual effects folks, as I think WETA Digital did an impressively beautiful job of creating the Apes' hairy texture and facial features.  

Overall, I am very happy with this new sequel. As I said in the beginning of this review, I felt that both the story and the characters are comprised of many archetypal elements, however, the writers and director draw on those elements and craft them into a compelling narrative and visually spectacular images. In this film there is no moral ambiguity, there were no real shading of right and wrong, good verses bad, or mercy verses death, I knew which characters to root for whether they be Ape or Human.  "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" not only entertained me with its even pacing, but the story and the messages behind it left me sitting in my chair at the theater, with the lights coming on, and the credits rolling, thinking.  Thinking about how we as people treat each other, and how we as a race treat the planet, the environment, and all creatures on this planet. 

Movie Data

Genre: Action, Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Year: 2014

Staring: Andy Serkis, Jason Clarke, Keri Russell, Gary Oldman, Toby Kebbell, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Kirk Acevedo 

Director: Matt Reeves

Producer(s): Peter Chernin, Dylan Clark, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver

Writer: Mark Bomback, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Pierre Boulle (novel "La Planète des Singes")

Rating: PG-13

Running Time: 130 minutes

Release Date: 7/11/2014

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

"Blessed be the New Founding Fathers for letting us Purge and cleanse our souls.  Blessed be America, a nation reborn."

Emotionally intense and narratively compelling, James DeMonaco takes us on a short odyssey through the streets of Los Angeles.  "The Purge: Anarchy," delves deeper into the politics of The New Founding Fathers of America.  Rather than focusing on one family, director James DeMonaco delivers three sets of character driven stories as seen from the view of life out on the street during the annual Purge.  Frank Grillo ("Captain America: The Winter Soldier," "End of Watch") plays a man out for revenge.  Still in the honeymoon stage of their real-life marriage, husband and wife team, of Zach Gilford ("Friday Night Lights," "The Last Stand") and Kiele Sanchez ("Lost," "A Perfect Getaway," "The Glades," "30 Days of Night: Dark Days") star as a divorcing couple caught out on the streets on the wrong side of town.  Carmen Ejogo ("Sparkle," "Alex Cross ") and Zoe Soul ("Prisoners") play a mother and daughter whose home invasion forces them out onto the streets.  Once again, DeMonaco explores a society where one night a year, anarchy reigns supreme and the population's celebration of death is in both cruel and in artistic ways.  Rated R for strong violence, I cannot say that the violence is gratuitous or not.  Instead, I think the brutality is there is there to show what savagery and motivations lurks beneath the surface of seemingly "normal" human beings.  "The Purge: Anarchy" is a breathtaking one hour and forty-three minutes long.

Welcome to the dystopian future, the year is 2023, and this is the ninth annual Purge and the time is 4:34 pm.  Two hours and thirty-six hours to go before hell on earth begins.  In a coffee shop, two waitresses are saying their goodbyes for the day as the clock winds down.  Eva (Ejogo) is waiting to talk to her boss about an important matter.  Tanya (Justina Machado), on the other hand just wants to get home to her Purge Party.  Shane and Liz (Gilford and Sanchez) are on the way to Shane's sister’s house on the other side of Los Angeles.  They are discussing their relationship and Liz wants to tell her sister in-law that they are divorcing.  Leo Barnes, or A.K.A Sergeant, prepares for battle.  He is out for revenge and he is arming himself to the hilt.  His ex-wife shows up on his doorstep trying to talk him out of murdering the man who drunkenly swerved his car and killed their son, “revenge won't bring him back,” she says.  

"Release the beast!"

Eva arrives at her lower income apartment building.  She is met at the door of her building by Diego (Noel Gugliemi), offering to "protect" Eva for the night.  Yeah, right.  She lives with her sick papa, and her teen-aged daughter Cali (Soul).  She made the sacrifice that night to go to the pharmacy to get medication for her father.  Her dad, Papa Rico (John Beasley) is old and tired.  The cancer has worn him down.  He and Cali, are watching a blog cast from an anti-purge revolutionary that goes by the name of Carmelo, played by Michael K. Williams.  He preaches that the NFFA's true agenda is class genocide.  

As sequels go, I think that "The Purge: Anarchy" is one of the better ones in the horror genre today.  As we saw in the last year's "The Purge," The Sandin's home, with all of its security measures, which James Sandin also sold to his neighbors, were incredibly vulnerable once the home invaders cut power to the house.  This year, instead of looking at the upper middle class, we see the politics of the NFFA from both the very rich, to the lower middle class, and how each of them survive the night.  What we find is that the very rich, afraid to go out on Purge Night, would rather pay people to sacrifice themselves for a sum of money, or they might just hire someone to kidnap their prey.  Don't fool yourself; there is a thin line between what is civilized and what isn't.

Sergeant Leo Barnes, Eva and Cali's, fate collide when Leo, who is on his way to find his Purge victim, finds the two women being kidnapped by uniformed, armed thugs.  Reluctantly, he intervenes, killing the thugs and shooting a man who is in the back of a large semi-truck.  After Liz and Shane's car breaks down, they find that not only was their car sabotaged, they are also being hunted.  Their hunters wear jeans and hoodies and cover their faces with elaborate death masks designed to create fear in their prey.  They ride motorcycles, and travel with a plain white delivery truck.  The two come upon the scene of the rescue and unwittingly climb into the back of the Leo’s custom armored Dodge Charger.  In the back of the large truck where the thugs were taking the two women, is a large 50-caliber machine gun.  Big Daddy (John Conley), the thug's leader, fires up the machine gun and opens fire, not only on the Charger, but also on the motorcycling masked hunters.  At this point, the film takes on a semblance of the 1979 film, "The Warriors," as the group makes its way through town in an effort to find safety, while Leo, still bent on revenge, seeks another car.  

Like some of the gangs in "The Warriors," whose territories the group journeys through, have characters dressed in some fear inspiring costumes and makeup.  Most of those who purge don't speak, but rather glare menacingly and make cryptic gestures while cleansing their souls.  What "The Purge: Anarchy," also teaches is that one never knows who to trust.  For example, Eva tells Leo that her friend Tanya has a car and will let him have it once they get there.  People will do whatever they feel they have to do to survive.  There is no car, as Tanya doesn't even own one.  However, we do get to visit with the rest of her interesting family.  We meet her sister, her brother in-law, and their father.  Unfortunately they arrive when family tensions are about to explode.  As it turns out, even family members cannot be trusted either.  

Another point that DeMonaco wants to make, is that as American's we feel a certain level of entitlement, and that man-made laws are the same as natural laws.  As seen in trailers, are rich people having a good time, as if they were at a celebrity charity auction.  Unfortunately, the truth is actually more horrible.  A point made in the last year's "The Purge," is the matter of choice.  In this film, there are certain characters that harken back to the original as far as acting as naïve, but nonetheless, moral compasses to help guide the lead character.  In this case, we are talking about Leo.  

"We have lost our souls to the altar of fear."

Setting up for possibly another sequel, the revolutionary leader Carmelo, not only has much to say about what the government's true intentions are concerning the Purge, he and his followers also take action.  I can see it now on the marquee, 2015's sequel: "The Purge: Revolution." 

What DeMonaco wants to show us, is that we all have a choice, and making the right choices in life, preserves our humanity, and our civilization.  As we saw in "The Purge" when the NFFA regime took (elected) into office they immediately took drastic measures against all crime with severe punishments.  Government statistics show that unemployment is at 1% and crime is at an all-time low, where violence barely exists, except for one night.  The New Founding Fathers of America have elevated the Purge not only a nationalistic ideal, but in essence, that they are a divine entity able to bestow such a privilege upon the American people.  Should we too also question how much we hold sacred our current Constitution?  In doing so, the NFFA created a police state that not only kept crime extremely low, it allowed the population to grow without death by hunger and poverty.  The Purge, as the NFFA promotes, is a night of anarchy meant as a catharsis of all the hate, violence and aggression that people keep pent up inside.  However, is the act of purging really a way for the government to return the balance of power to those who are at the top of food chain and can afford protection, in other words, the rich.

As human beings, we are capable of justifying all sorts of injustices upon our fellow man if we try hard enough.  Simply look at history, the Native Americans, African Americans, the Holocaust, Rwanda, or even further back to the dawn of humankind.  Keep an open mind when watching "The Purge: Anarchy.”  Similar in motive, "The Twilight Zone," or "1984," this type of horror film is meant to challenge our minds and caution us as well.

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

"Stay Safe!"

Related

The Purge: Anarchy ~ Some Just Try To Survive - It's A Trap
The Purge: Anarchy ~ Some Purge For Kicks
The Purge: Anarchy ~ They're Coming Some Purge For Revenge

The Purge: Anarchy: Final Trailer

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: 

Release Date: 7/18/2014

Read More