After five films, The Forever Purge supposedly brings an end to the hit franchise, but does it hit its mark?
All the roles are broken as a group of lawless marauders decide that the annual Purge shouldn’t be just for one day and should never end. And on the run from a drug cartel, a Mexican couple battles vicious thugs who plan to continue the violent tradition of the now-outlawed Purge.
In what is being labeled as the final Purge movie, The Forever Purge gains inspiration from current events which only add to the chilling suspense of the film -especially since its original release date was July 2020. Following the abolishment of the Purge at the end of The Purge: Election Year, the annual Purge is restored due to propaganda fueling fears of illegal immigrants and the increase in crime immigration will bring to a largely crime-free country.
There is no mention of what happened with the new President, who was vocally against the Purge, only that it has made its return and you see citizens preparing by arming up, barricading themselves, or paying for protection. The film uses a slightly different formula than previous installments. Instead of having a group of random people trying to survive the night, this film puts a greater emphasis on racism and Xenophobia that is more directed towards foreigners than minorities and poverty-stricken people but the underlying message is still the same.
The Forever Purge had such a stellar cast. Legend Will Patton did fine with his role, but they could have done more to utilize his talents. Josh Lucas was a nice addition. Lucas did well balancing the action, drama, and politics that came with his character. The standout for me was Ana de la Reguera as a strong female lead with skills and the ability to be vulnerable. Reguera gets everything right in bringing her character to life, giving us a heroine with a deeper meaning than what we sometimes get in horror films.
When it comes to the action sequences, The Forever Purge does not hold back. The coordination and choreography offer a more realistic dive into the handling of riots. We trudged through towns, hiding, and more choose your battles carefully moments. But for those who don’t care about those things, there is enough carnage in the background to satisfy those viewers.
Overall, The Forever Purge may not be the strongest in the series but it will satisfy. The realism stays strong and the characters a better balanced. It seems that the political agenda was the main focus of this film, but there are some important messages in the writing. The Forever Purge serves as an effective finale, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there is a sixth film on the horizon the way the film ends.
The Forever Purge is now playing in theaters.
What did you think of the film? Sound off in the comments.
