Tag: The Purge TV series

Ranking “The Purge” movies from Best to Worst

“Commencing at the siren, any and all crime, including murder, will be legal for 12 continuous hours…”

Since The Forever Purge is premiering this weekend, I thought it would be the perfect time to go back and binge-watch all of The Purge films. I’m a huge fan of the franchise and I also absolutely loved the television series. I’m still disappointed that it was canceled, but I’m looking forward to seeing The Forever Purge.

There’s just something about these films. They are highly entertaining and addicting! The masks are creepy, the death scenes are cringe-worthy, and the characters truly make you want to root for them. Each film reveals another aspect of Purge Night, which prevents these movies from feeling repetitive while still keeping you on the edge of your seat.

Please note some spoilers are ahead.

Without any further delay, let’s find out exactly how I ranked The Purge films and why.

1

The Purge: Anarchy

The Purge Anarchy 1
Images courtesy of Blumhouse Productions

The sequel is rarely better than the original movie, but I absolutely adore the second film in the franchise and it is my absolute favorite one. Released in 2014, The Purge: Anarchy stars Frank Grillo, Carmen Ejogo, Kiele Sanchez, and Zoë Soul.

While the first movie focused on a home invasion, the second film gives us a chance to see Purge Night on the streets. We follow Frank Grillo’s character, Leo, who is the ultimate bad-ass of this franchise. Leo is looking to Purge after losing his son, but he runs into a group of strangers and decides to intervene to help save them.

Standout Purger:

Who can forget the Purger in the creepy God mask? The wave really seals the deal and makes you want to run for your life. I absolutely love that the mask later appeared in The Purge series (season 2), giving us a fun Easter Egg and a bit of an origin story.

2

The Purge

The Purge 1
Images courtesy of Blumhouse

The original Purge film really came out of nowhere. It was a lower budget film and it ended up being very successful. Released in 2013, The Purge stars Ethan Hawke, Lena Headey, Edwin Hodge, and Adelaide Kane.

Hawke’s character, James, designed the security system for their home, as he stays in with his family on Purge Night, confident that they will be safe. However, things take a drastic turn when his son lets a bloody stranger into their home to save him, which angers some local Purgers.

The original film has a completely different feel from the other films. We focus on one individual family and their fight for survival. The film is chilling and extremely entertaining and we really connect with this family.

Standout Purger:

The Purge 1 2
Images courtesy of Blumhouse

The leader of this group of twisted Purgers is quite sinister. He even takes off his mask and tries to reason with James and his family. However, once he doesn’t get what he wants, he proves to be quite ruthless and a worthy opponent.

3

The Purge: Election Year

The Purge 3
Images courtesy of Blumhouse

In the third film, we finally take some time to look into the mysterious NFFA and their ties with the government. Released in 2016, The Purge: Election Year stars Frank Grillo, Elizabeth Mitchell, Mykelti Williamson, and Betty Gabriel.

Once again, the amazing Leo is back and better than ever. He has somehow landed a job as the head of security for Senator Charlie Roan, giving us even more bad-ass fight scenes. Seriously, he’s unstoppable. Senator Charlie Roan is running for presidency and wants to put an end to Purge Night, but the loyal followers of the NFFA refuse to give up without a fight.

After an assassination attempt is made on Charlie’s life, she and Leo end up on the streets and run into some characters who try to help protect her, recognizing what is at stake. The third film has quite a lot of action, but there is a lot going on and it gets carried away at some points.

Standout Purger:

The Purge 3 1
Images courtesy of Blumhouse

Who could forget the candy girls? I mean, it seems like a stretch for someone to Purge over a candy bar, but these girls are ready to seek out revenge on Joe’s deli and they show up dressed to the nines in a car covered in twinkling lights. Talk about making an entrance…

Fun fact: Elizabeth Mitchell starred in my favorite show, Lost, and the infamous Apollo Bar is the candy bar in question. Gotta love a great Easter Egg!

4

The First Purge

First Purge
Images courtesy of Blumhouse

The annual Purge had to start somewhere, right? The First Purge is a prequel to the franchise, allowing us to witness the first actual Purge that took place. Released in 2018, the film stars Y’lan Noel, Lex Scott Davis, Joivan Wade, and Marisa Tomei.

The prequel focuses on an experiment in Staten Island. Residents are offered $5000 to stay home on Purge Night and others are given incentive to actually participate. After the dismal results, The NFFA decides to send in some guns for hire to make it appear that Purge Night is more successful than it actually is, as a group of characters fight for survival throuhgout the night.

The film has a lot of set-up, which gives it a much slower feel. However, the main action sequence toward the end of the movie featuring a raid on the apartment is extremely well done and may be my favorite scene of the entire franchise.

Standout Purger:

First Purge 1

They really nailed the creepy vibe and then some with Skeletor. He is the first official Purger in history and let’s just say that he is having the time of his life…

So, what’s next for The Purge? Well, the television series has been canceled, but I highly recommend that you watch it. It was a lot of fun! The Forever Purge is supposed to take place after Election Year, so hopefully it will bring something new to the table. I’ve heard rumors that this may not be the last Purge film after all and I’m hopefully that a certain vigilante named Leo Barnes returns!

Stay tuned for my review of The Forever Purge! (in theaters July 2nd 2021)

Where to watch The Purge films: As of July 2021, films 1-2 can be streamed on Peacock. Films 3-4 can be watched on FXM or on Hulu with live TV. The Purge television series can be watched on Peacock and Hulu.

Which films did YOU enjoy most?

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Purge films in the comments section below. Thank you so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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Ranking the top 5 moments from “The Purge” season 2 episode 5: “House of Mirrors”

Happy Wednesday TV fans!  After watching the USA network’s The Purge season 2 episode 5 last night, I realized that Ben may have had a point when he asked, “How can something be good one day and wrong the next?”  But don’t let the NFFA hear you say that.  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the latest episode yet.

In last night’s episode, “House of Mirrors,” Ryan is forced to call an old enemy for backup after getting into a jam.  Meanwhile, we get a glimpse into Esme’s past, Ben continues to unleash the violence within him, and Marcus finally finds out who tried to purge him.  My top 5 moments from The Purge season 2 episode 5 are:

5

“You’re the one that got to leave…”

In this episode, we flash back to 10 years ago and learn more about Esme’s past with her sister, Sofia.  We learn that Sofia was being abused by their father and Esme tried to get her out of there to protect her.  Sofia started to see Dr. Adams, which connects the rest of the dots for us, but she is clearly broken and traumatized from what has happened to her.

Esme’s father tries to stay with her on Purge Night, but she locks him out and listens to him get brutally murdered outside, which peels back even more layers of her character for us.

Through it all, I still think that Esme is a good person, but this does explain why she may be working for the NFFA, as she genuinely believed she was trying to protect other innocent people, feeling somewhat responsible for what happened to her sister.

4

“We’re animals born to hunt.”

Ben’s friend, Andy, seems to be Purge obsessed, but even he has some rules and guidelines.  Ben makes the mistake of telling Andy about killing the farmer, but claims he is joking.  Ben can tell that Andy may tell someone and decides to brutally stab him before he can say anything.

There are a lot of bodies starting to pile up for Ben now and it’s only a matter of time before he gets caught…

3

“We’ve never had someone on the inside before…”

Esme is certainly taking things up a notch in the present and decides to call some kind of resistance group with her suspicions about the NFFA.  They seem grateful to have her assistance and it’s clear that Esme just wants to get some justice for these victims, but it looks like Esme is about to be in a world of trouble.

Her boss has been watching her and is about to announce her as a traitor, which means that she might need to turn to someone for help.

Perhaps Ryan?  I personally think that they would make a great tag team, but Ryan has his own mess to deal with right now as well.

2

“Names have consequences and they come at a price…”

They certainly do, but Marcus is willing to do whatever it takes to find out who tried to purge him.  We find out that the informant is not interested in money and would rather use Marcus’s skills as a doctor, but I have a feeling that Marcus is going to be in constant debt to the informant now.

Was it all worth it?

Well, he does find out that the name of the person who tried to purge him is Sam Tucker.  Michelle finally comes clean and says she had an affair with him, as Marcus’s world begins to start crashing down all around him.

What will happen when Marcus confronts Sam?  I can’t wait to find out!  And is Michelle really in the clear here?

1

“We can help each other.”

After Ryan and the rest of the gang break into a house to get into a safe they need, they end up in a dangerous situation when they are locked in the house.  The owners are armed and ready to stop them, but Ryan realizes that his only choice now is to call the police…

They end up escorted out of the building by the cops and we discover that he actually called his former captain who wants in on the deal.  Ryan has no choice but to let her in, but this is not going to end well for sure.

We definitely got some answers and reveals during this episode, but I personally can’t wait to see what happens next when Esme is on the run from the NFFA.  I’m rooting for you, girl!  Stay tuned!

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own theories and thoughts on The Purge below in the comments section.  Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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**Do you love television shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Once Upon a Time, Lost, Charmed, The Vampire Diaries, and Supernatural?  Do you enjoy dark fantasy, fairy-tale retellings, paranormal romance, horror, and mystery?  Then you may like my book series, Dreaming of Wonderland…available on Amazon!  Thank you for taking the time to check it out and I appreciate any feedback as well.  I really hope you enjoy!

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Ranking the top 5 moments from “The Purge” season 2 episode 4: “Remembrance Day”

Happy Wednesday TV fans!  After watching the USA network’s The Purge season 2 episode 4 last night, I realized that some citizens may want to “say no to The Purge,” but they should be careful about who they voice these opinions to.  After all, the NFFA is always watching.  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the latest episode yet.  

In last night’s episode, “Grief Box,” we flash forward to three months after Purge Night, as Esme continues her investigation.  Meanwhile, we get a glimpse into Marcus’s past, Ben meets a new friend with the urge to Purge, and Ryan gets everything ready for the big score.  My top 5 moments from The Purge season 2 episode 4 are:

5

“The Purge could be making people more violent.”

In this episode, we flash forward to three months after Purge Night, as everyone prepares for Remembrance Day, which is a day to remember those who have been sacrificed for the good of The Purge.  If you lost a family member or friend, you receive a grief box honoring their sacrifice from the NFFA.  Yep, this is apparently a thing.

Esme continues to work with Marcus’s son and they learn that Professor Adams was gathering research on some kind of experiment connected to the brain scans found in her apartment.

Marcus’s son thinks that The Purge may be making people more violent during the rest of the year and he’s definitely on to something here, but we also know that the NFFA will go to extreme measures to cover this up.

4

“We need Tommy.”

As Ryan tries to come up with a plan to steal the score of their lives, they start to realize that they really need Tommy since it involves getting into a vault at the bank.  Luckily, Ryan still has some friends from his former cop days and he is able to visit Tommy for a short period of time, allowing him to secure the name of a contact that might be able to help them.

After meeting the contact, I’m not sure that he can be trusted and Ryan warns him that if he messes this up, he will kill him.

Can Ryan really trust anyone outside his inner circle though?

3

“You don’t have to do this…”

We also get a glimpse into Marcus’s past during this episode, flashing back to 14 years ago.  We meet Marcus’s first wife and learn that their marriage fell apart after he wanted to get out of their neighborhood, feeling threatened and unsafe.

Marcus goes to a Remembrance Day party with his son to get some answers, but almost loses it completely when he thinks he sees the same truck that ran him down.

Even though Marcus is convinced that someone from his past might be behind the hit, he decides to start from scratch again to narrow down the suspects, but Michelle casts a suspicious look when he reveals this, so perhaps he needs to re-visit his second wife as a main suspect…

2

“You make a good point.”

Ben decides to head out to a Remembrance Day weapons sale and meets a new friend.  His friend is all about The Purge and even gives him some ideas about creating a list in advance so that he is prepared for the following Purge.

Only we know that Ben has been purging outside of Purge Night, which is extremely risky and dangerous, even though his latest victim was determined to be found dead from heatstroke.

Ben really thinks about going after his roommate, but has a change of heart when he finds out that his brother was killed.  His roommate clearly feels guilty about what happened with Ben, which gives him a get out of Purge free card for now, but I have a feeling Ben isn’t going to let this go.

Ben’s urge to Purge has not gone away just yet; however, as he decides to target the Purge protester girl who was very enthusiastic about saying no to The Purge.  Ben is definitely addicted to violence now, as he puts on the infamous God mask with pride, ready to hunt down his next kill.

1

“What else are they covering up?”

Esme continues to hold my undivided attention while she goes through the list of the people in the experiment, suddenly realizing that they are all dead now.  There is one woman still alive named Olivia Hughes and Esme decides to track her down to get some answers.  Only she arrives and discovers that she has now also been murdered.

After alerting the police, Olivia’s death is now ruled a suicide even though Esme thinks it’s obvious that she was murdered.  When she went through the footage leading to her death, a lot of the media mysteriously vanished, suggesting that the NFFA is actually behind this, erasing all of the evidence.

Esme’s boss is now also on to her, watching her on the monitors, so she better watch her back.

Now that Esme knows that the NFFA is up to no good, is her life in immediate danger?

What did Professor Adams discover with these trials and why are the subjects all dead?

I can’t wait to find out!  Overall, I thought this episode seemed slightly filler and transitional, but I really want to know more about this experiment.  The NFFA is up to no good, but let’s hope that they don’t silence Esme!  Stay tuned!

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own theories and thoughts on The Purge below in the comments section.  Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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**Do you love television shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Once Upon a Time, Lost, Charmed, The Vampire Diaries, and Supernatural?  Do you enjoy dark fantasy, fairy-tale retellings, paranormal romance, horror, and mystery?  Then you may like my book series, Dreaming of Wonderland…available on Amazon!  Thank you for taking the time to check it out and I appreciate any feedback as well.  I really hope you enjoy!

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

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