At some point, we’ve all said something to the effect of, “If I could get away with anything for one night…” Though we don’t always like to admit it, the idea of exorcising pent-up aggressions, getting revenge on those who have wronged us or simply submitting to the darker side of human nature holds a certain appeal. In the near-future world established in 2013’s The Purge, the New Founding Fathers of America have created an annual holiday where everything is legal for a 12-hour overnight period. Within this dystopia, some Americans yearn to indulge in the freedom – no, the right – to kill, rape and loot without repercussions. The rest of the populace prepares for lockdown in hopes that they will make it through the night without incident.

Frank Grillo’s character leads a group of non-Purgers in “The Purge: Anarchy”. Photo by Justin Lubin / Universal Pictures.

While the first movie gave us a glimpse into the lives of those wealthy and privileged enough to afford proper protection from Purgers, The Purge: Anarchy takes us out into the streets to see how middle and lower-income citizens get through The Purge. Eva (Carmen Ejogo) just wants to get home from her job waitressing at a diner in time to ensure safety for her daughter Cali (Zoë Soul) and elderly father (John Beasley). Shane (Zach Gilford) and Liz (Kiele Sanchez) are a young couple whose relationship is struggling as they try to make it to their destination before The Purge begins. And Frank Grillo is a heavily-armed brooder on a very singular mission during this particular Purge. Dark and mysterious, Grillo’s character is a gritty antihero in all black, drives around in an armored muscle car full of guns and clearly has some sort of background in combat. He’s basically the Punisher, which is exactly the type of vigilante you want on your side, especially on a night like this one.

After encountering a gang of hoodlums in corpse paint on dirt bikes and skateboards, an army of gas-masked soldiers with a plethora of advanced weaponry and various other odd factions of Purgers, Grillo’s character (whose identity is not fully revealed until the end of the movie) begrudgingly becomes the leader and protector of Eva, Cali, Shane and Liz, who have all unwillingly become part of The Purge despite their best efforts not to. As this unlikely quintet traverses the night, they gradually discover that The Purge is about much more than senseless violence. Instead, they find that there are various groups and individuals, all with their own agendas. From the semi trucks that seem to be tracking their every move to would-be allies secretly looking to enact personal revenge on one another, chaos and anarchy are waiting at every turn.

A thug in corpse paint is one of many threats during this Purge. Photo courtesy Universal Pictures.

The concept of The Purge is, in and of itself, an interesting idea that doesn’t really seem that far fetched, the most fascinating thing about The Purge: Anarchy is that it establishes a multitude of potential stories set within the same realm. There is no crossover between the events of The Purge and The Purge: Anarchy, aside from the fact that they both take place in the same grim future. So, unlike most film franchises, The Purge is centered around an idea rather than a particular character, setting or other entity. Which is to say there is seemingly limitless potential to where this idea can go, applying it to different characters and scenarios with each subsequent installment.

But back to this chapter. Not only does each of the main characters have his or her own personal struggles (Shane’s worried Liz is going to break up with him, Eva worries that her boisterous daughter might push Grillo’s avenging character over the edge, etc.), but the Purgers they encounter all have their own (sometimes conflicting) agendas. In order for any of the heroes to survive, there is no choice but to work together and trust each other even if it goes against their personal Purge convictions. While The Purge tends to reveal humanity’s worst traits, in this case it shows something a bit more hopeful when a group of people is faced with enormous adversity.

The key word here is “Anarchy”. Photo by Justin Lubin / Universal Pictures.

These various conflicts culminate in a divisive climax in which the main characters are captured by one faction while fleeing another, then sold to a group of wealthy buyers who insert them into a The Running Man-like scenario in which armed rich people hunt them for sport. The tactical skills of Grillo’s character are the only hope for surviving, but each character displays a newfound strength that aids in the cause, even if it means eventually striking out on his or her own path. In the end it’s redemption, rather than revenge, that becomes the prevailing goal. But this is The Purge, after all, so there are still unexpected factors at play that soon make themselves more apparent, (some for better, some for worse). And as the clock ticks towards this Purge’s final moments, the suspense and anticipation extend all the way up to the sounding of the siren indicating that this year’s Purge has come to a close. But if The Purge: Anarchy is any indication of things to come, The Purge appears to be locked down as a summer film franchise for the foreseeable future.

blumhouse.com/film/thepurgeanarchy