Trailerblazing -- The Colony/The Purge

The Colony -- April 26, 2013 -- directed by Jeff Renfroe -- starring Laurence Fishburne, Kevin Zegers, Bill Paxton, Charlotte Sullivan, John Tench

And you thought winter was over? Fat chance! In this post-apocalyptic freeze fest, it is only just beginning and apparently bringing all sorts of horror in its wake. Renfroe, who gave us one of the most vivid post-9/11 paranoia analyses in Civic Duty, now swerves into the horror/sci-fi domain with this intriguing entry. From the get-go, I can say that I am loving the set pieces and the deep hopelessness of the ambiance. The filmmakers do not appear to be holding back when it comes to depicting their glacial purgatory, a quality essential for this kind of tale. When it comes to cataclysm, one should go big or go home. A good cast is only an additional incentive for me to see this film. I just hope that it does not end up sacrificing its  story in favor of watered-down writing and gore.

The Purge -- May 31, 2013 -- directed by James DeMonaco -- starring Ethan Hawke, Lena Headey, Edwin Hodge, Max Burkholder, Rhys Wakefield

First things first. Mask-sporting criminals freak me out and the home invaders in The Purge look like The Strangers on steroids. That said, the entire concept of a free-for-all crime day goes beyond terror. How do you protect yourself and your family? What do you do to fortify and defend your home? What do you do if a stranger begs for help? In this era of gun rights debates and violence around every corner, this James DeMonaco piece should be a rather engaging and possibly even philosophical film. Using strong speculative fiction elements, the story seems to be settling in somewhere between Straw Dogs, The Running Man and Panic Room. As long as the film does not use senseless brutality and keeps its focus on the morality play that the subject matter entails, it should be worth the time.