Trailerblazing -- The Purge: Anarchy

The Purge: Anarchy -- June 20, 2014 -- directed by James DeMonaco -- starring Frank Grillo, Michael K. Williams, Zach Gilford, Kiele Sanchez, Carmen Ejogo

Best case scenario, this movie is a straight-to-video affair; worst case scenario, it is even more violent and meaningless than the first one. With a budget of $3,000,000, 2013's The Purge managed to earn more than ten times that amount in the premiere weekend alone, so why mess with a "good" thing? Mayhem rules the streets yet again, masked criminals chase after those unfortunate enough to get caught up in the annual "tradition" and all of the members of the talented cast are probably wondering just what on Earth they are doing in this money-grabbing excuse for cinema. The first film at least had an original premise with tons of satirical commentary potential at its core, potential that unfortunately got squandered in the screenplay's lack of direction. What exactly does the sequel have that warrants our precious attention and hard-earned cash? Nothing I can see. It looks bleak, it looks bloody and, above all, it looks empty. In an alternate reality, The Purge is a British drama/thriller hybrid, written and directed by Charlie Brooker. Now that would be a cautionary tale worth experiencing.

Weekly Review -- Invention invasion

You're Next (2011) -- Innovative horror films come but once in a lifetime. Well... twice sometimes. When Scream premiered in 1996, it was rightfully hailed as the reinvention of the slasher subgenre. This time, it is the home invasion trope getting a makeover, in the form of Adam Wingard's frightfully clever You're Next.

**THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS**

Soon after guests arrive for the Davison family's wedding anniversary reunion, a group of masked criminals commences a brutal attack on the house. What they are not counting on, though, is one of the guests utilizing their special skills to fight back...   

What the film does incredibly well is create a parallel between the dysfunctional family's get-together and the attackers moving in. All of the tensions bubble up to the surface and the seemingly innocuous relationship quarrels escalate as the invasion starts. The raid itself is fast and furious, with the dinner sequence joining horror's best moments in its relentless intensity. And those masks! As my readers know by now, I find masks to be an extremely effective terror tool. The animalistic camouflage coupled with machetes does the trick here, further taking away the thugs' identities. The action is well-paced, balancing the over-the-top violence with tight suspense and steering away from clichés. Come to think of it, one could certainly plan a double bill starring You're Next and The Strangers... if you do not intend on sleeping for a while, that is.

The acting is good, with Sharni Vinson being an obvious standout. Vinson makes for a terrific heroine, in the vein of Jamie Lee Curtis and other golden era greats. Her Erin is immediately sympathetic in her fish-out-of-water position. Right from the start, you know that there is something different about this girl, something far removed from her boyfriend and his posh family. She is friendly with a hint of rough-and-tumble and, once the mayhem starts, you can tell that she means business. Proving herself to be a fierce opponent, Erin operates on pure gut instinct. I do not wish for the actor to be typecast, but I would love to see her in another horror film, possibly a supernaturally-themed one.   

You're Next is a genre piece that deconstructs itself. By adding the dimension of family discord to its break-in theme, the film becomes a fresh take on horror, a work that dares to ponder the existence of violent impulses behind our usual facade of civility. Turning an ancient tale upside down for the sake of a new perspective is a brave move that pays off for Wingard, opening the door for a new breed of spookfests.

8/10