Last year we saw the release of ‘The Purge’, a concept that was both original and interesting. Despite a strong cast and a lot of promise, it ultimately fell down with it’s numerous cat-and-mouse tales and a boat-load of coincidence that carried the film forward. One day a year the annual Purge commences allowing all crime, including murder, is legal for a 12 hour period. The biggest problem that faced the film was that despite being a national event, the action all took place in one house but rather than being a tense home invasion thriller, diluted the fear with a weak thread of storylines.

 

Now, a year later and we have our second annual Purge, this time moving the action from the home of one of the founding fathers, to the streets of downtown LA. Much like the first film, ‘Anarchy’ has a wealth of characters with their own story caught up on this night of terror. Eva (Carmen Ejogo) and Cali (Zoë Soul) are attacked by anti terrorist group working with the government. Forced into the open streets, they are saved by a lone purger (Frank Grillo) saves them from the group of ruthless mercenaries. Then there’s Shane (Zach Gilford) and Liz (Kiele Sanchez) who are caught off guard on their route home by a gang of purgers, left out in the streets alone they fend for their lives, luckily meeting up with the other three. As they fend themselves against numerous gangs of purgers, the 8 hours are a nervous journey for survival.

 

Taking the action outside of the confines of a house is the wisest direction for the series. Not only is every corner littered with the brutal treat of a gang but the open world leads to any number of unpredicted scenarios and makes a completely different film to the first installment.

 

Grillo does well to continue his running for Hollywoods next action man after his stint in ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’ and here where his call to arms almost obliterate a city on his own. And yet with a smaller cast of players this year, they all manage to hold their own. Whether chasing a gang of masked hoodlums or fighting in a bloodsport for the rich, ‘Anarchy’ throws plenty of curve balls and excuse for action that doesn’t feel rushed or there for the sake of it.

 

‘The Purge: Anarchy’ may fall short on a little down time with each scene culminating in a gun fight of some sort however, from a premise that involves gang warfare being legal for 12 hours, it copes pretty well with controlling the action between the five survivors. With it’s all out action, there is still tension as the group, removed from any violence except Grillo’s marksman, tackle the streets with avoidance rather than seeking a bloodbath.

 

DeMonaco manages to fix the wrongs of ‘The Purge’ to give us not only the best gang film since ‘The Warriors’ but also the beginning of something fun to look out for in years to come. While there’s nothing much deeper than a glance at redemption for the purger seeking vengeance, ‘Anarchy’ is all about the adrenaline of gang versus gang, rich versus poor and man against mad in the chaos of a new foundation setting a climax which could very well be the beginning of the end for ‘The Purge’ depending on how long the producers want to continue the franchise.

 

Now with 364 days until the next annual Purge, and so many more directions to go with it, we sit tight lipped and protected in anticipation for another year. Stay safe.