In a year of Presidential elections, no series is more apt to the public than James DeMonaco's violent trilogy that began with THE PURGE, escalated humongously in THE PURGE ANARCHY, and now reaches its third entry with ELECTION YEAR. In a world where the possibility of Donald Trump running America, suddenly the concept of The annual Purge does not seem such a foregone idea.

 

Picking up 12 months after the events of THE PURGE ANARCHY, ELECTION YEAR is a continuation of Sargent Leo Barnes' story (Frank Grillo) as his role of head of security for a Presidential candidate comes underfire  when the night dawns and the restriction for level 10 personel is removed from the rules. IN THE LINE OF FIRE meets THE WARRIORS in a survival of America, not just individual life.

 

Like its predocessors, this is a multi layered cat and mouse thriller that sees a multitude of relationships blossom for a tag team of heroes battling for survival against the night. This is where DeMonaco has achieved his ideology past the original movie as the third installment feels like a straight contiuation of the sequel in it's theme as well as set up. Frank Grillo leading a squad of survivors, some seasoned some not, to protect the woman who can finally put an end to the annual hootenanny that has turned into a political excuse to pit the elite against the poor and let's the kids of America run amok.

 

Amidst the violence and horror in the streets, ELECTION YEAR is the most accomplished entry in the series. DeMonaco has managed to successfully weave genres whether it be the home invasion thriller (THE PURGE), all out suspenseful action (ANARCHY) and blending horror and political drama with the latest entry to the series, all in the middle of a science fiction scenario that could blend more truth than fiction in the current political climate. The third entry stamps the horror firmly into the franchise with some graphic violence and glimpses of sheer barbaric terror, Halloween themes this year will be sure to take huge inspiration.

 

It's hard to say that ELECTION YEAR betters ANARCHY as it feels as if the canvas was painted in the second installment with another layer added here but not too much has changed. When ANARCHY arrived, it changed the landscape and gave fans the film they expected, now that we have that how do you improve. In the case here, why fix what's not broken and events unfold near identically as they did a year previous, which works this time round, but there will need to be a significant ovehaul made to prevent the event from going stale if the series continues.

 

With some stella performances and further character development, it will be welcome for a new chapter, and ELECTION YEAR stands tall as an elected candidate for one of the best movies of 2016.