The First Purge

Name: The First Purge
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Horror, Crime
Released: July 4, 2018
Duration: 98 min
Rating: 54
Cast: Aaron V. Williamson, Christian Robinson, Chyna Layne, Cloé Xhauflaire, David Breda

2018

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 39 Critics

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 93 Ratings

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4.5

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4.5	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 93 Ratings

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The First Purge (Trailer 1)

Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: July 4, 2018

Starring: Aaron V. Williamson, Christian Robinson, Chyna Layne, Cloé Xhauflaire, David Breda, Geoff Schuppert, Jermel Howard, Jessica Bell, John P. McGinty, Joivan Wade, Kristen Solis, Lauren Vélez, Lex Scott Davis, Maria Rivera, Marisa Tomei, Melonie Diaz, Mo, Mugga, Omari Hardwick, Patch Darragh, Qurrat Ann Kadwani, Rotimi, Rotimi Paul, Steve Harris, Y'lan Noel

Movie Facts: The first three Purge films (The Purge, The Purge: Anarchy, and The Purge: Election Year) made over $215 million in combined domestic box office.

Summary: To push the crime rate below one percent for the rest of the year, the New Founding Fathers of America (NFFA) test a sociological theory that vents aggression for one night in one isolated community. But when the violence of oppressors meets the rage of the marginalized, the contagion will explode from the trial-city borders and spreadTo push the crime rate below one percent for the rest of the year, the New Founding Fathers of America (NFFA) test a sociological theory that vents aggression for one night in one isolated community. But when the violence of oppressors meets the rage of the marginalized, the contagion will explode from the trial-city borders and spread across the nation.… Expand

Director: Gerard McMurray

Genre(s): Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Horror, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 98 min

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Awards & Rankings

71	#71 Most Discussed Movie of 2018

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Washington Post - Alan Zilberman

Jul 4, 2018

The result is an unabashedly violent B-movie throwback, the sort director John Carpenter used to make, with moments that resonate with real life. Read full review

Consequence of Sound - Randall Colburn

Jul 3, 2018

The First Purge is every bit as nakedly, hysterically symbolic as its predecessors. But if there’s one thing that the current political climate is teaching us, it’s that a subtle touch isn’t always the solution. Read full review

Los Angeles Times - Mark Olsen

Jul 4, 2018

It’s not difficult to decipher where McMurray and DeMonaco’s true allegiances are, but by delivering the story within the framework of genre cinema at its most trashy and garish, the filmmakers convey any message as a bit of rough pleasure amid the kicks and thrills of a movie. Read full review

The New York Times - Jeannette Catsoulis

Jul 3, 2018

Even the most ardent fan could find its bluntness uncomfortably timely: In our build-that-wall moment, a story about a government-sponsored plan to cull poor minorities feels less like political satire than current-affairs commentary. Read full review

Original-Cin - Jim Slotek

Jul 5, 2018

The First Purge has a lot of narrative and unsubtle subtext to cram into a movie that’s barely 90 minutes long. In fact, its big, violent finish notwithstanding, a lot of it is quite dull and its pacing inconsistent. Read full review

IGN - Nick Romano

Jul 4, 2018

While trying to hit the basic markers that have come to define a Purge film, The First Purge comes up empty when mining real-life tragedies as the backdrop for a summer movie. Read full review

San Francisco Chronicle - Carla Meyer

Jul 4, 2018

First Purge further lessens the drama by offering a hero and villains too mercenary to care about. Read full review

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User Reviews

Easyman

Jul 31, 2018

This is definitely a movie you shouldn’t take seriously, none of these movies are anyways, but if your looking for a decent horror/thriller flick to watch during the summer I would give it a go or wait til it comes out and watch it digitally, otherwise this movie is definitely for the fansThis is definitely a movie you shouldn’t take seriously, none of these movies are anyways, but if your looking for a decent horror/thriller flick to watch during the summer I would give it a go or wait til it comes out and watch it digitally, otherwise this movie is definitely for the fans of the franchise!!… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

Armywild

Jul 23, 2018

La película buena, la trama es original, sin embargo pudieron explotar mejor los argumentos del inicio de la purga,el inicio y final muy bien, desarrollo algo lento hasta poder ver acción Así que un 7 es mas que suficiente

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

LamontRaymond

Jul 5, 2018

I'd say the Metascore is just about right for this one, though I probably liked it more than most of the critics. The gang leader is excellent, and his ex-girlfriend is really good. I enjoyed the supporting cast of OGs. The weak point of the story and the series is the band of nameless,I'd say the Metascore is just about right for this one, though I probably liked it more than most of the critics. The gang leader is excellent, and his ex-girlfriend is really good. I enjoyed the supporting cast of OGs. The weak point of the story and the series is the band of nameless, faceless white dudes that are mostly all masked. Sometimes tough to figure whether they represent some Charlottesville-like white supremacists or a generalized menacing group. Bottom line - exploitation flick that's fun to sit through.… Expand

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

Compi24

Jul 10, 2018

James DeMonaco and Jason Blum bring us this fourth installment in the "Purge" franchise -- "The First Purge" -- a woefully stupid film that makes an unsophisticated attempt at trying something sophisticated; politics. Sociopolitics and horror don't always mix, and this film is no exceptionJames DeMonaco and Jason Blum bring us this fourth installment in the "Purge" franchise -- "The First Purge" -- a woefully stupid film that makes an unsophisticated attempt at trying something sophisticated; politics. Sociopolitics and horror don't always mix, and this film is no exception to that very simple fact. Any and all hopes that the creative team behind this film had to drive home some sort of relatable societal message is completely bogged down by the movie's lack of authenticity, logic, or character depth. And despite a couple of serviceable action scenes here and there, this is a largely forgettable effort.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

JLuis_001

Jul 22, 2018

All the films in this franchise have been regular and bad, accept it, face it, don't deny it to me, but there is something I must admit. The first film did had in some way an interesting message. A message that was inevitably lost in the mismanagement of the plot and the story and the needAll the films in this franchise have been regular and bad, accept it, face it, don't deny it to me, but there is something I must admit. The first film did had in some way an interesting message. A message that was inevitably lost in the mismanagement of the plot and the story and the need to carry everything with violence but it's understandable because after all, the plot of the film dealt precisely with violence but it's not necessary for your story to become just that.

The sequels, both the second and the third became something else, changed the scenario and became full-frontal action films and once again we cannot deny that the theme of the stories lent itself precisely for that, but evidently as I just say recently, in action films what becomes predictable also becomes boring and both films were boring, yes they did have action, you could call it entertainment somehow but how long can that last?

This prequel doesn't change anything and in fact it's practically irrelevant that it is a prequel. It's true it offers the origin of the purge but was it necessary? no, it wasn't.
It doesn't let you see anything that was essential or indispensable to understand the other films, therefore it's more of the same, with the same quality and as irrelevant and inconsequential as you can probably imagine.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

GrantD243

Jul 6, 2018

I very much like the Purge franchise on a conceptual level. I think that the idea of the Purge offers up a very interesting premise that could be turned into some great movies. Unfortunately, though, the Purge movies (outside of the first installment) have not been all that great. They'veI very much like the Purge franchise on a conceptual level. I think that the idea of the Purge offers up a very interesting premise that could be turned into some great movies. Unfortunately, though, the Purge movies (outside of the first installment) have not been all that great. They've been decent flicks to watch if you're bored one afternoon or just want to eat some popcorn and watch people die, but that's about it. The story of this one follows the cast of characters on the night of the first Purge. Given this, I figured that the beginning of the movie would give us a somewhat detailed look at how the decision to have the Purge came about. We are kind of given that, I guess. We get an incredibly cringey interview at the beginning between a doctor and a potential Purge participator that basically gives us the origin of the name, and the rationale behind the decision to have it is explained as well. But after those little tidbits, the film dives straight into setting up the characters. I like a lot of the elements of The First Purge's story: how the New Founding Fathers' motivations factor into the experiment, how the people on the island initially act when the Purge starts, and how the Government gets involved later on. It did what a prequel should: add more to the movies that come after it in the timeline. However, this film tries to be so, so timely with its social commentary, and it gets to be a bit much at times. And that heavy handedness really brought down my enjoyment of the film more than I expected. Also, outside of the Government being a bit more involved this time around, The First Purge turns into just another Purge movie around the halfway point. There's some nice action, and some death, but otherwise it's nothing new. The concept here was good, the execution...not so much.

Characters: Dmitri (Y'lan Noel) is not only the best character in this film, but he's really the only character worth anything. He's the only one with any real depth, and it also helps that the actor portraying him has some real chops. All of the other main characters are completely two dimensional and are not particularly likable, either. I also have to say that I guess Blumhouse wanted to have as many crazy Purgers as possible in this film, but they are so over the top that they come off as people pretending to be crazy. One of the main "crazy" Purgers, Skeletor, is laughably bad. Without Dmitri, this cast would have been extremely weak. And, to top things off, Dmitri is a drug dealer...and he was the most likable character in the film despite not changing much by the end. That's something. Script: The writing for most of this film is horrendous. Extremely cheesy dialogue, but that's nothing new for the Purge franchise. Cinematography/Effects: Blumhouse is known for making decent looking movies on a super low budget, but I think that The First Purge may be their first film in a while that actually shows its low budget quite a bit. The sound effects are often recycled and sound like they came from a cheap sound pack, and some of the visual effects are downright terrible. If you see the film, watch for the blood effects in the scene that involves smoke grenades. It's not good. Cinematography wise, there's nothing special here, but it's decent. Overall: I was entertained by the action and most of the story of The First Purge, and I liked the character of Dmitri, but outside of those things this film is barely passable as a popcorn flick, even by my relatively low standards for Blumhouse movies.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

masscraft

Jul 15, 2018

Just like the last Purge movie, this is an extremely racially biased liberal hit piece. All the good guys are black or some other minority while all the bad guys are white. They even go so far as to put the white guys in KKK hoods and pseudo-Nazi uniforms this time. The hero’s are a mix ofJust like the last Purge movie, this is an extremely racially biased liberal hit piece. All the good guys are black or some other minority while all the bad guys are white. They even go so far as to put the white guys in KKK hoods and pseudo-Nazi uniforms this time. The hero’s are a mix of brutal gang banger drug dealers "with good hearts" and others "held down by the man". The government that starts the Purge is the NFFA, supported by the NRA, of course. It’s a mountain of sick, twisted liberal garbage at a time when minority employment is at historic lows. Movies like this keep black people on the dependent democratic plantation and do nothing but stir the racial hatred magnified during the Obama regime. Garbage.… Expand

4 of 9 users found this helpful45

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