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Late to the Party: ‘The Purge’ (2013)

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The First Purge hits theaters today, and so it seems only fitting to dedicate this entry of Late to the Party to writer/director James DeMonaco’s 2013 thriller The Purge. With four films and an upcoming TV series on the way, I’d like to see what all the fuss is about. So, without further ado…let The Purge review commence.

Half celebration and half anarchy, the franchise contemplates what it would be like if criminal activity (including murder) was legal for one night a year. The theory being it would allow participants to vent their aggression and lower the overall crime rate the rest of the year. And, in this world, it apparently works.

The first film is a modest beginning to the franchise with a confined story that mostly takes place in a rich suburban house on the night of The Purge. James Sandin (Ethan Hawke) is a wealthy security system salesman living in a gated community with wife Mary (Lena Headey) and their two kids. Shortly after the Sandins lock down their house for a quiet night of Purge watching on TV, things quickly go awry.

A homeless stranger manages to disappear in their sprawling home after the their son provides him sanctuary from Purgers. The group of psychopaths lingering outside hold the Sandins responsible for harboring the man, and the family won’t be able to keep them out very long.

One can see the draw of such an intriguing high-concept premise. I normally enjoy claustrophobic, single-location films like Night of the Living Dead, Hidden, A Quiet Place, and 10 Cloverfield Lane, which are microcosms of larger scale events going on outside the walls.

What films like these lack in scale and spectacle they often make up for with compelling characters and tight storytelling. This is where The Purge stumbles. While the premise is interesting, the execution is sadly lacking

First, some positives. As Purge Night draws near, the feeling of anxiety is palpable. Seeing a neighbor sharpening a machete in his backyard right before The Purge commences would make anyone paranoid. The film has a dystopian feel that is contained to one evening, until society returns to normal the next day like waking up from a bad dream.

Many citizens (like James and Mary Sandin) treat Purge Night almost like a twisted New Year’s Eve celebration. They state how it has saved their country, and how much good it’s done. While the concept that the majority of crime stems from aggression is obviously questionable, the premise does work satirically. However, it’s not handled in such a way.

The Purge is essentially used in this film as a framework to create a problematic home-invasion thriller. Characters are often forced to make incredibly dumb decisions to keep the plot moving. The daughter Zoey, for instance, repeatedly runs away from her family for no reason while there’s a potentially dangerous stranger loose in their house. This is the type of movie that will have you often yelling at the screen because of the constant lack of judgment.

An (overly) generous amount of the movie’s runtime is dedicated to characters wandering around the dark hallways of the family’s house. However, we have no idea where people or rooms are in relation to one another. This is likely because much of the film relies on you believing characters could disappear without a trace in a reasonably sized home.

In Don’t Breathe, there were sequences when you could picture where The Blind Man was in the house in relation to his victims because we were given a proper walk-through right from the beginning. We can feel the characters getting closer or farther from danger, which adds to the suspense. The homeless man in The Purge also never seems like a real threat to begin with, so it’s hard to fear for the Sandins when they’re trapped inside with him.

The crew of masked nutjobs outside is led by a politely demented leader played by Rhys Wakefield, who is chewing the scenery with his ear-to-ear grin. He is the only one in the film with any charisma, and a quintessential example of the type of crazy roaming the streets on Purge Night.

Ethan Hawke and Lena Headey don’t have much to work with here. They initially support The Purge until it ultimately comes to their doorstep. Unfortunately, their character arcs end up being superficial at best.

The Sandin family’s jealous neighbors turn on them later in the film showing there’s a little crazy inside everyone. However, their motivation for hating the Sandins is so weak it probably would have been better to give them no motivation at all to better fit the pent up aggression narrative.

I was hoping to be more satisfied by the film’s moral dilemmas, character growths, and overall message, but it all came off rather flat. The Purge often seems to have a lot to say about about human nature, classism, and socio-political agendas. But, by the time the credits roll, it doesn’t feel like it said much of anything at all.

You could tell a lot of gripping tales with such a visceral sandbox to play in. Which is probably why 2013’s The Purge is so frustrating.

The potential is there, and that may be one of the reasons why this franchise is so successful. Plus, having such modest budgets doesn’t hurt. One would hope the sequels expand on the concept, and tell more interesting stories with more interesting characters. Maybe I’ll find out in future editions of Late to the Party. Until next time, Happy Fourth of July!

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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