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Review: ‘The First Purge’ [Blu-Ray/DVD]

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How did the United States reach a point where murder was viewed as an acceptable solution to the country’s problems?  This question is at the heart of The First Purge, the fourth film in the Purge film series, which documents the origin of the Purge Night concept.

In The First Purge, ground zero is Staten Island, New York, a borough that is chosen as an experimental test location by the authoritarian New Founding Fathers of America (NFFA).  As this is an origin film, the mystery in the film is related to just how far the NFFA is willing to go to make this first Purge Night a success.

Although the film reveals the conversations and thoughts behind the Purge concept, the bulk of the film follows the structure of the previous films.  As the commencement of Purge Night nears, the residents must decide whether they will hide from the legalized carnage that’s about to unfold, or participate in it. The most interesting aspect of The First Purge is the socio-economic and racial dynamic that exists in the film.  Whereas political and social commentary have always been embedded within the fabric of the Purge film series, The First Purge draws a clear parallel between the fictional NFFA administration and the Donald Trump administration.

All of the residents in the film, both the participants and the victims, are black, whereas all of the NFFA officials are white.  As the President of the United States who appears in the film is clearly in the mold of Donald Trump, the filmmakers are clearly suggesting that the Trump administration is fundamentally corrupt and that anyone who supports the current administration is in concert with oppression and tyranny.

While the political commentary in The First Purge is heavy-handed, it doesn’t take the focus off of the visceral aspects of the film.  Director Gerard McMurray and producer-writer James DeMonaco counterbalance interpersonal relationships and situations with sudden burst of violence.

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has given The First Purge modest treatment, in terms of the special features that appear on the Blu-Ray/DVD combo release.  It would have been nice to have listened to an audio commentary by DeMonaco and Gerard McMurray and hear them explain the thought process that went into the making of the film, especially in terms of the film’s political message.

The special features section includes a single deleted scene and three short making-of documentaries, one of which, The Masks of the First Purge, showcases the gallery of odd Purge masks that appear in the film.  In the documentaries Bringing the Chaos and A Radical Experiment, the cast and filmmakers briefly discuss the filming process and share their thoughts about the parallels between the fictional Purge universe and present-day America.

For Purge loyalists, The First Purge represents a worthwhile addition to their collection, while the casual viewer will only need to watch this film once.  Like the other Purge films, The First Purge will almost certainly become a fixture on cable television within eighteen months.

The First Purge Blu-Ray/DVD will be released on October 2.

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Watch ‘The Burning’ At The Location Where It Was Filmed

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Fangoria is reporting that fans of the 1981 slasher The Burning will be able to have a screening of the film at the location where it was filmed. The movie is set at Camp Blackfoot which is actually the Stonehaven Nature Preserve in Ransomville, New York.

This ticketed event will take place on August 3. Guests will be able to take a tour of the grounds as well as enjoy some campfire snacks along with the screening of The Burning.

The Burning

The film came out in the early ’80s when teen slashers were being churned out in magnum force. Thanks to Sean S. Cunningham’s Friday the 13th, filmmakers wanted to get in on the low-budget, high-profit movie market and a casket load of these types of films were produced, some better than others.

The Burning is one of the good ones, mostly because of the special effects from Tom Savini who had just come off of his groundbreaking work on Dawn of the Dead and Friday the 13th. He declined to do the sequel because of its illogical premise and instead signed on to do this movie. Also, a young Jason Alexander who would later go on to play George in Seinfeld is a featured player.

Because of its practical gore, The Burning had to be heavily edited before it received an R-rating. The MPAA was under the thumb of protest groups and political bigwigs to censor violent films at the time because slashers were just so graphic and detailed in their gore.

Tickets are $50, and if you want a special t-shirt, that will cost you another $25, You can get all the information by visiting the On Set Cinema webpage.

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‘Longlegs’ Creepy “Part 2” Teaser Appears on Instagram

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Longlegs

Neon Films released an Insta-teaser for their horror film Longlegs today. Titled Dirty: Part 2, the clip only furthers the mystery of what we are in for when this movie is finally released on July 12.

The official logline is: FBI Agent Lee Harker is assigned to an unsolved serial killer case that takes unexpected turns, revealing evidence of the occult. Harker discovers a personal connection to the killer and must stop him before he strikes again.

Directed by former actor Oz Perkins who also gave us The Blackcoat’s Daughter and Gretel & Hansel, Longlegs is already creating buzz with its moody images and cryptic hints. The film is rated R for bloody violence, and disturbing images.

Longlegs stars Nicolas Cage, Maika Monroe, and Alicia Witt.

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Exclusive Sneak Peek: Eli Roth and Crypt TV’s VR Series ‘The Faceless Lady’ Episode Five

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Eli Roth (Cabin Fever) and Crypt TV are knocking it out of the park with their new VR show, The Faceless Lady. For those unaware, this is the first fully scripted VR horror show on the market.

Even for masters of horror like Eli Roth and Crypt TV, this is a monumental undertaking. However, if I trust anyone to change the way that we experience horror, it would be these two legends.

The Faceless Lady

Ripped from the pages of Irish folklore, The Faceless Lady tells the story of a tragic spirit cursed to wander the halls of her castle for all of eternity. However, when three young couples are invited to the castle for a series of games, their fates may soon change.

So far, the story has provided horror fans with a gripping game of life or death that doesn’t look as if it will slow down in episode five. Luckily, we have an exclusive clip that may be able to satiate your appetites until the new premiere.

Airing on 4/25 at 5pmPT/8pmET, episode five follows our final three contestants in this wicked game. As the stakes are raised ever higher, will Ella be able to fully awaken her connection with Lady Margaret?

The faceless lady

The newest episode can be found on Meta Quest TV. If you haven’t already, follow this link to subscribe to the series. Make sure to check out the new clip below.

Eli Roth Present’s THE FACELESS LADY S1E5 Clip: THE DUEL – YouTube

To view in the highest resolution, adjust the quality settings in the bottom right corner of the clip.

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