The First Purge

Sometime in the near distant future, the United State is a country in disarray. Taxes have skyrocketed, crime has increased, the country’s population has grown exponentially. People are rioting in the streets. The Republicans and Democrats have no solution. “The American Dream is over” an elected official states. A new government is formed… the New Founding Fathers of America (the NFFA).

Fast forward a little in time. It is two days before what is called the Staten Island Experiment. The NFFA is offering residents $5,000 if they willingly participate in the experiment by staying in their homes for 12 hours—during which crime, including murder, will be legal. They will receive more money if they participate in other activities during the Purge, whoops, I mean, “experiment.”

Oh, the experiment. Why is it being done? Well supposedly it is an experiment in psychology and sociology and such and how people react when given that much freedom in one night (e.g. Do they give into their sinful impulses?). But is that the TRUE motive behind the Experiment? The residents of Staten Island will find out soon enough…

My interest in The Purge film series has been along the lines of politics and sociology. The films seem to be designed to cause the audience to question, as many of the characters do, what does one do when presented with temptations and freedoms to indulge in sinful acts and evil desires of the heart? It also raises questions about class, race, and economics. Witnessing characters engaging these questions and decisions on screen in the previous Purge films (I have seen all of them except “The Purge: Election Year”) made me ponder how strong my own faith is. Could I ultimately withstand all such temptations?

Witnessing the abhorrent and downright wicked acts that are displayed in “The First Purge” also creates discomfort and a sense of guilt and shame. Whereas the first Purge film and the second might have had SOME lessons to be drawn from in the displayed carnage, “The First Purge” offers NOTHNG redemptive. From a technical standpoint the movie is well directed and well written, however, the carnage count is so abundant and graphic that little can be drawn that wouldn’t best be argued in perhaps an Economics or Sociology class.

Objectionable Content

NOTE: Please be aware that some of the content below is necessarily a bit graphic—despite the fact that I have not listed all the film’s objectionable content.

Violence: A character’s faced is sliced by a box knife. A character is clubbed and knocked to the floor. Multiple characters are violently and often graphically skewered with machetes. Multiple characters are brutally shot in a variety of different ways (some at close range with handguns and shotguns and some by drones). A character has his neck snapped; another is set alight by a murder wielding a flamethrower. A group of people dressed as KKK members drive around shooting people with assault rifles. A character is slowly choked to death. A character is seen dodging explosive stuffed animals. A girl is stabbed by the character dressed as Skeletor. Another female has her neck partially slashed. And the list of violent acts goes on and on.

Profanity/Language: Extreme. The count is as follows: “m***er-f***er” (17 + 1 cut off), other f-words (34), “J*sus Chr*st” (2), “J*sus” (4), G*d-d**n (3), “H*ll” (5), “d**n” (7), “bullsh*t” (7), “sh*t” (26), “a**-hole” (7), the n-word (used as n*gga) (11 in the film and probably 30+ through the movie’s rap music, including during the credits). Characters also used the following: “pipe up,” the middle finger is used, p*ss, “b*lls,” “son of a**,” “p*ssy,” “fine-a** sister.”

Sex/Nudity: There is a scene where many of the residents are partying during the experiment. Many of the women are wearing incredibly revealing outfits (some see-through, some wear short shorts, some shirts bare cleavage). Women dance and are seen grinding against other men while dancing. One couple is seen graphically “humping” each other on the hood of a car. One man tries to grab a girl’s genitals and drag her into the sewers, but she escapes.

Other: A character is seen dealing drugs. There are a few scenes that include jump scares. Characters are seen drinking at different points in the film. Some characters are dressed as Nazis, and one as Adolf Hitler.

If I could draw one theme from not just “The First Purge,” but from all The Purge films, it is the theme of temptation. Of course, this film is fantasy. But imagine, if you were given such an offer: $5,000 to participate in an experiment where you could commit any crime you want and get away it. You could rob a bank, vandalize a house, smash car windows. Would you do it? A better question you’d want to ask yourself, that these characters did not ask before signing up, is “Should I do it?”

Remember, Jesus himself was tempted in the desert by Satan for 40 days and 40 nights. Satan was there hoping Jesus would abandon God’s plan. Satan hoped Jesus would even renounce his own Father. At one point, Satan offered Jesus reign over Satan’s kingdoms.

Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.” -Luke 4:5-7

But Jesus was too smart, too strong for Satan…And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” —Luke 4:8

When we are tempted we rely on the Lord, His Word, His wisdom, His trust and guidance to remind us what is righteous, what is of God and what is not, not just what is “right” and what is “wrong.” For as it is written…

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” —Galatians 2:16

Walking out of the theater this afternoon, I felt nauseous from what I had just witnessed. The violence in this film far surpasses what is appropriate or necessary in a film series such as The Purge. Be assured, if you don’t see it—which, let’s be honest, no Christian SHOULD—you haven’t missed much. Skip it.

• Violence: Extreme
• Vulgar/Crude language: Extreme
• Profane language: Very Heavy
• Sex: Very Heavy— • Woman’s crotch grabbed by man who attempts to pull her into a sewer and rape her (she breaks free) • Couple having enthusiastic sex on a car hood • Caressing • Kissing • Apparent oral sex • Sexual dancing and partying
• Nudity: Heavy— • Man’s bare butt shown during sex • Shirtless males • Women dressed in skimpy clothing or tight shorts
• Occult: None

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.