The Purge: Anarchy (2014)

cosmiclynx57 said:Man, wiredraven82, you're being totally unrealistic here. It really doesn't matter which movie hits harder or who executed the concept better—the person who brought the idea to the table first is the one who's being original, right?

I get where you're coming from emotionally, I really do, but you just can't ignore the fact that the first film exists and introduced that whole new concept to us in the first place.
If a third movie comes out down the road and you end up liking it way more than the second one, would you suddenly claim the third one is the "original" idea? Come on, 😁

Sometimes a precedent occurs where a brilliant idea is birthed by a first film that ends up being total garbage. 😁 It’s rare, sure, but if the core concept is solid, why wouldn't you keep refining and improving the cinematic execution?

We are dealing with a genuine rarity in cinema here; usually, when there's a great idea, the first film hits the mark and the sequels are what inevitably mess everything up—this is clearly the exception to that rule. 🙂

To me, this second installment is simply a great movie, and I have two specific reasons why:

1. Because of Frank Grillo. He finally landed a lead role and proved exactly what he's capable of—he's a total badass. I genuinely want to see him in more leading roles in high-quality films rather than just being relegated to supporting parts in good movies; he deserves much better than that. Honestly, screw both Jason Statham (I can't stand the guy—I'll say it publicly: I absolutely cannot stand that puffed-up English actor) and Vin Diesel. I've had enough of Diesel too, even if he isn't quite as grating as Statham.

We are talking about the new guard of "bad motherfucker" actors here, and Frank Grillo definitely earns more screen time. Whether you agree or not, that's my take. In my view, he's superior to those other two—at least to me—because he possesses a much better charisma and presence. Sometimes, I truly don't understand how things work in Hollywood.

2. Aside from that, this is just a fundamentally good film. Like I said. 🙂

Speaking of Grillo—since it's painfully obvious that he's my favorite actor (it should be clear from the way I fly, I suppose)😁, I am hoping for a decent horror-thriller like Demonic (2015) . The premise sounds great, though I don't have much faith in director will Canon. I suspect the film might struggle precisely because of that one element—the director.

I’m on the same page, the second one was way better, more tension, actually felt like there was something going on instead of just fluff...👍
Anyway, the movie itself is top tier...has anyone heard if they're already filming a third part or what...

I actually enjoyed both parts. They weren't exactly mind-blowing, but I had a great time watching them.

Larry Sanchez7 said:I’m on the same page, the second one was way better, more tension, actually felt like there was something going on instead of just fluff...👍
Anyway, the movie itself is top tier...has anyone heard if they're already filming a third part or what...

There’s going to be a third installment—here is the intel I managed to dig up online regarding it:

Now that the sequel, The Purge: Anarchy, managed to outpace the original film's $91 million global haul by climbing all the way to $110 million, Universal Pictures—along with Blumhouse and Platinum Dunes—has officially kicked off development on a third entry in this horror franchise. Small wonder this is happening ; The Two films Had a combined production budget of just $12 million, yet they've pulled in a massive $200 million at the global box office. When you look at those margins, the math is pretty simple—it's hard to walk away from that kind of profit. DeMonaco—the guy responsible for writing and directing the first two installments—is officially back on board to pen the script for the third one. With a clear vision for directing a narrative centered on a territory where, for one single night a year, homicide is completely sanctioned—leaving anyone unfortunate enough to be caught outside their fortified homes at the mercy of absolute chaos.

So, I just caught wind of the latest news regarding the franchise, and honestly, it’s exactly what you’d expect from a studio setup like this. It looks like Universal Pictures is doubling down on the momentum following the success of the previous installment. They are officially moving forward with the next chapter, keeping the partnership between Blumhouse and Platinum Dunes intact. It’s an interesting move, though—it feels almost inevitable at this stage. After The sequel The Purge: Anarchy, the industry logic is pretty clear: why mess with a winning formula? James DeMonaco is staying on board to steer the ship, which provides a certain level of continuity, even if some might argue that the repetitive nature of the concept starts to feel a bit predictable. I’ve been thinking about the trajectory here. There’s a specific kind of tension in how they’re scaling this up—moving from a contained, claustrophobic vibe toward something much more expansive. It reminds me of how certain cult classics eventually get stretched out to fit a blockbuster mold. You have to wonder if the raw, gritty essence that made the initial idea stand out will survive this expansion, or if it’ll just become another polished, high-budget spectacle. wiredraven82 was mentioning something similar recently regarding the pacing of these types of horror expansions, and I think there's merit to that skepticism. When you start widening the lens, you risk losing that tight, suffocating atmosphere that makes a thriller actually work. We'll see if DeMonaco can maintain that edge or if we're looking at a more streamlined, commercialized version of the original vision. One thing is certain: the hype machine is already revving up.

It’s honestly mind-blowing to look at the numbers—starting with a modest $12 million budget and somehow pivoting all the way to a $200 million haul at the box office. You have to hand it to them; that kind of ROI is nothing short of legendary.

Based on what we know, the third installment is already on the horizon—it's actually slated for release as early as next year.

I’ve always felt that James DeMonaco is a solid director—nothing short of a genius, but certainly nothing to write off either. He sits right in that middle ground where he shows real potential to constantly refine his craft and climb higher. If you look at his body of work, this film is hands down his strongest piece to date.

It’s pretty clear he’s a fan of Ethan Hawke—I mean, he was practically handpicked for the first installment of The Purge, and he even showed up in that remake of Assault on Precinct 13. It seems obvious that DeMonaco has a fascination with how society descends into anarchy and the subsequent struggle against it—especially since DeMonaco served as both writer and co-producer on that one. That said, I don't think he'd want to see Ethan Hawke back for the third chapter of The Purge; honestly, one time was more than enough.

I really respect his approach—he truly hit his stride with this one. It’s a straightforward style, but it’s tight; there aren't any glaring plot holes to trip over. Most importantly, the movie avoids any unnecessary psychedelia in film—and frankly, I HATE psychedelia in film. The moment I sense that kind of stylistic nonsense creeping in, I either shut the movie off entirely or start tearing it apart right here on the forum. This story stays strictly linear, which works perfectly given how genuinely original the concept is. For me, this was a total breath of fresh air.

An Old School approach.