In today’s world it seems nearly impossible to separate politics, social issues, and beyond from entertainment. So why not make a film centered around class, privilege, politics, and society? “The Purge” is a fascinating franchise that focuses on just that.
“The Purge” takes into account the desire for hyper-glorified violence by the public but strangely also centers around exposing the issues in our current world.
This franchise currently has three installments. It focuses on an annual “purging” in which people dress up and go out on the streets and commit murder, and other forms of violence legally. This happens for 24 hours. Rich white people are both responsible for and shielded from the events of the night.
Every film does feature people of color. But we rarely see them in roles of dominance.
In their most recent installment, The Purge: Election Year, the dominant characters are a white senator and her bodyguard. They essentially maneuver their survival through a group of black and brown people who want to assassinate the New Founding Fathers. The New Founding Fathers are the political group responsible for the creation of The Purge.
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She insists their plan is futile and demands that they use her plan. Although her plan works out, she becomes the dominant character with people of color merely being her supporting characters.
This is a frequent issue through out all three installments as people of color are merely supporting roles with limited speaking moments.
The First Purge will come out July 4th of this year. It most likely will be the last installment of the series. It is directed by Gerard McMurray. McMurray is a black visionary responsible for Burning Sands, a Netflix film about hazing in Black fraternities.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7t-ZivjczEs]
He was also a producer of Fruitvale Station.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crMTGCCui5c]
The First Purge will hopefully join the ranks of Get Out as a film that finally tells the stories of people of color in a world of state and societal sanctioned violence.
