There’s always been a political statement inherent in the Purge film franchise. The first feature introduced the concept of a national purge night, a twelve-hour period when crime — with very few limitations — was permitted in the United States. The New Founding Fathers of America, the corrupt political power in charge, seemingly supported the sadistic practice because the purge led to the reduction of crime and low unemployment. The Purge: Election Year, the newly-released third feature in the series, makes the series’ political message even clearer.
The night of mayhem in this entry occurs in the heat of a presidential match-up. In the presidential campaign, the anti-purge Senator Charlie Roan (Elizabeth Mitchell) faces the pro-purge Minister Edwidge...