THE FOREVER PURGE

US, 2021, 103 minutes, Colour.

Ana de Reguera, Tenoch Huerta, Josh Lucas, Levin Rambin, Cassidy Freeman, Alejandro Edda, Will Patton, Will Brittain, Sammy Rotibi.

Directed by Evarado Valerio Gout.

James de Monaco wrote a screenplay about a political situation where the government, the American government, declared that on one night of the year, all laws were suspended, that there would be no crimes, giving license to any citizen to wreak violence and vengeance, even death, on their enemies. This was The Purge.

The theme proved very popular and there were two sequels.

Many audiences would be surprised that in 2021 there would be this kind of Purge film. The previous films were all set in the cities. However, the setting for this version De Monaco takes his audiences to the state of Texas, on a ranch property, in a local town, and, in the city of El Paso, on the American-Mexican border.

Which means then that the Purge elements are all there but the variations on the theme are interesting. In the previous films, there were urban problems, poverty problems, racial problems. This time there are some similar issues but basically there is the issue of the relationship between traditional Americans (Donald Trump’s followers) and the Hispanics who have migrated, legally or illegally, into the United States. There is also an emphasis on the American treatment of Native Americans.

The Purge situation gets out of hand, not limited to the night hours of the official Purge – but continuing on, day and night.

In fact, this drama could be seen in the light of attitudes in legislation, especially the wall between Mexico and the US, in the four years of the Trump administration. Ironically, it is the Texans who have to take refuge from the Purge in Mexico.

There are two Mexican leads, strong characters who take stances against the Purgers, exercising leadership. There is also the American family from the ranch, led by Josh Lucas, rather single-minded, not understanding Hispanic culture and not wanting to, but forced into difficult circumstances, life-threatening, and having to be dependent on the Mexicans. In his party are his pregnant wife, his sister, and some sympathetic Hispanics from his ranch and others who work in the local meat processing firm.

There is also a sympathetic performance by Will Patton as Lucas’s father, voicing good principles, a lot of common sense – but the victim of the Purge by Hispanic workers, resentful of their treatment on the ranch.

By transferring the action to Texas, it means that the Purge could go on forever.

1. The Purge series? Popularity? Themes, law, vengeance, racism, anarchy?
2. Audience presuppositions, the night of the purge, no rules, no crimes? Government authentication? No police or support systems? People barricading themselves at home? The killings on the street?
3. The theme of racism, after the Trump era, migrants from Central America, the Wall against Mexico, Borders, illegal immigrants? Texas? Prejudices?
4. The shift of the themes from the city to Texas, the ranches, the towns, the city’s, El Paso?
5. The opening, the migrants, the well, through the tunnel, settling in Texas? The Hispanic migrants, working abattoirs and factories, the skill with horses? The attitude of the family, landowners, American pride, prejudice against Hispanics?
6. The Tucker family, Dylan, owner, working with his father, his benign father, the money to the Hispanics for protection against the Purge, his declarations about culture, equality, his being shot? Dylan, on the range, trying to turn the horse, Hispanics and their work with horses? The other men on the property? His wife, pregnant, his sister? The lifestyle?
7. The reintroduction of the Purge, media announcements, the media going off air? The family barricading themselves and the stables? The Hispanics, going on the bus, the shelter?
8. The visuals of the Purgers, masks, weapons, violence, killings in the street, terrorising, the bigotry? The extremist groups? Swastikas…?
9. The purge ending, the quiet on the ranch, the factories, Adelaide going to work, the arrival of the Purgers at the ranch, the confrontation with Dylan’s family, their grudges, killing the father? The rescue, the Hispanics, the guns? Adala and her being taken, with Darius? In the truck, the bigot, the crash? Escape?
10. The family teaming up, Darius going to get his wife, Adela and her joining the women, her background, talent with weapons? The drive, the confrontations, vehicles, shootings? The arrival of the National Guard, the news of Mexico opening the border?
11. The group, driving, the pursuit by Purgers, the sister and her mask warding of the pursuers, El Paso, the mayhem, abandoning the vehicle, going through the buildings, the attacks on shooting, the signs of the Rose (previously indicated for illegal immigrants’ passage), the help from the Native American who had appeared on television?
12. The pursuit, the confrontation in the streets, shooting, rescue?
13. Getting through the border, the pursuit of the vehicles and motor bike riders? The siege? The limited weapons? Confrontations, tactics, deaths? The group of women and older people going through the mountains, reaching the border?
14. Dylan, his discussions about culture, American culture, not understanding Hispanics, the experience of collaboration, fighting together, surviving?
15. Moving the Purge scenario to Texas, out of the city’s, future stories?