The Purge: Anarchy

I'm completely on board with the horror action, but this sequel really points out the glaring thematic flaws.

A nasty little B-picture, unashamed of its exploitation roots.

The action sequences are well judged throughout. But we never get any closer to understanding which end of the fence the film-makers sit at.

The Purge films are the kind of lean, clever exploitation pics that you could imagine Roger Corman making in an earlier era.

Flickers of dread materialise - care of those one-percenters co-opting the event for entertainment - though again we're mostly in second gear.

This series combines smarts and shocks in a disarming manner. From small beginnings, it could be a lasting franchise - this entry is a satisfying, hardboiled genre picture.

Despite the movie’s blundering detour it does get back on track just in time to provide an unexpected satisfying ending.

The movie's attempts at social commentary about the decline of U.S. culture and increasingly extreme politics are overshadowed by how DeMonaco revels in morbid ultra-violence.

...it will leave a nasty taste in your mouth, making you wince and jump out of your seat.

The scope has increased, but perhaps too much; three separate stories interact yet still require their own individual outcomes.