The Purge (The Purge) is a 2018 American horror thriller action film created by James DeMonaco. The film premiered on movie platforms on September 4, 2018.
The Purge (TV series) is a television adaptation of the popular film series, which aired for two seasons (2018–2019) on USA Network. Created by James DeMonaco – the creator of the original films – the series develops the concept of the annual "Purge" (12 hours of lawlessness), but in a more expanded format with shortened storylines and new characters.
The series moves in a dark dystopian atmosphere – the camera makes chaotic movements, the lighting is cold, and the scenes on the night of the Purge are tense and expressive. However, it feels like the theme is overtaken by a fabricated TV length – not only in pace, but also in plot repetitions.
The first season received an average rating (42 % Tomatometer), with many critics pointing out that the series lost its freshness and stagnated in stretching the plot threads. The second season garnered more praise – the climax was more dramatic, the narrative became denser, and the characters developed significantly.
The serial film The Purge proves to be ambivalent – on the one hand, it adds important social weight and needed expansions to the world of the Purge, but on the other – it suffers from TV stretching, mocking nervousness and an inconsistent narrative. With a second season, the series fixes some of the weaknesses, adds drama and development, but the overall story remains mixed – strong in messages, average in execution.
