Stage 2 English

Speculative Fiction Film Analysis

Chosen film: The Purge

Essay question: How does James Demonaco convey the theme of government corruption in The
Purge: Anarchy?

The 2014 dystopian sequel film The Purge: Anarchy illustrates a lawless world, sanctioned by the government.
In a futuristic America, once a year the purge occurs; an event where all crime is legalised, designed to
minimise crime for the remainder of the year. It centres on three groups of protagonists trying to survive the
night, simultaneously avoiding the merciless massacre. The Purge is a speculative fiction film due to the notion
of violent crimes such as murder being deemed legal for an allocated time limit. It poses questions as to
whether humans have a suppressed yearning to kill, and whether permitting crime will ultimately be rewarding.
Characters such as the rich, caucasian antagonists create a juxtaposition with the under-privileged
protagonists whom are targeted in the film. Director James Demonaco explores themes of government
corruption and social injustice using a range of techniques such as characterisation, lighting and camera
angles.

One of the ways in which Demonaco explores the theme of government corruption, is through the use of
characterisation. Carlos, a sleazy colleague of one of the protagonists Eva, refers to his purging as releasing
the beast, as he attempts to kidnap Eva and her daughter Cali. An aspect of government corruption that is
explored within the film is that deceit can often be disguised. Although advertised as a benefit for the
population, as propaganda states; (The Purge) is to deal with the epidemic of crime that was plaguing this
nation. As the film progresses, the audience can presume that the purge is purely for government benefit to
diminish the poor. The clarity of this perception is evident in multiple scenes, such as when the main
characters of the film climb on board a truck that had recently been abandoned by an antagonist that attempts
to murder them. As they explore the truck, they notice that the driver had been accessing the citys traffic
cameras, which are controlled by the government. As Cali, one of the characters speculates, perhaps they had
access to the cameras because the government was behind the purging, demonstrating the fact that the
government was spying on civilians. This raises the question as to whether The Purge was designed to
cleanse the country of those unable to protect themselves. Therefore, the government corruption seen
throughout the film extends to more than lies and deception, and can even be described as manipulative and
brain-washing. At the end of the film, it is stated that citizens are purging less. This is a reference as to why
the government intervenes and kills citizens themselves, in order to compensate for the lack of murders being
committed by society. This can be likened to current worldwide events, that suggest that protections against
government corruption are currently built into systems due to the inherent belief that corruption is inevitable.

The government boasts about how unemployment rates are below 5%, crime is virtually non existent and few
people live below the poverty line, all thanks to the government's purge. However, although these rates may
indeed be true, it is the aftermath of social, racial and economic inequality. The rich are able to support the
expensive barricades that guard their homes, while the poor are left to fend for themselves with little protection.
The film centres around characters who are evidently unable to secure themselves, in an attempt to cleanse
the city of the poor, seemingly to reduce resource use for government benefit. This demonstrates the fact that
the government is only looking for themselves, being amongst the elite. Furthermore, it is stated explicitly that
government officials with rank ten or higher are to be granted immunity, highlighting the fact that money is
power, and they are not of equal status as civilians. This creates a cycle that feeds inequality, as they are the
only ones that can protect themselves, meanwhile killing the poor. Driven by greed and selfishness, corruption
feeds inequality through both financial and racial disproportion. Additionally, the characterisation is racially
skewed, with most, if not all, of the rich characters coming from a caucasian background. This is made
noticeable through the use of bright lighting, consequently highlighting their skin tones and racial inequality.
Dark lighting is also utilised as the protagonists traipse across the city in attempt to seek shelter, evoking
sensations of suspense and danger from the audience. Another cinematic technique used by Demonaco is a
camera pan, seen when the characters are brought to a stage where they are about to be murdered in front of
the rich for entertainment. When the curtain is lifted, revealing the terrified protagonists, the camera turns from
their faces to the audiences, panning across the screen to show the rich elites smiling and clapping from their
dinner tables. This technique introduces the setting, and subsequently allows viewers to have a sense of
surroundings and the view from the protagonists on stage. Additionally, the antagonists are continually filmed
from a low angle, as they safely stand in a heightened viewing room to watch the murders unfold. The camera
angle enhances the viewer's awareness that the elite are in a position of power, sheltered from the barbaric
harm commencing below.

In conclusion, it is evident through the use of characterisation, lighting and camera angles that director James
Demonaco explores themes of government corruption and social injustice within The Purge: Anarchy.
Government corruption is disguised from society in the form of benefit to civilians, and there is an evident racial
skew amongst characters and their roles. Additionally, lighting and camera angles alike work in conjunction to
highlight the juxtaposition of the wealthy against the poor.