Skip to main content

Review: ‘Purge’ sequel provides requisite thrills

By WTOP Staff

FRANK SCHECK
The Hollywood Reporter

LOS ANGELES (AP) — There’s a lot more purging going on in this inevitable sequel to last summer’s surprise horror hit “The Purge.” Expanding the parameters of the low-budget original by taking the action literally out into the streets, “The Purge: Anarchy” efficiently exploits its high-concept premise while delivering far more visceral thrills than its predecessor. Like it or not, a new franchise seems to have been born.

Set ten years in the future, the film written and directed by James DeMonaco (repeating his chores from the original) again takes place during the annual Purge, a government-sanctioned 12-hour period in which ordinary citizens are allowed to commit heinous crimes with no fear of punishment. Created as a way to allow people to indulge their basest instincts so as to keep the crime rate down the rest of the year, participants are urged to “have a good cleanse” while those seeking shelter from the nihilistic mayhem are constantly advising each other to “stay safe.”

The latter is exactly what most of the featured main characters are trying to do, including single mother Eva (Carmen Ejogo), her feisty sixteen-year-old daughter Cali (Zoe Soul) and bickering married couple Shane (Zach Gilford) and Liz (Kiele Sanchez). The exception is Leo (Frank Grillo), a loner who, outfitted with an armor-plated car and loads of weaponry, heads out into the night for reasons of his own.

For contrived reasons too convoluted to explicate, Leo becomes the reluctant and unlikely protector of the other four when they find themselves trapped outside during the violence-filled night. Not only must they avoid the various ordinary citizens participating in the mayhem, including a scarily masked gang of young miscreants, but also the groups of black uniform-clad paramilitary types who massacre victims with automatic weapons from the backs of huge trucks. After Leo’s car becomes disabled, the group is forced to make their way on foot through the mean streets to the safe home of Eva’s employer.

While the first film was essentially an elaborate home invasion thriller, this follow-up more closely resembles a John Carpenter-style action movie (DeMonaco scripted the “Assault on Precinct 13” remake) with its plethora of well-staged, ultra-violent set pieces. And while character development is clearly not a high priority, the principal figures are a generally engaging and sympathetic lot, with Grillo’s steely Leo particularly intriguing.

More interestingly, the film expands on the original premise by introducing racial and class-conscious themes into the storyline: Eva’s elderly father (John Beasley) is seen sacrificing himself in one of the more wickedly clever plot twists; a Black Panther-style group led by a firebrand insurgent (Michael K. Williams of “The Wire”) violently rebels against the Purge; and the desperate quintet become would-be prey to a group of wealthy white people who have bid at an auction for the privilege of hunting them down.

While the film would have gained resonance if these provocative ideas had been developed more fully, it works well enough on its own terms, with Grillo’s commanding turn anchoring the proceedings. Director DeMonaco fills the screen with arresting images — a flame-engulfed bus seen barreling down the street in the background is particularly haunting — and keeps the pacing brisk enough to prevent dwelling on the plot contrivances. Effectively adding to the tense atmosphere is Nathan Whitehead’s excellent electronic music score.

“The Purge: Anarchy,” a Universal release, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America for “strong disturbing violence, and for language.” Running time: 103 minutes.

___

MPAA rating definition for R: Restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

___

Online: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movie/purge-2/review/718619?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=hollywoodreporter_breakingnews&utm_campaign=THR%20Breaking%20News_2014-07-16%2023%3A47%3A00%20America%2FLos_Angeles_acouch

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Where to take the family while they visit DC

Government shuts down after last-minute talks and Senate vote fail

How the Tax Cut Affects Investors