You have probably heard about the series of these "horror" movies with a unique premise. Its actually a premise that works if you just accept that "some" circumstances that lead to the current situation could have existed.
I dunno, maybe those running the country (Lerminati) were all high on crack when they made this law. Who knows?
Basically, in the prior movies you would accept that it is what it is and the movie could move forward with the killings and the mask and the lunacy. Suspend your disbelief, as its called.
I have no idea which one in line this movie is, and i dont care to google it (probably third or fourth), but this time they decided to go back to the first "Purge" so we see how this all came to be.
Spoiler alert: You dont see anything.
All we get is some corrupt politician and a tyrannical president and people just going along with it.
After all the Purge movies that came before, that could just ignore how in the world something like that could start, this movie truly shows the idiocy of the premise.
Poor people are more violent so they will kill each other off so we dont have to cover their Medicaid..
This is the ultimate goal of the government that is covered by a "scientific research" that says that if they let people do whatever the hell they want for a day, that they wont be violent for the rest of the year. (or some BS like that)
The plot is laughably stupid and the acting is, i wouldnt even say B level. (The main character is the only one that can somewhat act)
Even Marisa Tomei thats a somewhat decent actor put on a tragic performance. I mean it was so bad that i think she shot everything in one day. Her line delivery was out of a 90s teen soap opera.
Now i know this movie isnt being watched for its acting, or plot, but rather for some horor, gore, and action.
But even there it fails hard. All you get to see are a few headshots, stabbings and a crotch grabbing (why that was in the movie, i have no idea)
Im not sure there was a more unimaginative and unsuccessful way to present the audience the aspect you think your series excels (or at least marginally good) at, then they presented here.
Final thoughts:
The biggest failure of this movie isnt that its amazingly stupid and that they completely destroyed the premise of the series by not being able to give any kind of viable explanation as to why it all started.
The biggest failure is that its just plain boring and unimaginative.
Rating:
I give it a "Liver punch/10"
Not worth your time.....
Ill see yas around. :D