New Showbiz

You are here:
The Purge: Election Year

The Purge: Election Year

2016

R

Director

James DeMonaco

Runtime

109 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

Two years after choosing not to kill the man who killed his son, former police sergeant Leo Barnes has become head of security for Senator Charlene Roan, the front runner in the next Presidential election due to her vow to eliminate the Purge. On the night of what should be the final Purge, a betrayal from within the government forces Barnes and Roan out onto the street where they must fight to survive the night.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

6.1/10

Good

Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Limited

The film lacks central LGBTQ+ characters or explicit explorations of non-heteronormative identities. It focuses on systemic violence rather than queer visibility.

Gender Representation

Good

Women occupy high-stakes roles in political leadership and physical agency. Senator Roan and Sam challenge traditional archetypes by navigating violence independently of patriarchal protection.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Excellent

A multi-ethnic cast illustrates how systemic violence disproportionately affects marginalized communities. The film contrasts diverse, working-class neighborhoods against a homogeneous, wealthy elite.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Excellent

The narrative offers a profound critique of Western institutions and capitalist systems. It portrays the Purge as a tool for socioeconomic cleansing by a corrupt elite.

Disability Representation

Fair

Physical and psychological trauma drive the survival arcs of the characters. However, these elements serve as tension builders rather than nuanced explorations of specific disabilities.

Strengths

  • Strong subversion of gendered political roles through powerful female characters.
  • Effective use of multi-ethnic casting to highlight socioeconomic and racial disparities.
  • A sophisticated, anti-establishment critique of Western political and capitalist systems.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lack of intentionality regarding LGBTQ+ visibility and queer identities.
  • Absence of nuanced representation for neurodivergence or chronic disability.
  • Reliance on physical trauma as a plot device rather than character-driven disability narratives.

AI Analysis

The film excels at using race and class as lenses to critique the distribution of power. By centering the conflict in diverse, working-class areas, it highlights the intersectional nature of systemic oppression. While the film subverts gendered political roles, it fails to provide meaningful representation for LGBTQ+ individuals or characters with specific disabilities. These absences limit the narrative's breadth. Ultimately, the film's strength lies in its anti-establishment critique. It successfully deconstructs traditional social hierarchies and the perceived legitimacy of state authority.

How are these scores produced? →

Featured in

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.