Whatever

1. The Purge: Anarchy
Cinematography: Good usage of quick cuts during fast paced sequences and close ups
to display reactions throughout nearly all of the film. Establishing shots never left me
confused as to what was happening or where I was. No particular shots ever stood out
to me as very well placed or amazing so I give the film 3/5 for cinematography.
Mise-en-scene: Very fine details that I missed the first viewing but noticed during the
second that have a lot of meaning. For example a few, well placed photographs let us
know a lot about a character that turns out to be very important to the plot and the
character’s back story. These very subtle details turned out to have a lot more to them
than at first glance so for this I give the film a 4/5 for mise-en-scene.
Sound: The use of music was perfect, building tension at the correct moments and
keeping the audience alert and entranced. I found myself thinking that I was safe
because there was no music hinting any danger and realized this film had my
emotions completely under it’s control with it’s music. Props to the head of sound for
this movie, it deserves a 5/5 for his or her work. There were even moments when I
had expected something to happen because it was too quiet and tense and this shows
how on edge the music alone had me.
Lighting: There were very many moments that used light to demonstrate hope in a
character, the evil of a character (specifically the sergeant) or the overall light of the
setting. Considering that the coming of night is what signifies the beginning of the
purge, the ever-growing darkness of nearly every scene is a great foreboding effect.
4/5 again.
Performance: Perhaps the only portion of the movie that fell flat. No performances
really stuck out and I didn’t find myself relating to any of them. It seemed like the
portrayals were unrealistic and I don’t believe any normal person in that situation
would act the way the actors did. Whether it be lazy writing or a lack of good
performers, this is the only non positive aspect to me and it’s large in part to the
relationship of the characters too. A mother and daughter relationship seemed so
forced and unnatural. For example in the clip included below, the mother called for
her daughter and it sounded lazy. 1/5.