The Forever Purge Proof Nothing Lasts Forever

In the world of The Purge franchise, the U.S. government has been supplanted -- through elections -- with a new breed of "founding fathers" who have pushed through laws allowing the population to participate in bloody mayhem in order to "purge" the hate from their systems so that the rest of the year might be peaceful. Beginning at sundown and ending at sunup, Purge Night gives people the right to kill anyone with impunity, with no intervention from law enforcement or other emergency services. 'Tis the season for horror movies (check these out) with Halloween incoming, thus you might wonder if The Forever Purge should be on your horror to-watch list. Let's continue.

As a standalone, the concept made for an interesting home-invasion horror. But I suppose it was inevitable that a series would grow out of that first film so that the message could reach it's ultimate conclusion, seen here in The Forever Purge.

Taking place largely in ranching territory near the southern border, we watch as a number of immigrants -- possibly illegals -- shelter in place during Purge Night, surviving until the morning sirens that mark the cessation of violence. But this year, a movement has arisen declaring that one night is not enough and that the Forever Purge begins today. Now no place is safe as the (supposedly) downtrodden and disenfranchised (i.e. white middle class) choose to continue raining down bloody terror on immigrants and upper class alike.

There's a story in here somewhere about a white rancher confessing his prejudices as he joins forces with a small group of Mexicans who are trying to make their way back across the border before Mexico seals it permanently. (Canada has a similar open-border policy with a time limit in this film, but there is no story to be told there.)

Masked men attack. People fight back. The country erupts in flames, and the film ends with a pull-back view of the country that has an air of finality to it as reporters talk about the coast-to-coast collapse of society and governmental infrastructure. We can only hope, as this final chapter of The Purge doesn't leave you eagerly awaiting another installment.