‘The First Purge’ Block Party Scene is the Most Realistic Part of the Film

Let’s get this out of the way: The First Purge is a ridiculous film. I am not, in any way, shape or form, trying to argue against that basic fact.

The First Purge, is, confusingly enough, actually the fourth Purge film. Released on July 4, 2018 — a fun new Independence Day tradition — it’s an origin story for the Purge franchise premise: Every year, for 12 hours only, “all crime, including murder, is legal.”

According to The First Purge, written and directed by James DeMonaco, that insane concept all began with a neoconservative political group called the New Founding Fathers of America—essentially, Donald Trump supporters. The NFFA proposes an experiment: Make all crime legal for 12 hours in Staten Island, New York, and see just how quickly the residents—who happen to be mostly poor minorities—devolve into madness. (Or at least, that’s the cover story—we later find out their motivations are much more sinister.) People who stay for the Purge receive $5,000, while people who participate earn a little something extra.

Again, ridiculous, but hopefully you knew what you signed up for back in 2013 when Ethan Hawke explained that actually, murder is good for the psyche. What is equal parts hilarious and beautiful, however, is how the residents of Staten Island—including stars Y’lan Noel, Lex Scott Davis and Joivian Wade—respond to this very first purge: By throwing a killer (no pun intended) block party.

Yep, instead of getting all stab-y, our lead characters — a charismatic drug dealer (Noel), a fierce activist (Davis) and her brother (Wade) — turn up on Purge day. There’s dancing, glow sticks, booze and music courtesy of the rapper Desiigner. And honestly, it’s amazing.

Listen, these people—who again, are mostly poor people of color—have just been promised a ton of money from rich white people. Nowhere in the contract does it say they need to put on scary masks and murder people! Why can’t we all just do a little ecstasy, paint our faces, turn on a black light and have a good time? Is that not the most accurate reaction to such a proposal? Sure, you could hide inside and lock your windows like Hawke and Lena Headey in the first Purge film; or you could smoke a joint in the middle of the street without worrying about the police.

Unfortunately, that brilliant plan doesn’t work out for our heroes in The First Purge. Frustrated that no one is being murdered, the government sends in a professional purger named Skeletor (Rotimi Paul) who starts slicing, stabbing and overall killing the vibe, as Kendrick Lamar would say. Still, for one glorious moment, the Purge was just one big annual party. Then the government shut down the fun and started an annual murder-fest. Sounds about right.

According to DeMonaco, who wrote and directed the first four Purge films, he’s got one last story in him, for a fifth and final film. (There’s also the TV version of The Purge on USA, which was renewed for a second season.)

“We want to end it all, I think, in this one, and I’m very excited,” DeMonaco told Entertainment Weekly. “When I came up with the idea and pitched it to everybody, they seemed psyched, and I think it will be a really cool ending, how we take this one home.”

DeMonaco, I think I speak for all of us when I say: a block party dance number would be the perfect “really cool ending.”

Watch The First Purge on HBO GO