The Purge: Anarchy Blu-ray Review

'The Purge: Anarchy' boasts a top-tier 1080p HD transfer, presented in a 2.40:1 aspect ratio, from Universal that undeniably excels despite the film's predominantly dark setting. Throughout the movie's nighttime sequences, the transfer manages to maintain impressive detail and color fidelity. Oranges, teals, and blues are rendered remarkably well in the shadows, while black levels are deep and satisfying. Skintones are natural and nicely saturated, and contrast consistency adds to the overall high quality of the presentation. The image holds firm with excellent detail, showcasing crisp edges and revealing textures, even in low-light conditions.

Facial features and background elements are distinctly sharp, giving depth and a realistic touch to the film's gritty atmosphere. Although minor video noise and occasional softness occur, these are attributed to the film's original photography rather than flaws in the transfer itself. Notably, artifacting, banding, and aliasing appear minimal or absent. The night-for-day shooting style enhances the film's grim ambiance, with slightly muted colors that evoke its dystopian theme, while the few daytime scenes feature heightened contrast that amplifies the tension leading up to the Purge.

Overall, 'The Purge: Anarchy' delivers a video presentation that sets a high standard for Blu-ray transfers of similarly lit films. With its deep black levels, consistent contrast, and vivid detailing, this encode presents an atmospheric visual experience that will exceed viewers' expectations.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround mix of "The Purge: Anarchy" delivers an outstanding auditory experience. Dialogue clarity is impeccable, allowing for subtle vocal nuances to be distinctly appreciated. The mix is well-balanced, engaging the entire surround sound system where appropriate, delivering an immersive experience. Dynamic range is excellent, with an open soundstage that extends audio elements well into the room. The LFE channel boasts frequent, room-filling activity, delivering the film’s music and lower bass frequencies with palpable impact. While discrete rear channel activity isn’t extensive, its selective use during suspense and action sequences enriches the overall immersion, seamlessly complementing the front channels.

Universal’s audio presentation hits the mark with weighty and aggressive LFE output, accurate directionality, and enveloping rear speaker activity. Explosions and gunfire showcase impressive dynamics, occasionally pushing the rear speakers to their fullest capacity. This track is robust, lively, and thoroughly immerses viewers into the film’s chaotic environment. From the light ambient city noises at the beginning to the powerful surge when the Purge commences, the audio kicks into high gear, offering powerful punches throughout the film. Gritty sound effects and depth further enhance realism, creating a sense of audio depth perfectly balanced with crystal-clear dialogue. The advent of security or handheld camera perspectives effectively contributes to an immersive viewing experience without detracting from audio quality. The score amplifies suspense without overshadowing dialogue or sound effects, culminating in a dynamic and high-mark audio presentation.

"The Purge: Anarchy" Blu-ray disc extras offer a modest array of supplementary material. The Behind the Anarchy featurette is a concise 9-minute behind-the-scenes look which includes interviews with filmmakers and actors, providing insights into the film’s themes and on-set experiences. Despite its brevity, it offers more substance than a typical promotional reel. The Deleted Scenes segment consists of five scenes, cumulatively lasting 8 minutes; these are additional character-building moments, primarily from the early part of the movie that give fans some extra narrative depth. Additionally, the disc also includes six promotional trailers that run for a total of 14 minutes, expanding the viewing experience with previews of other Universal titles.

Extras included in this disc:

• Behind the Anarchy: Brief 9-minute featurette exploring themes, production insights, and on-set footage.
• Deleted Scenes: Five scenes focusing on early character development.
• Trailers: Six promotional trailers from Universal.

Director James DeMonaco's "The Purge: Anarchy" expands upon the original's narrow home invasion setup by thrusting viewers into the chaotic streets of a dystopian America during the annual 12-hour period where all crime is legal. The film follows an ensemble cast, including Eva Sanchez (Carmen Ejogo), her sister Cali (Zoë Soul), a stranded couple Shane and Liz (Zach Gilford and Kiele Sanchez), and a mysterious vigilante, Leo Barnes (Frank Grillo). While "Anarchy" ambitiously explores broader societal collapse and class warfare, it occasionally falters under the weight of its overly broad focus and dense socio-political commentary.

The movie meticulously inches towards "The Purge" night with an almost Hitchcockian build-up, exploring the personal lives of the soon-to-be-survivors before plunging into a chaotic world reminiscent of "Mad Max." The detailed depiction of a society teetering on the edge of insanity lends a disturbingly believable tone to the story. However, as the narrative shifts to its rich versus poor paradigm, it tends to overextend, layering its social commentary so thickly that it risks collapsing under the weight of its own ambitions. This thematic excess detracts from the visceral immediacy that initially makes the franchise compelling.

Despite its narrative inconsistencies and occasional lapses in logic, "The Purge: Anarchy" remains an engaging survival action thriller. The relentless pacing, intense action sequences, and Frank Grillo's standout performance as Leo Barnes compensate for the film's shortcomings. Ignore some of the more strained plot points and burdensome socio-economic messages, and viewers will find a film that delivers sufficient mindless entertainment. "Anarchy" excels when focusing on the immediate perils of the Purge, presenting a nightmarish escape scenario that will satisfy fans of the genre.

"The Purge: Anarchy" is an improvement over its predecessor, delivering an expanded narrative scope and a more engaging protagonist, Frank Grillo’s character, Sergeant Leo Barnes. This installment ventures beyond the confines of a single residence to capture the chaos and violence erupting in the streets, providing a richer, more immersive experience. Universal's Blu-ray release excels in video quality, presenting a crystal-clear picture that effectively showcases the film's gritty, urban setting. The audio track matches the visual excellence with a powerful DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track that fully envelops the viewer in the tense atmosphere of Purge night.

The sequel also deepens the socio-political commentary introduced in the first film, emphasizing themes of resistance against oppressive powers. While some may find this angle somewhat preachy, it nonetheless adds thematic depth to the relentless action and suspense. However, the ensemble cast slightly dilutes what could have been a tighter, more character-driven story centered around Grillo. The absence of substantial bonus features is a minor drawback, though the available extras provide some value.

In conclusion, "The Purge: Anarchy" stands out as a stronger follow-up due to its broadened narrative scope and excellent technical presentation on Blu-ray. For those who enjoyed the first film, this sequel is likely to be even more appealing. The superb audio-visual quality makes this Blu-ray a notable release, though prospective buyers might consider renting it first. Recommended for existing fans and newcomers alike.