The First Purge Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray release of "The First Purge" is presented by Universal Studios with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.39:1 aspect ratio. Captured digitally using Arri Alexa cameras and presumably finished at 2K DI, this release offers striking visual quality. The transfer is characterized by its sharpness, especially in brightly lit scenes and high-contrast moments, revealing fine details such as facial features and clothing textures. Stylistically, the film employs hallucinogenic lighting and grading choices—ranging from alien greens, deep reds, and vivid purples, adding to its immersive experience. Although the overarching darkness and handheld camera work sometimes obscure finer details, the presentation remains impressive with no noticeable banding, even in misty environments.

The video’s razor-sharp clarity extends throughout the film, encapsulating details like the stitching on clothing and the texture of walls. Faces are rendered lifelike, revealing pores and wrinkles, accentuating the film's detailed cinematography. Despite the film's deliberately toned-down contrast, the colors remain vivid, especially during daylight exteriors and night scenes featuring sparkling whites. The primary colors—energetic blues, vivid reds, and greens—along with warm yellow and amber oranges offer a vibrant viewing experience reminiscent of Italian Giallo films. However, the film’s intended visual style sometimes results in lackluster shadows and slightly inconsistent blacks, though visibility in dark scenes is well-maintained. Overall, this Blu-ray transfer delivers a quality viewing experience that retains much of its theatrical essence.

The DTS:X audio track for "The First Purge" delivers an immersive and dynamic auditory experience. The soundtrack effectively uses the surround channels to create a convincing wash of sounds during intense crowd scenes, while quieter dialogue moments are enriched with subtle background noises that spill through the side and rear channels. The dynamic range is notably wide, allowing for superb fidelity throughout the presentation. Expected jolts such as explosions, gunfire, and fights populate the surround channels, delivering considerable sonic punch. Dialogue is clear and clean, with only a few instances of confusion during particularly cacophonous scenes.

The use of ceiling channels creates a nuanced hemispheric aural experience, with understated atmospherics such as urban echoes, bird chirps, and rustling leaves. This approach results in a more nuanced presentation rather than an aggressive soundscape. Surrounds are equally active, maintaining an immersive soundfield with outstanding directionality and flawless movement from the fronts to the sides and rears. The front channels play a significant role in creating an engagingly broad and spacious soundstage, with excellent separation and balance that extends into the off-screen space.

In action-packed sequences, the audio track exhibits superb clarity and detail, particularly in the mid-range. Every gunshot, explosion, and metallic clang reverberates distinctly throughout the room. Vocals remain well-prioritized amid the chaos, and a responsive low-end adds oomph to impactful sounds like punches, crashes, and explosions. The soundtrack’s capability extends to well-rendered bass shakes from hip-hop tracks, enhancing the overall listening experience. Overall, the audio presentation of "The First Purge" on Blu-ray is an enveloping and thoroughly engaging technical achievement.

The Blu-ray extras for "The First Purge" offer a comprehensive behind-the-scenes experience, though some segments feel a bit rushed. The highlight, "A Radical Experiment," effectively delves into the film's sociopolitical underpinnings with insightful cast and crew interviews. "Bringing the Chaos" provides a whirlwind overview of stunts and set pieces, demonstrating the film's action-packed essence. "The Masks of The First Purge" introduces viewers to the film’s unique and eerie masks, although it could benefit from more depth. Additionally, the single deleted scene offers a glimpse into an alternate narrative path, providing some curiosity-satisfying context. Overall, these extras offer substantial value for fans interested in the creative process behind the film, even if some segments could use more elaboration.

Extras included in this disc:

• Deleted Scene: One excised scene saved from the cutting room floor.
• A Radical Experiment: Cast & crew interviews discussing the plot’s thematic relevance.
• Bringing the Chaos: Brief glimpse into the film’s stunts and set pieces.
• The Masks of The First Purge: Overview of the unique costumes and masks.

"The First Purge," the fourth installment in the Purge franchise, takes a prequel approach, diving into provocative and polarizing sociopolitical themes. Set against the backdrop of contemporary America's turbulent climate, the film spares no subtlety in its portrayal of political bias. The plot revisits 2014, a period when the ultra-right New Founding Fathers of America (NFFA) adopt Dr. Updale’s (Marisa Tomei) experimental blueprint for the Purge in Staten Island. The narrative casts a wide lens on several low-income characters, such as Nya (Lex Scott Davis), who protests the moral ambiguity of the experiment, and Dmitri (Y'lan Noel), a drug lord with an unlikely hero arc. James DeMonaco’s script vividly criticizes institutional violence while also failing to establish any real emotional connection with its characters.

Despite a predictable storyline and didactic tendencies, "The First Purge" impresses with its visual style. Director Gerard McMurray injects new life into the franchise with a visually evocative palette that amplifies the film's eerie atmosphere. Working alongside cinematographer Anastas Michos, McMurray bathes scenes in electrifying neon hues that recall classic Italian Giallo horrors. The aesthetics align perfectly with the film’s sinister undertones, from creepy portrayals like Skeletor (Rotimi Paul) to unsettling street vignettes set against disturbingly vibrant backdrops. These elements make this installment arguably the most visually compelling of the series.

However, technical prowess can only carry the film so far. While "The First Purge" offers striking imagery and a potent, albeit heavy-handed, political message, its impact dilutes through repetitive structure and thematic overexposition. The film's narrative ping-pongs between violent set pieces and underdeveloped subplots involving characters who struggle to resonate. Despite lofty ambitions and some genuinely unsettling moments, "The First Purge" ultimately feels like a visually interesting prelude that adds little depth to the already established franchise lore.

"The First Purge" presents itself as a mixed bag within the franchise, marked by both notable strengths and certain notable shortcomings. Directed by Gerard McMurray with a script by franchise creator James DeMonaco, this fourth installment ventures into familiar territory with its narrative centered on a twelve-hour window of legalized crime. McMurray adeptly crafts an atmosphere reminiscent of classic horror and Italian Giallo, injecting a necessary dose of creepiness into an otherwise predictable plot. Technically, the Blu-ray release shines with a near-reference HD video presentation and a subtle yet impressive DTS:X soundtrack that enhances the eerie atmosphere, particularly valued by audio enthusiasts.

However, the film struggles to maintain a cohesive emotional connection with its characters, contributing to an overall disjointed experience. Elements that touch upon existing political dialogue are conspicuously integrated but leave some viewers feeling exhausted and disconnected. Furthermore, character development feels strained; the attempts to build an anti-hero with a drug-dealing background and forced romance angles fail to resonate authentically. While the action sequences are engaging and certain chase scenes through booby-trapped areas are memorable, other aspects such as the involvement of characters like Freddy (Steve Harris) feel underutilized and incomplete.

Conclusively, "The First Purge" does not quite reach the heights of its predecessors, especially in terms of narrative depth and emotional engagement. Nonetheless, franchise fans may find enough within its action-packed moments and technical prowess to warrant a viewing. The Blu-ray's impressive audio-visual quality is undoubtedly a highlight, though the sparse selection of supplements provides only marginal value. Ultimately, while it may not rise to the level of earlier entries, "The First Purge" offers a blend of chilling atmosphere and satisfying action that could appeal to dedicated followers of the series.