It’s 2022. Crime is at an all-time low, and unemployment is at one percent.

How? It’s all due to an annual 12-hour purge where everyday people go out for a night on the town to pillage and plunder, and it’s all endorsed by the new leaders of America. Apparently, one night of “releasing the beast” within us saves the country from poverty and crime, thus making America a utopia. Try not to think about it too hard.

As the film begins, we’re instantly thrust into the life of James Sandin (Ethan Hawke). He’s the top security system salesman and lives happily with his wife, Mary (Lena Headey), and somewhat disgruntled children, Zoey and Charlie (Adelaide Kane and Max Burkholder). At first, the Purge goes normally for the Sandin family. All is quiet and well until Charlie helps a stranger by inviting him into the house and saving him from his masked attackers. Now, the Sandins are being threatened by bloodthirsty assailants and have to make a choice: turn over the stranger and save themselves or fight back.

The fatal mistake of “The Purge” is the striking lack of setup: there’s no character build-up before the slicing and dicing begins. Eventually, you really don’t care if the protagonists live or die because there is no connection between the characters and audience.

Writer and director James DeMonaco is ultimately unable to follow through the intriguing idea behind the film. The storyline is filled with clichés and last-minute rescues, all of which you see coming. Instead of heart-pounding suspense, the predictability bores you into a comatose state.

If “The Purge” is meant to comment on humanity or make a statement on the future of the United States, the attempted message is horribly lost in translation. If there is a lesson to be found, it’s always be kind to your neighbors; invite them to parties, lend them a cup of suga. Maybe, that way, they might not try to kill you.

_MOVE gives “The Purge” 2 out of 5 stars._