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The dystopian concept of “The Purge” in 2013 was originally a thought-provoking social experiment envisioned by its creator. Recollecting an eerie incident with his wife while navigating through the boroughs of Brooklyn, DeMonaco tells of an encounter with an aggressive motorist. His wife’s fleeting comment about desiring one legitimate murder annually, directed towards the irksome stranger, was not serious. However, it planted the seed for DeMonaco’s script for “The Purge.”
Fast forward to the years during the Trump presidency, when there was an observable climb in politically charged acts of violence across America. What exacerbated these feelings for DeMonaco was the President’s tendency to hint at his favor towards violent acts committed by his right-wing supporters against leftist adversaries. This blurred the lines between fiction and potential reality for DeMonaco, making the once-conceptual Purge feel alarmingly possible. He confessed:
“Everyone always asks me why didn’t I direct [‘The First Purge’] or the TV show. I’ve grown increasingly disturbed by this idea; there was an abstraction to the idea, and now that the abstraction is gone. Many people are saying that the Purge can become real in America. To hear that makes me very sad for our country, that we’re even in a place that that can be said aloud.”
These remarks were given in 2018, predating the tumultuous January 6 events. Moreover, they came before his penning of “The Forever Purge” in 2021. This addition to the franchise depicted the Purge being unlawfully extended by zealous nationalists, stretching the 12-hour period indefinitely, further blurring the lines between DeMonaco’s fiction and reality.
FAQs about ‘The Purge’ and Its Impact on Reality
What inspired the concept of ‘The Purge’?
‘The Purge’ was inspired by a remark made by the director James DeMonaco’s wife, imagining a scenario where people could legally commit murder once a year as a response to a road-rage incident.
Did real-world events affect the director’s view of ‘The Purge’?
Yes, the escalation of politically motivated violence in America during the Trump administration and the implied approval of such acts by the President made DeMonaco view his creation as disturbingly plausible, rather than purely fictional.
What is ‘The Forever Purge’ about?
‘The Forever Purge,’ written by DeMonaco, takes the Purge concept further, showing the event being extended past its designated timeframe by extremists, challenging the once-clear boundary between DeMonaco’s fictional narrative and social reality.
How did DeMonaco react to people suggesting ‘The Purge’ could become a reality?
DeMonaco expressed sadness and disturbance at the idea that such a violent social experiment as depicted in ‘The Purge’ could be even remotely suggested as a real possibility in contemporary America.
Did DeMonaco direct all of ‘The Purge’ films?
No, DeMonaco did not direct all of the sequels or the TV show adaptations of ‘The Purge’, partly due to his growing unease with how closely the fictional violence mirrored real-life tensions and upheaval.