Horror movies are synonymous with sequels. And when they flourish at the box office, you can bet your spooky mask there will be a deal for another one inked in blood. Such is the case with The Purge, the thriller/slasher starring Ethan Hawke and written/directed by James DeMonaco. The film hauled in an impressive 34.6 million in ticket sales last weekend, stomping the projected winner The Internship which only managed to pull in a paltry 18.1 million. With these types of figures, it’s no wonder that it has been green lit for another night of terror due sometime next year. It is unclear as to whether or not director DeMonaco will be involved in the sequel, however there seems to be no reason why he shouldn’t, as he was responsible for the impressive success of the first.
Could this also be the start of a new “yearly” horror movie? Much like the Saw series, which successfully released a movie every Halloween for several years, followed by a string of Paranormal Activitys, The Purge could indeed step into that breach (yes, the Paranormal Activity series is still going, but is anyone still paying attention?). The movie is set in a world where one night a year all emergency services are suspended and the population is forced to fend for themselves, becoming either predators or prey. Given that premise, there is a myriad of possible story lines, and thus, a myriad of possibly lucrative sequels. And much like the unstoppable antagonists in horror films, Hollywood never shies away from making a killing.
Leave a Comment