PURGE, an Australian sci-fi film directed by David King and distributed by Troma Entertainment, is one of those rare productions that is truly só unusual in its story and visual flair that it's virtually impossible to compare it to any film. At best, one can see slight parallels here and there with films such as Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange, George Lucas' debut THX1138 and Andrew Niccol's Gattaca. But that's it, for PURGE has it's own, unique quality.
Made with a minimum of means, but a maximum of talent and resourcefulness, PURGE is set in a parallel universe where people are artificially created by genetic engineering companies and programmed for certain roles in life. To fail to assume the role you've been bred for is to become what is called a Stray and be treated worse than a criminal. These outcasts are therefore condemned to lead an underground life.The androgynous leader of a group of Strays, Peta (Meda Royall), wants to make an end to all the suppression by deprogramming people who've been altered by the state.
Intercut with visually arresting mock commercials, news reports and current affairs interviews, the fragmented story tells of the trials and tribulations of a young woman, Layla (Sarah Breen). She is unable to assume her preordained role as BDSM mistress-slave and forced to join Peta's organization. But Layla is a harder nut to crack than Peta had ever thought, resulting in several tense moments and – stunningly choreographed – fights between the two. This all culminates in a mesmerizing and incontestably surprising finale that you absolutely could not have seen coming.
What is also admirable is the fact that in spite of a profound hearing impairment, King not only wrote, produced and directed the film, but also served as production designer, sound designer and editor, did additional cinematography and even created some of the visual effects. And all this has been done in a way that enhances the bizarre, out of this world and sometimes genuinely unsettling look of this film. Yes, King is without a shadow of a doubt a multi-talent to look out for!
A unique, stylish, unusual and intriguing cyberpunk drama and thriller, as well as a cult classic in the making – that's in brief what PURGE is. I can highly recommend it to anyone who'd like to step into a completely different world!
