Election-year ‘Purge’ eventually gets around to the mayhem

Published 1:30 am Friday, July 1, 2016

It takes a while, but by the time the political elite gather in a church and begin washing their knives in holy water for the ritual human sacrifice, you know “The Purge: Election Year” has finally gotten into gear.

This is the third film in the “Purge” series. The first one wasn’t a classic, but it had a great concept; the second one grew into a really terrific suspense picture.

That concept, you will recall, is that the United States government has set aside one night a year for uncontrolled mayhem — with no consequences. The Purge is marketed as a way for society to exhaust its violence, except that it’s actually a handy means of eliminating society’s less fortunate members.

A solid sci-fi premise. But in the course of this trilogy, writer-director James DeMonaco has left little doubt that this isn’t really sci-fi — more like something ripped from today’s headlines.

Each film has taken a different structure, but in “Election Year” we have a returning character, the tough guy (Frank Grillo) who survived “The Purge: Anarchy.”

Now he’s part of the security team for a presidential candidate (Elizabeth Mitchell, from “Lost”). Because she’s campaigning on an anti-Purge pledge, she’s likely to be a target this night.

Their trajectory will coincide with a no-nonsense storekeeper (Mykelti Williamson, in good form) and his determination to protect his shop, and a neighborhood activist (Betty Gabriel) who cruises the streets looking for victims to help.

DeMonaco includes plenty of boom-boom, but this installment is less interested in action than politics. The first 20 minutes somewhat clumsily establish the election-year stakes, as Mitchell’s platform against the Purge runs up against a pro-Purge opponent (Kyle Secor) who uses fear and God to keep voters excited.

Secor’s political discourse consists of saying exactly the opposite of what the reality is. This is another way in which the film does not seem like science fiction.

The film’s blueprint is reminiscent of a John Carpenter picture, especially with the blue-collar folk who become heroes. But this kind of thing needs to be rigged really tight, and “Election Year” is a little loose around the seams.

If you’re already a fan of the “Purge” franchise, the last 40 minutes will justify a visit. If not, well, maybe you could spend the time registering to vote.

“The Purge: Election Year” (21⁄2 stars)

The third installment of the sci-fi franchise puts a presidential candidate (Elizabeth Mitchell) in peril during the annual night of sanctioned violence. This one’s not as tight as the very good second “Purge” film, but it revs up into gear at the end. With Frank Grillo.

Rating: R, for violence, language

Showing: Alderwood Mall, Cinebarre, Everett, Monroe, Marysville, Pacific Place, Thornton Place, Woodinville, Cascade Mall