The third film in the successful dystopian franchise, The Purge: Election Year, was released on July 1, 2016. Written and directed by James DeMonaco, this installment serves as a direct narrative successor to The Purge: Anarchy (2014), expanding the scope of the series from home invasion and street survival to the highest levels of American political conspiracy. By shifting the focus to a presidential election, the film transformed the series from a high-concept horror premise into a sharp-edged political thriller that resonated with real-world social anxieties.

The Premise and Setting of the Third Installment

Set in the year 2040, two years after the events of The Purge: Anarchy, the story takes place in a United States still governed by the New Founding Fathers of America (NFFA). The central conflict revolves around the annual Purge—a 12-hour window where all crime, including murder, is legal. However, the political landscape is shifting. Senator Charlie Roan, played by Elizabeth Mitchell, is a frontrunner in the presidential race, running on a singular, controversial platform: the total abolition of the Purge.

The stakes are personal for Roan. Eighteen years prior, she was the sole survivor of a Purge night that claimed the lives of her entire family. Her opponent, Minister Edwidge Owens, represents the NFFA's interests, framing the Purge as a religious and economic necessity. Sensing that Roan’s popularity poses an existential threat to their power, the NFFA leadership makes a desperate move: they revoke the traditional immunity granted to high-ranking government officials (Level 10 officials) for the upcoming Purge night, effectively legalizing her assassination.

The Return of Leo Barnes and New Character Dynamics

A major highlight of The Purge: Election Year is the return of Frank Grillo as Leo Barnes. In the previous film, Barnes was a man driven by grief and a quest for vengeance. In this third chapter, his character arc evolves significantly. He is now the head of Senator Roan’s secret service detail, utilizing his tactical expertise not for personal revenge, but for the protection of a vision he believes can save the country.

The film also introduces a diverse group of citizens whose lives intersect with the Senator’s during the chaotic night:

  • Joe Dixon (Mykelti Williamson): A deli owner who represents the vulnerable small business class. He is forced to defend his shop personally after his Purge insurance premiums are hiked to an unaffordable level just hours before the event begins.
  • Marcos (Joseph Julian Soria): Joe’s loyal employee and an immigrant who sees the American Dream being distorted by the annual violence.
  • Laney Rucker (Betty Gabriel): A former Purge participant turned community protector who operates a "triage" ambulance, providing medical aid to the wounded despite the extreme danger.

These characters ground the high-level political drama in a relatable, "boots on the ground" reality, highlighting how the Purge disproportionately affects the marginalized and the working class.

Detailed Plot Breakdown: A Night of Survival and Sacrifice

The narrative structure of the film is a relentless chase. After a betrayal within the Senator’s security team leads to an attack on her fortified home, Barnes manages to extract Roan into the streets of Washington D.C. The duo finds themselves hunted by a neo-Nazi paramilitary group led by Earl Danzinger, hired by the NFFA to ensure the Senator does not survive the night.

The middle act of the film explores the concept of "Murder Tourism." This installment introduces international travelers who fly into the United States specifically to participate in the Purge, viewing it as a dark vacation. This adds a layer of global commentary, suggesting the Purge has become a perverse brand of American exceptionalism.

The climax takes place in a heavily fortified cathedral, where the NFFA elite gather for a "Purge Mass." The intent is to ritualistically sacrifice Senator Roan to solidify their rule. This sequence is a significant departure from the gritty urban survival of the first two acts, leaning into gothic horror and religious satire. The intervention of an anti-Purge resistance group, led by Dante Bishop (a character appearing across multiple films), leads to a high-octane shootout that ultimately determines the fate of the nation’s leadership.

Production Background and Visual Style

Produced by Blumhouse Productions and Platinum Dunes, The Purge: Election Year maintained the franchise’s tradition of efficient, low-budget filmmaking. With a production budget of approximately $10 million, the film achieved high production values through strategic location scouting in Rhode Island and the use of intense, practical lighting.

Cinematographer Jacques Jouffret, who worked on the previous entries, utilized a more expansive visual palette for the third film. While the first movie was claustrophobic and the second was cold and metallic, Election Year uses vibrant, almost neon colors to highlight the absurdity of the "Purger" costumes—ranging from twisted patriotic figures to bedazzled, blood-soaked schoolgirls. This aesthetic choice underscores the descent of society into a hallucinatory state of madness during the 12-hour window.

Reception and Box Office Performance

Upon its release in the summer of 2016, the film became a commercial powerhouse. It grossed over $118 million worldwide, surpassing its predecessors at the time to become the highest-grossing film in the series (until it was later overtaken by the prequel, The First Purge).

Critical reception was mixed but generally acknowledged the film’s effectiveness as a genre piece. Critics praised Frank Grillo’s performance, often comparing him to classic 1980s action heroes, and noted that the film’s political themes were timely, albeit delivered with a "sledgehammer" approach. The tagline "Keep America Great," used during the film's marketing, gained significant retrospective attention due to its accidental parallels with real-world political slogans of the era.

Where Does Election Year Fit in the Franchise Timeline?

Understanding the chronology of The Purge is essential for viewers. In terms of release order, this is the third film. In terms of internal timeline:

  1. The First Purge (2018): A prequel showing the very first experimental Purge in Staten Island.
  2. The Purge (2013): A home-invasion story focused on a wealthy family.
  3. The Purge: Anarchy (2014): A street-level survival story in Los Angeles.
  4. The Purge: Election Year (2016): The culmination of the political struggle to end the Purge.
  5. The Forever Purge (2021): A sequel showing what happens when the Purge refuses to end after the events of Election Year.

While Election Year provides a sense of closure to the Charlie Roan/Leo Barnes storyline, the subsequent news reports in the film’s epilogue hint at the "violent uprisings" from NFFA loyalists, setting the stage for the chaos seen in The Forever Purge.

Conclusion: The Legacy of the Third Film

The Purge: Election Year successfully bridged the gap between a niche horror concept and a mainstream action-thriller. By raising the stakes from personal survival to national policy, it gave the franchise a sense of purpose beyond mere spectacle. It solidified Leo Barnes as the definitive hero of the series and provided a cathartic, if bloody, exploration of political resistance. Whether viewed as a dark satire or an adrenaline-fueled survival flick, the third film remains the most ambitious and narratively dense entry in the original trilogy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Frank Grillo in The Purge 3?

Yes, Frank Grillo reprises his role as Leo Barnes from The Purge: Anarchy. In this film, he serves as the head of security for Senator Charlie Roan.

Do I need to watch the first two Purge movies before Election Year?

While Election Year explains its premise clearly, watching The Purge: Anarchy is highly recommended to understand Leo Barnes' character development. The first film (The Purge) is less critical for the plot of the third, as it is a standalone story with different characters.

Does the Purge end in Election Year?

Without spoiling the final moments, the film concludes with a presidential election that serves as a referendum on the Purge. The results suggest a move toward ending the tradition, though the epilogue clarifies that the transition is far from peaceful.

Who is the main villain in The Purge: Election Year?

The primary antagonists are the leaders of the NFFA, specifically Minister Edwidge Owens and the shadowy Caleb Warrens. On the ground, the main physical threat is Earl Danzinger, the leader of a paramilitary group.

Where was The Purge 3 filmed?

Despite being set in Washington D.C., the majority of the film was shot in Woonsocket and Providence, Rhode Island. The Rhode Island State House was used to represent the exterior and interior of certain government-related scenes.