The purge - Textual Analysis

The Purge

                                                                                      

From 0:00 to 0:25 is the Universal logo. This is the company that distributed the film. 

From 0:25 to 0:40 is the Blumhouse production company logo, this is the company that produced the movie. 

From 0:41 to 0:55 is the Platinum Dune logo which is the company that also produced the movie. 

From 0:58 to 1:05 is a graphic which gives the viewer an insight about America in 2022 which makes it much more realistic. At 1:05 the graphic fades out to a black screen .

From 1:06 to 1:16 is another graphic which fades in and out onto a black screen. The graphic shown is a quote which gives the reader an idea about what the film is based around. 

From 1:19 to 1:20 is 'Universal Pictures presents' which is a reminder to the viewer that Universal Pictures distributed it. 

From 1:22 to 1:25 is another reminder of the companies that produced the movie. 

From 1:27 to 1:30 is the first actors name which is Ethan Hawke. The name bridges over CCTV footage of a man being beaten and it also tells the viewer that it took place on the 03-21-20 at 07:44:05 in Jacksonville. The name fades in then out onto another CCTV footage. 

From 1:32 to 1:34 is the next actors name which is Lena Headey which also bridges over CCTV footage of a person being shot. It also tells the viewer it happened on the 03-22-2017 at 02:39:02 in South Bend, IN. The name fades in and out onto another CCTV footage. 

From 1:37 to 1:39 is another actors name which is Adelaide Kane which bridges over CCTV footage. It tells the viewer it happened on the 03-21-2017 in Huntsville, AL. The name fades in and out onto another CCTV footage. 

From 1:42 to 1:45 is the actors name Max Burkholder which bridges over CCTV footage of an alley. It tells the viewer that it happens at 03-21-2018 in Westminster. The name fades in and out into the same scene. 

From 1:47 to 1:48 is the actors name Edwin Hodge which bridges over CCTV footage of the same scene before. From this the viewer can tell it occurred in Westminster on the 03-21-2018. The name fades in and out onto a new scene.


From 1:49 to 1:51 is the actors name Tony Oller and Rhys Wakefield which bridge over CCTV footage of a women alone and injured. The viewer can tell it happened in Elgin on the 03-21-2018. The names then fade in and out onto a different scene.


From 1:52 to 1:54 is the last actors names which are Arija Bareikis and Chris and Mulkey, these names bridge over the CCTV footage of a huge fire with people running away from it implying they caused it. The viewer can tell from this CCTV footage that it happened in Salem on the 03-22-2019. The names fade it and out onto the next scene.


From 1;57 to 1:58 is Casting by Lisa Fields which bridges over CCTV footage of a man shooting at a car. The viewer is able to tell it happened in Columbia on the 03-21-2019. This name fades in and out onto a new scene.


From 2:01 to 2:03 is Costume Design by Lisa Norcia which bridges over CCTV footage of men standing outside of what appears to be a gate, this shows the viewer that they could be plotting to break in somewhere. The viewer can tell that it happened in Buxton on the 03-22-2019. This name fades in and out onto a different scene.



From 2:05 to 2:08 is Music by Nathan whitehead which bridges over CCTV footage of a deserted street with one single man surrounded by dead bodies which he possibly killed. The viewer can tell that it happened in Murfreesboro on the 03-22-2019. The name fades in and out onto a new scene.


From 2:09 to 2:12 is Edited by Peter Gvozbas which bridges over CCTV footage of one man being attacked by three men. The viewer can tell it happens in Warren on the 03-21-2020. The name fades in and out onto the next scene.


From 2:14 to 2:16 is Production Design by Melanie Paizis-Jones, the names bridges over CCTV footage of men laying on the floor next to each other dead and the name also flickers which links into the CCTV footage with an electrical fault. The viewer can tell it happens in Appling on the 03-22-2020. The name fades in and out onto the next scene.


From 2:20 to 2:22 is the Director of Photography which is Jacques Jouffret which bridges over CCTV footage of a shop. The viewer can tell that it happened in Papillion on the 03-22-2020. The name fades in and out onto a different scene.



From 2:24 to 2:26 is the Co-producer which is Jeanette Volturno-Brill and this name bridges over CCTV footage of candles which do not have a flame. This could represent the remembrance of the people killed or the fact that on the night of 'The Purge' no life is valuable. The viewer can tell this is in Celina on the 03-22-2020. The name fades in and out onto the next scene.


From 2:29 to 2:31 is the Producer Jason Blum which also happens to be the founder of Blumhouse Production which produced this movie. The CCTV footage is of a office which shows that everyone takes part in 'The Purge' even the rich and the poor. The viewer can tell this happens in Shawnee on the 03-22-2021 and the name fades in and out onto a new screen.

From 2:32 to 2:35 is another Producer which is Sebastien K. Lemercier and this name bridges over CCTV footage of a pavement with people and blood. The name also flickers again which links in with the CCTV footage as sometimes the footage has electrical faults or a disturbance. The viewer can tell it happens in Annapolis on the 03-22-2021. The name fades in and out onto a different scene.



From 2:37 to 2:38 is more Producers which are Michael Bay, Andrew Form and Brad Fuller. Their names bridges over CCTV footage of a man getting beaten with bats which shows the level of violence. The viewer can tell this happens in Houston on the 03-21-2021. These names fade in and out onto a new scene.



From 2:39 to 2:41 is the Writer and Director which is James Demonaco which bridges over CCTV footage of people running and fires. The screen is green which tells the viewer it is night vision and happened in Provo on the 03-22-2021. This name also flickers.

The editing used in the open credits is non-continuity editing, this is because the meaning is shown through juxtaposition shots. What this is, is when two scenes are placed in sequence to compare and contrast them and to establish a relationship between them and with the different CCTV footage of different places all over America shows the contrasting level of violence and crimes. It is also non-continuity editing as the CCTV footage cuts from one to the next with the occasional flicker, linking in with the CCTV showing a disturbance. 

The open credits of the purge are shown through a montage, this is a series of short shots which are edited into sequence to condense space time and information. There are also times when two names appear at once on a CCTV footage which could foreshadow a stand off later in the film.

'The Purge' opening sequence uses narrative enigma effectively through the 'purge feed' icon that is shown in the top left hand corner of the screen. From this we can infer that the CCTV footage is shown in chronological order as they are shown from 2017 to 2021 to emphasis how long 'The purge' has been happening for. Also the use of the countries names in the top corner emphasises that it is happening all over America and emphasises the fact that so many people are joining in.

Sound

The music which is non-deigetic and bridged over the CCTV footage is Calir De Lune By Debussy. The music in the opening sequence stands out to the viewer as it is contrapuntal music, this means that it is music that does not fit with what is happening on screen. The music and the CCTV footage contrasts as the musical is classical and relaxing however the act on screen are violent and murderous, this create an uneasy mood and conveys the horror genre. The contrast in the Music and CCTV footage can also highlight the sad events and murders of people, connecting the audience on an emotional level.