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THE PURGE: ELECTION YEAR

Updated: Jun 1, 2023

The Purge: Election Year is a 2016 American dystopian political action horror film written and directed by James DeMonaco and starring Frank Grillo, Elizabeth Mitchell, and Mykelti Williamson. It is the sequel to 2014's The Purge: Anarchy and is the third installment in the Purge franchise. Jason Blum and Michael Bay are among the film's producers.

Originally, part 3 was intended to be a prequel, telling the story of the very first Purge. This idea was scrapped when Frank Grillo accepted James DeMonaco's offer to reprise the character of Sergeant Leo Barnes. The prequel idea was used for the next film in the series, The First Purge (2018).

The film was originally set to be released on July 4, 2016, to coincide with the Fourth of July, but was moved to July 1. It received mixed reviews from critics and grossed more than $118 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing film of the series before being passed by the fourth film, The First Purge, in July 2018.

 

ESCAPE & CHASE SCENE

DATE(S) VISITED: AUG 29, 2020
LOCATION: PROVIDENCE, RI

Prospect Park in Providence, RI was used briefly in a scene where we see Leo Barnes and Senator Charlie Roan escape from the safe house. The State House and city scape in the background making a great backdrop of Washington DC. The Rhode Island State House stood in as the White House and its rotunda and some of its interiors such as the Press Room and basement were also used for filming.

Ironically enough, this is also the park where Team H also got married on Halloween back in 2018.


 

STEPS & PURGE TOURIST FIGHT

DATE(S) VISITED: AUG 29, 2020
LOCATION: WOONSOCKET, RI

Main street in Woonsocket is where the bulk of the film was shot. This location is where the scene cuts from the Prospect Park location where Leo Barnes and Senator Charlie Roan are running away from the drones, only to be ambushed by the Purge Tourists as they reach Main Street.


 

JOE'S GROCERY & DELI

DATE(S) VISITED: AUG 29, 2020
LOCATION: WOONSOCKET, RI

Joe's Deli, which is now a mobile phone shop when we visited is also on Main Street. This is where we see the Killer Candy Girls come pay Joe a visit after an earlier altercation in his store before Purge Night begins. The shop front was altered ever so slightly and the flag placards hanging from the lampposts in the street were kept in the film and could still be seen on our visit.


 

OUR LADY OF SORROW CATHEDRAL

DATE(S) VISITED: AUG 29, 2020
LOCATION: WOONSOCKET, RI

St. Ann's Cultural Center in Woonsocket became the Our Lady Of Sorrow cathedral. This is where the NFFA Purge Mass takes place, as well as the cathedral crypt scenes. There are a few differences to the exterior of the building as seen on the blue prints featured in the film. You can actually take a walking tour of St. Ann's and this is certainly on our to do list so we can get some photo's of the interior film shots.


 

THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL

DATE(S) VISITED: JULY 5, 2019
LOCATION: WASHINGTON DC

During the production of The Purge: Election Year, the crew was spotted filming in Washington D.C. Due to the security implications of shooting such a violent movie within the capital, only exterior shots of landmark locations were made. These would then be superimposed into the final cut using CGI. One such shot is of the disturbing scene at the Lincoln Memorial.



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