Thriller Spoiler - The Purge

In the year 2022, the United States has become "a nation reborn" thanks to the New Founding Fathers of America. Crime and unemployment rates hitting an all-time low due to the government having instituted an annual 12-hour period called "the Purge" during which all criminal activity (including murder, theft, and rape) becomes legal. The only rules during the Purge is that government officials of "ranking 10 or higher" must remain unharmed and usage of weaponry above "Class 4" (such as WMDs) is forbidden. Also, the police and emergency services are suspended during this time and anyone who doesn't follow the rules of the Purge will be executed. The Purge is designed to act as a catharsis for the American people, so that they may vent all negative emotions and repressed urges however and on whomever they desire.

James Sandin (Ethan Hawke) is a wealthy home security salesman who lives in a wealthy neighborhood in the suburbs of Los Angeles, California. James has made a fortune selling home security systems—comprising security cameras and metallic "butts" blocking any possible entrance—that are specifically designed for the Purge. One of the neighbors, Mrs. Grace Ferrin (Arija Bareikis), tells James' wife Mary (Lena Headey) the neighbors have been gossiping that the extension on the Sandin family's house was financed by the security systems which her husband had sold them in the first place.

At their heavily fortified house, Mary struggles with their two children, Zoey (Adelaide Kane) and Charlie (Max Burkholder). Zoey is dating an older boy named Henry (Tony Oller), of whom her father does not approve and Charlie constantly questions the need for the Purge. 

The Sandin family watch the events of the Purge unfold via the video monitors in the lounge. After a while, Charlie is left alone and notices a bloody stranger (Edwin Hodge) outside the house pleading for help. Charlie deactivates the security system and lets him in. James intercepts the stranger and holds him at gunpoint. Henry appears with a handgun and opens fire on James, this apparently having been his plan all along in order to carry on his relationship with Zoey. James fatally shoots Henry, and in the confusion the stranger escapes to hide within the house. Zoey runs off with the fatally-wounded Henry and watches him die. James then goes off in search of his daughter and the stranger.

A group of masked criminals, led by a sadistic man in a suit known as Polite Leader (Rhys Wakefield) approach the house looking for the stranger. They threaten to kill everyone inside unless the family surrenders the stranger, whose homelessness they claim makes him a good candidate for purging.

The Sandins have a change of heart after realizing they are becoming essentially no different from the purgers outside. The Polite Leader, seemingly unsatisfied, announces that their time is up. Using chains and a truck the Purgers tear down the metal walls and enter the house, and the Sandins are forced to defend themselves.

James sees two of the murderers in the game room. He kills the first attacker by shooting her in the chest with a pump action shotgun and kills the second by throwing the killer's face down into a pinball machine, then dragging his head against the pieces of broken glass, stabbing his head. Another purger tries to kill James but James grabs a fireaxe and throws the blade down into the murderer's back, killing him. He leaves the room but is stabbed by the Polite Leader. As Mary is about to be killed, her neighbors led by Grace and her husband (Dana Bunch) come to the family's aid. Mr. and Mrs. Halverson (Chris Mulkey and Tisha French) shoot Mary's attackers and she goes in search of her family. After locating Mary, Charlie and a dying James, the Polite Leader attempts to kill them, but Zoey emerges at the door and shoots him dead.