‘The Purge: Anarchy’ Cast Talk New Summer Thriller: Frank Grillo, Michael K. Williams Give Inside Scoop On New ‘American Tradition’

“The Purge: Anarchy” is set for release on Friday, July 18. The sequel includes a new, terrifying element from director James DeMonaco called the“American Tradition.” If you are new to the whole concept of “The Purge,” then allow me to provide you with a chilling history lesson. The “Purge” films are set in future America, in 2022 and 2023 respectively, under a new tradition enacted by the “New Founding Fathers of America.” All crime, including murder, theft and rape is completely legal for a period of 12 hours.

This event is now the annual Purge. In “The Purge: Anarchy” the audience meets five seemingly unconnected people who are attempting to survive the night. However their paths become more intertwined after the “Purge” takes them on a wild, and dangerous ride. “The Purge: Anarchy” stars Zach Gilford and Kiele Sanchez, as Shane and Liz, a young couple driving to a family member's home in order to wait out the “Purge” in relative peace and safety. After a seemingly ordinary trip to the grocery store, their car runs out of gas leaving them stranded in the midst of the crowded and chaotic city with the “Purge” countdown approaching.

Another pair the audience meets is Eva and Cali, played by Carmen Ejogo and Zoe Soul, a mother and daughter who are not only struggling to make ends meet, but soon begin to fight for their lives after well-equipped assailants easily break in to their tenement. Joining these four is Leo Barnes, played by Frank Grillo. However he is not simply attempting to survive the night, instead Leo is buying into the Purge beliefs and using the 12 hours to seek revenge on the man who killed his young son.

“The Purge” is presented to the citizens of America as a cathartic form of release, a way to rid our society and ourselves of negative emotions for one night a year. Yet, in “The Purge: Anarchy” the audience soon begins to learn that the killings are not a way to release repressed urges, but a way to control population in the United States.

In the film Michael K. Williams’ character, Carmelo attempts to inform Americans about the truth of the Purge and its countless poor and homeless victims. Latin Times sat down with “The Purge: Anarchy” director James DeMonaco, and stars Frank Grillo, Carmen Ejogo and Michael K. Williams to get the inside scoop on the film and even the possibility of another sequel in which the Purge may go global. Watch the video above!