WGTC: There’s a line in the movie about an action being “purge worthy,” basically saying someone wouldn’t purge unless x, y, and z happened. So in real life, what is that moment to you where something becomes purge worthy? And this is a fantasy world…
James DeMonaco: I hope I never get to that point [Laughs]. But in a fantasy world, if anyone ever came near my daughter, I’d cut their heads off, so that’s it for me. I think that’s the natural place to go to, violence towards children, that justifies violence back. If someone looks twice at my daughter, I get jumpy, so I can’t imagine if someone touched her – but I hope that the movie speaks to the humanity in all of us. I always wanted that humanistic note besides the death and destruction.
So yeah, in the fantasy realm, if it came to my children I’d probably purge, but honestly, I’d probably just go to Canada and hide. Canadians are nice! [Laughs]
WGTC: So you’ve successfully built this franchise formula where every year could see a new Purge movie, there are so many different stories to tell – was that marketability intentional? Is that where we’re going?
James DeMonaco: I don’t think that way, I never do. I have one criteria that I live by, I say it to my producers all the time, and I say it to my agents – which probably pisses them off – but if I feel in my heart I can tell an interesting story, I’ll do it. If I don’t, I can’t just do it to have another sequel. That means someone else would have to take over the franchise and do what they have to. The only criteria I have is “Can I write a good story and can I direct an interesting movie?” If they want to continue the franchise they will, and if I can have some say in it so it doesn’t become something worthless, that would be cool too.
WGTC: But I mean there are so many stories you can do – is your mind just constantly bouncing around new ideas about how The Purge can evolve?
James DeMonaco: Oh of course! It’s interesting in that I didn’t have any real time on this one. On the previous film, I had months before – this time I only had one month until opening. On the last one I think I finished the January before it opened in June, so I had a lot of time still in that Purge mentality. Even before The Purge I had Frank Grillo’s story and the mother/daughter story written down, so I had those very early on. Hopefully over the next month something just naturally flows, and obviously [Michael K. Williams’] character is one seed, as you pointed out already, so that’s the one place my mind is already.
WGTC: The next thing that comes to mind after mentioning multiple sequels is the Saw franchise – are you ready for The Purge to become the next Saw universe? Honestly, we need something to fill the void…
James DeMonaco: It can happen dude, it’s true. I’ve seen the first couple, I haven’t seen every one, but it’s an event. Yes, it could be that. I’ll be happy if it holds onto some kind of political ideology, something attached so The Purge doesn’t become this violent film full of Final Destination death scenes. It’d be cool if it could always work on two levels. A little political ideology mixed with your horror storytelling – then I’d say let’s keep going.
WGTC: So you depart from actual horror this time around, going for a much grittier action flick kind of feel. What made you make that decision to go more fun and flamboyant?
James DeMonaco: When I handed in my screenplay, everyone said I needed more horror, and I was like, “Guys, but The Purge is an action movie, it’s not really a horror movie.” Yeah I can have people getting chased around with chainsaws, but it’ll fall into action sequences. I mean, that masks are a little dose of horror? I got the “God” thing going on, but it’s more The Warriors than it is anything else.
WGTC: And I mean we’re right here in Coney Island as we speak…
James DeMonaco: Ha! The Wonder Wheel! I like that you’re a young man but still know The Warriors. Cool, cool.
WGTC: Please, you’ve always got to know the classics – but back to the topic. Here’s my biggest question, will The Purge ever go global?
James DeMonaco: Dude! One of the heads of Universal called me up about three months ago, asking me about when another country adopts their first Purge. If it’s working economically in the US, another country might adopt it, then we’d have an overseas Purge, making advisors go internationally to walk the new country through it, something along those lines.