I’m not a violent person, and never really have been. I guess you could say I’ve always been a pacifist by heart. Truth be told, if I had been alive back in the 1960’s, I probably would have been a peace activist. With that being said, there’s a movie sequel currently playing in theaters that both it and its original from last summer, have gotten to me on a spiritual level because each totally promotes violence.
The Purge is the movie series I’m referring to. It’s based upon a simple premise of a futuristic society where one day a year for 12 hours of time, everyone may tap into his or her violent side, commit any type of crime, and law will not oppose them. In other words things such as torture, rape and murder are completely acceptable and legal during that time.
While I may love the movies and have a fond admiration of creativity which directors and screenwriters often come up with, this isn’t one of them. It stands against everything I’m working towards spiritually on this planet. What concerns me the most about movies such as this are the people who attend them. It is said that people normally see the movies they are attracted to. So what does that say for the amount of people who made up the 64 million dollar gross of the original or the 28 million the current one has already made? Does that mean that deep down inside many of those who see movies like this have the desire to be violent?
When I first saw the preview of the original movie last year, I was truly horrified of the storyline. While I normally seem to go see just about anything at the theater, especially during the summer, this was one I didn’t. In fact, it made my stomach turn anytime I saw that trailer. A few months ago when the new one started playing for its sequel, the same thing happened and I found myself even loudly saying “BOOOOOOOO” after it finished. I’m sure everyone around me thought I was somewhat crazy, but ultimately, the premise of this movie series has gotten to me that much.
I don’t want to ever become or promote violence on any level. While I may have had some rare moments of that during my alcoholism and drug addiction days many decades ago, my spirituality has brought me to the opposite side of that spectrum today. I sincerely try to do my best and stay away from movies that do nothing but glorify violence these days. Of course there are some actions movies I still watch that have some of this, but in the end I attend them solely because of the good triumphing over evil. The Purge series isn’t about that as much as it’s about bringing out a dark side within us. The fact is I don’t want to have a dark side and if there is any of that still within me, the last thing I want to do is enhance it.
I’m sure Hollywood will continue to create sequels to this movie given its latest box office surge. But I’ll continue to stay away from them and any other film that promotes violence to this level. That’s only because I believe what I spend my time watching, I will become, and I’m 100% positive my Higher Power would never want a violent streak within me.
Peace, love, light, and joy,
Andrew Arthur Dawson