The Purge: Anarchy

If you want a crime drama that treats its mystery as more than a puzzle, The Purge: Anarchy is available on Netflix and Crave right now. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. 6,752 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Frank Grillo anchors it, but the writing does the real work. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Netflix.

There is a reason The Purge: Anarchy keeps coming up in conversation. At its heart, The Purge: Anarchy understands what makes crime drama work — character first, plot second. One night per year, the government sanctions a 12-hour period in which citizens can commit any crime they wish -- including murder -- without fear of punishment or imprisonment. Leo, a sergeant who lost his son, plans a vigilante mission of revenge during the mayhem. However, instead of a death-dealing avenger, he becomes the unexpected protector of four innocent strangers who desperately need his help if they are to survive the night. The writing gets a boost from Frank Grillo and Carmen Ejogo, who sell every scene they're in. The Purge: Anarchy came out in 2014. The Purge: Anarchy is at its best in the quiet scenes between the plot beats, where the character work actually happens. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

For anyone who wants their crime drama to earn its twists, The Purge: Anarchy delivers. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. Frank Grillo carries scenes that would sink a lesser production. The resolution feels inevitable rather than arbitrary, which is rarer than it sounds.