The Purge: Election Year (2016) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The movie takes place in a dystopian version of America during Purge Night, an annual event that allows citizens to commit any crime legally for 12 hours. The story unfolds in Washington, D.C., where the political intensity of the night reaches its peak.

• setting
• washington d.c.
• dystopia
• america
• purge night

The events occur in the present day, specifically 18 years after the very first Purge Night. This places the movie in a world where the Purge has been an established tradition for nearly two decades, with society having adapted to this annual ritual of lawlessness.

• time period
• present day
• 18 years
• purge history

The film explores three primary themes: justice, as Senator Roan fights to abolish the Purge; loss, reflected in her traumatic past and the devastation experienced by families; and violence, examining how a society normalizes systemic violence as a form of control.

• themes
• justice
• loss
• violence
• meaning

The theme of justice centers on Senator Charlie Roan's mission to abolish the Purge, which she sees as a corrupted system that harms the vulnerable. Her campaign represents a fight for a fairer society, while the film questions whether justice can ever be achieved through a system that sanctions violence.

• justice
• senator roan
• abolition
• fairness

Loss is embodied by Senator Roan, who lost her family during a previous Purge Night. This personal tragedy drives her political career and motivates her to abolish the event. The theme extends to the broader devastation the Purge causes to families and communities across the nation each year.

• loss
• charlie roan
• family
• trauma
• grief

The film portrays violence as a tool of oppression, showing how the Purge has become a mechanism for those in power to maintain control over the population. It examines the moral corruption that occurs when violence is institutionalized and the psychological impact on a society that normalizes annual bloodshed.

• violence
• oppression
• control
• morality
• society

Charlie Roan is a passionate senator and the film's protagonist who survived a previous Purge Night that killed her family. She runs for president on a platform to abolish the Purge entirely, making her the target of those who profit from the annual violence.

• charlie roan
• senator
• protagonist
• presidential candidate

Leo Barnes is a highly skilled protector assigned to keep Senator Roan safe throughout Purge Night. Known for his tactical expertise and unwavering loyalty, he serves as her bodyguard while navigating the dangerous streets filled with killers and chaos.

• leo barnes
• protector
• bodyguard
• security

Joe Dixon is a convenience store owner who becomes an unlikely hero during Purge Night. Despite being an ordinary civilian, he demonstrates remarkable bravery and sacrifice to help others survive, representing the struggle of everyday people caught in the Purge's violence.

• joe dixon
• convenience store
• hero
• civilian

Laney is an EMT known as 'Pequeña Muerte' who works to defend and heal those around her during Purge Night. Her compassion and quick thinking make her a crucial asset to the group, as she uses her medical skills to save lives in the chaos.

• laney
• emt
• pequeña muerte
• medical
• healer

Purge Night is an annual 12-hour period in which all crimes, including murder, are completely legal. This government-sanctioned event is presented as a way to release societal tensions, but in reality, it serves as a tool for the wealthy to eliminate the poor and maintain power structures.

• purge night
• annual event
• lawlessness
• 12 hours