Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘The Purging Hour’

Written by Scott Edwards

​I love listening to old legends and wondering how they got their starts. Knowing that these stories come from somewhere with a little bit of truth behind them, I keep that in mind when hearing the warnings that the stories possess. I know plenty of people that believe that these stories have nothing fact based in their structure, and I feel sorry for them when they find out the hard way that a legend is loosely based on fact. Always remember to keep your eyes and ears open for those local legends, you never know when or where they will pop their heads out, but when they do, heed the warnings.
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After buying a new house on Mammoth Mountain, Bruce decides it is finally time to get moved in with his family. With plenty of space for his kids, since Kacie is going to be going off to college in a matter of months, young Manny will get one of the biggest bedrooms in the house. With Kacie’s boyfriend along for the ride as well, Bruce is keeping an eye on his little girl, but also getting to know the boy Mark who actually seems to be an all-right guy. As everyone is forced to pitch in on the unpacking duties, Bruce and his family seem to have found a new home with no known issues and fantastic views.

Making it through dinner on their first night without any issues, Jennifer is shocked to hear that her husband is allowing Mark to sleep over. But with it being so dark outside and the fog starting to move in, there is a chance that Mark would not make it home safe and sound. With everyone getting ready for bed, Bruce is shocked to see his son Manny hiding in the bed and wanting to sleep with his parents. Thinking that this is alright, everyone in the house is surprised when the lights mysteriously go out. With only the light on the camera to show the way, Bruce heads out into the fog to try and flip the circuit breaker when he sees a shape in the distance.

Rushing back inside to see if anyone in the house is messing with him, strange sounds start coming from the kitchen that cannot be explained. Gathering up the family and locking them in a bathroom, Bruce enlists Mark to help him search the house for any intruders. Moving room to room with a kitchen knife and video camera, the two come up with nothing, but when they report back to the rest of the family a hard pounding on the door makes sure that they understand that they are not alone. Needing to find some way to get help for his family, Bruce decides to make a run for the car, but when it does not start, the true nightmare the family is experiencing comes into full effect.

Shot with found footage and interviews thrown into the cuts, this movie has more of a documentary type feel to it, which is not bad, just different. With a story about the area and what the fog and woods have lurking in them, there are believers of the legends around the mountain area and non-believers. I liked the opinions that were given on the interview segments, along with a girl that lost her boyfriend to whatever is hiding in the woods. There is nothing wrong with adding a little cover-up story to a place that is known for having some sort of haunting and missing persons. The family story was fun, and I have a hard time believing that all of the events happened in one day, but that is what they were going for. I will have to admit it, Manny was a little scene stealer. While everyone got their screen time, they also seemed to have their time behind the camera documenting their first day in the house, which was nice overall. While watching the footage begin, I was waiting for something to happen in the background, since the interviews were pointing to something strange happening in the house, and while I did not see anything out of the ordinary, when the fog sets in, all bets are off the table, so you need to get ready for the ride of a lifetime. Stay Scared.
 

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