The Purge Director Reveals Shocking Real-Life Road Rage Incident That Inspired The Movie

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It’s a great day for fans of Blumhouse! A new book documenting the first 15 years of the famous horror studio has just been released. It shares details that haven’t been revealed before about some of the biggest horror films of the 21st century, including the true inspiration behind James DeMonaco’s .

Recently, people shared a passage from Horror’s New Wave: 15 Years of Blumhouse, where DeMonaco discussed the surprising origins of his 2013 horror film, The Purge. He explained that the idea came from a blend of three distinct influences. “My father was a huge Star Trek fan, and he’d always insist I watch it with him,” DeMonaco said. “That sparked my love for science fiction, and especially Star Trek. The episode ‘Return of the Archons’ really stuck with me. It wasn’t a direct inspiration, but it was definitely one of those ideas that resonated after the main concept formed.” He continued, “The initial idea actually came from something my wife said during a road rage incident. Plus, I strongly dislike guns and am frustrated by the lack of gun control in America.”

The filmmaker explained, “I believe these three things – Star Trek, a road rage incident involving my wife, and my dislike of guns – ultimately inspired The Purge. A drunk driver cut off my wife and me, and I actually got into a physical fight with him. He was completely out of control before the police arrived. My wife then said, ‘I wish everyone could get away with something like that once a year.’ She’s a good person, not a bad one, but I understood what she meant. The man’s behavior was shockingly awful, and the thought of a ‘free pass’ stuck with me.”

Regarding how Star Trek impacted The Purge, the episode “The Return of the Archons,” which aired during the , centers on the Enterprise crew’s visit to an outwardly peaceful alien society. They soon discover the citizens participate in an annual outburst of violence known as “Festival.” DeMonaco also mentioned that the film The 10th Victim by Elio Petri-which depicts a yearly event called ‘The Big Hunt,’ where people battle to the death to prevent worldwide war-was another key influence on The Purge. “I really admire Elio Petri’s work. I enjoy Italian cinema, and I believe this combination sparked the concept of a holiday where murder is legal,” the director explained.

Is The Purge 6 Happening?

The Purge didn’t receive much praise from critics – Rotten Tomatoes gave it an approval rating of only 38% – but it was a financial success, earning $89 million globally on a $3 million budget. This led Blumhouse to create several sequels – Anarchy (2014), Election Year (2016), The First Purge (2018), and The Forever Purge (2021) – and a television series that aired for two seasons on USA Network.

I’m so excited to hear that they’ve been working on a sixth Purge movie since 2021! From what I’ve read, it sounds like it’s going to follow Leo Barnes – Frank Grillo’s character, who is amazing – as he travels through a changed America ten years after the events of The Forever Purge. Blumhouse hasn’t officially said ‘yes’ to making it yet, but everyone seems pretty confident it’s going to happen eventually. I can’t wait!

Horror’s New Wave: 15 Years of Blumhouse is available now online and in bookstores.

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2025-09-30 18:42