Two thriller franchises have new releases. One is an expansion of The Purge series and the other launches a trio of movies based on popular books.
The Forever Purge The new installation in The Purge series ventures outside an urban setting and beyond a 24-hour window of violent mayhem. For those who don’t know, The Purge is one evening when all acts of violence are legal, supposedly to allow our nation to vent its frustrations. In this version, a group of Texas vigilantes are determined to rid the US of all immigrants, so they decide to continue the bloodshed after the deadline. The plot follows an American family and some Mexican immigrants who must band together to stay alive. The expected scenes of brutality are sprinkled throughout, but lack much originality or shock. There’s too much time making statements about immigration and our nation’s perilous politics, which dilutes the movie’s impact. 
(2.5 / 5)
Fear Street Part 1: 1994 This is the first in a trilogy based on R. L. Stein’s books about a small town that’s been haunted for generations. When the rating pops on screen, the first words are “strong bloody violence.” That also sets up expectations for vicious stabbings and other gory dispatches. The film delivers on the killings in classic style, which is to say not original, but simple, brutal and well executed. There’s also more chatter about the curse and how this group can reverse it that drags the pace and the suspense. Still, as an echo of classic slasher films, this one pays homage without much new. NOTE: The subsequent parts (set in 1978 and 1966) will be released in coming weeks. 
(3 / 5)