“The First Purge” (**1/2 out of four) was a scattershot but watchable prequel to the original “Purge” entry showing the origins of how The Purge began in Staten Island, NY in which the rise of a third political party (led by Marisa Tomei) implements the experiment for 12 hours on an impoverished community and how this affects a young single mother (Lex Scott Davis), her young and impressionable brother (Joivan Wade), and a neighborhood drug dealer (Y’lan Noel). Fourth entry in the “Purge” series is an uneven and uneasy mixture of gore and action and socio-political messages. Strong performances by all and a terrific final third, though, make it worthwhile for series fans. And ironically, this is actually better than the first “Purge”.