‘The First Purge’ Star Tries 5 Ways to Let Off Steam that Don’t Involve Murder

Kim Taylor-Foster
Movies Horror
Movies Horror

“Tonight allows people a release from all the hatred and violence that they keep up inside them,” says a voice on the trailer for The First Purge. It’s Ethan Hawke’s character James Sandin from the original Purge movie. The film which gave us our first glimpse of the fictional night introduced by a government looking to curb crime by making it legal for a 12-hour stretch, once a year.

The First Purge rewinds to the inaugural night of mayhem. It’s a test case, which sees officials gather together those interested in taking out their aggression without fear of repercussions, and paying them to take part in the ‘Purge’. But at FANDOM we reckon that violent crime isn’t the answer and that there are other ways to wind down and release tension and negativity that don’t involve murder. With that in mind, we tested out five alternative methods for calming the mind on The First Purge star Joivan Wade, who plays Isaiah in the film.

Shift Down a Gear or Several

The First Purge
Joivan Wade looking tense as Isaiah in The First Purge with Lex Scott Davis as sister Nya.

First up, Wade tried aromatherapy. He sniffed a potent blend of lavender and geranium oils, both of which are said to reduce anxiety and relieve stress. Wade reported feeling “very relaxed, and very chilled.” He said, “It makes me want to cuddle, and lie down and watch The First Purge.”

Next, he tried a yoga pose known for its de-stressing effects – the Thunderbolt Pose, or Vajrasana. It’s a good pose for meditation and it’s also said to aid digestion – a double whammy of benefits. He combined it with some deep breathing exercises and reported “feeling pretty good” as he started to relax.

Punching a pillow is a controversial one, as letting out aggression can ultimately lead to an increase in aggressive behaviour long-term. But Wade said, “It’s alleviating some anger, some stress. It’s coming out. I can feel it slowly seeping through my knuckles.”

Finally, Wade sat back with a face mask and a glass of wine. “I can tell you my stress level has definitely been reduced,” he said. Win.

The First Purge hits screens in the UK and US on July 4, and in Australia on August 2.

Kim Taylor-Foster
Kim Taylor-Foster is Entertainment Editor for Fandom in the UK. She was raised on an unsteady diet of video nasties and violent action flicks.