• The Commencement: The evening begins with an ominous Emergency Broadcast System notification on television and radio, immediately followed by a city-wide siren signaling that the lawlessness has begun. • No Emergency Help: All police, fire departments, and medical services are completely shut down or suspended for the night. Citizens are left entirely on their own to either hide or survive. • The Rules: Only two major rules govern the night. First, high-ranking government officials (Rank 10 and above) are completely immune from harm. Second, heavy military weaponry—specifically anything above "Class 4," such as explosives or WMDs—is strictly forbidden. • The Conclusion: At exactly 7:00 AM the following morning, the siren blares one final time. Laws are instantly reinstated, and anyone attempting to commit a crime even a second after the siren faces normal prosecution• The Exaggerated "Smiling" Masks: Introduced by the "Polite Leader" in the original 2013 film, these are perhaps the most iconic. They feature massive, fake-cheery plastic grins, dark heavy eyebrows, and vacant eyes. They are primarily worn by wealthy, privileged sociopaths who view the Purge as a joyful, righteous civic duty. • Lo-Fi and "Scrawled" Masks: Worn mostly by street-level gangs in The Purge: Anarchy, these are cheap, everyday masks customized with spray paint or markers. Examples include plain white face masks with "GOD" roughly scrawled across the forehead or simple burlap sacks and stitched leather. • Patriotic and Political Mask/Costume Hybrids: In The Purge: Election Year, the franchise leans heavily into dark political satire. Purgers are seen wearing blood-soaked historical and national caricatures, including distorted versions of Uncle Sam, Lady Liberty (often outfitted with glowing neon LED wires), and Abraham Lincoln. • Tactical and Gas Masks: Worn by government-funded mercenary squads and professional death squads. Unlike the whimsical or horror-themed masks of average citizens, these are purely functional, high-tech tactical gear meant to protect the users from smoke or tear gas while dehumanizing them as faceless agents of the state.1. Anonymity and Retribution Avoidance: The most practical reason is to avoid consequences on the other 364 days of the year. If a "Purger" attacks their boss, a neighbor, or a local shop owner without a mask, the survivors or the victims' families could easily track them down and seek illegal, vigilante revenge once the emergency services turn back on. 2. The Alter-Ego Effect: On a psychological level, masks offer detachment. It allows seemingly normal, polite citizens—accountants, schoolteachers, or next-door neighbors—to compartmentalize their behavior. Shedding their true face empowers them to act out their darkest impulses without the social shame, judgment, or guilt associated with their everyday identity. 3. Terror and Intimidation: For many hunting groups, the Purge is treated like a twisted theatrical sport. Wearing a grotesque or unnerving mask acts as a psychological weapon, inducing absolute panic and helplessness in their victims before an attack even begins.