Arlo Sabian is the overarching antagonist in The First Purge. He serves as the director of the New Founding Fathers of America's (NFFA) experiment, which later becomes the annual Purge. He is portrayed by Patch Darragh.
Biography[]
As a high-ranking government official, Sabian plays a pivotal role in orchestrating and overseeing the violent social experiment on Staten Island, which is meant to test the effects of legalized crime for one night.
He is depicted as a ruthless and calculating figure who is deeply invested in ensuring the success of the Purge experiment. Throughout the film, he monitors the events unfolding on Staten Island from a secure command center, analysing the participation levels of the residents. Initially, the NFFA expects that people will willingly engage in violent acts, but when the participation is lower than anticipated, Sabian takes drastic measures to ensure the experiment is perceived as a success.
He coordinates with Dr. May Updale, the architect of the Purge, and discussing the expected outcomes. While Updale initially believes in the experiment as a social study, Sabian has ulterior motives, seeing it as a tool for political control.
Sabian was in charge on initiating the first purge on March 21st, 2017. When it becomes apparent that most residents are not committing violent crimes at the expected rate, he orders the NFFA to intervene. He secretly deploys mercenaries, disguised as ordinary citizens, to incite chaos. These mercenaries—many of whom are white supremacist militias and trained killers—begin slaughtering innocent people to make it appear as though the Purge is naturally escalating.
Upon discovering that the government is rigging the experiment by deploying trained killers, Updale becomes horrified and confronts Sabian about the ethical implications. However, he views her as a liability and has her executed, ensuring that the NFFA's cover-up remains intact.
As Dmitri and his allies fight to survive against the NFFA’s hired killers, Sabian continues to monitor the situation remotely. Despite Dmitri’s resilience and the community’s resistance, Sabian remains unfazed, knowing that the experiment has set the foundation for future Purges. By the end of the first purge, he successfully pushes the NFFA’s narrative that the Purge was a success, paving the way for it to become an annual event.