Review: Escape From New York (1981)

Directed by: John Carpenter
Written by: John Carpenter and Nick Castle
Starring: Kurt Russell, Lee Van Cleef, Ernest Borgnine, Donald Pleasence, Isaac Hayes and Harry Dean Stanton

I really love John Carpenter. Not only do I think he's one of the best directors of the modern era, but he's a figure that's had a profound influence on me. There are few movies I hold to a higher level of personal importance than Halloween. Throughout his career he's proven himself a master at both horror and science-fiction, but what's consistent across both of his exploits is he delivers something that's a ton of fun. Although he's slipped in recent years, Carpenter's work from the 70s through to the 90s has bee gold. Escape From New York is one of his finest hours as a filmmaker. A terrifying vision of what was at the time the near future, a gripping action-thriller and worthy recipient of cult status.

Made in 1981, the film envisions a future United States where crime has risen by 400% and Manhattan Island has been transformed into a gigantic maximum security prison. In 1997, during peace talks with China and the Soviet Union terrorists hijack Air Force One and crash it in New York, leaving the President in the hands of ruthless criminals. The government enlists the help of a former Special Forces operative named "Snake" Plissken and sends him on a one-man rescue mission in exchange for a pardon of his crimes.

Looking at the movie's dystopian world it can be looked at from both a retrospective and contemporary perspective. Looking at it from 2017 there's a certain hilarity about its vision of 1997. Its ideas are evidently rooted in the Cold War heating up again in the early 1980s and the militarization of the Reagan era. There's a sense that it's really stuck in its own era, and this actually goes beyond Carpenter and Castle's imagination as writers. The costuming and music choices are clearly fads of the time. There's a certain cheesiness that comes with its semi-B-grade nature that reminds me of Carpenter's earlier film Assault on Precinct 13. Fans of that would love it, but it lead others to condemn it as 'cheap.' However, when you look at it with context in mind I actually think it's a reflection of uncertainties in a time of widespread conservative backlash and a global situation that's moving further away from peace. Although it's obviously an exaggerated vision, I can see how its bleak depiction of a future New York would hit close to home.

Carpenter's direction and co-writing serve his visions well, but I'm amazed that they've succeeded in grouping so many cult stars into a single production. Kurt Russell is one of the definitive action heroes of 1980s Hollywood, and he's among my all-time favorite actors. While I'm not sure if it's his greatest performance as there are others worthy of the title, Snake Plissken serves as a testament to writing a great anti-hero. He may be pulling off one heroic after another, but he does it out of pure self interest and is too ready to make even more hell of the situation. He's badass to the core. Iconic as Russell is as Snake, I love the contributions of Isaac Heyes, Donald Pleasence and the rest. All these performers command admiration from their dedicated fanbases, even if a few of them do ultimately come off as slightly over-the-top.

With its unsettling vision, an enjoyable degree of outdatedness and a cast made up of several figures all with a unique history in entertainment, Escape From New York is a brilliant piece of escapism. Even though it doesn't hold up in the same way it did in the 80s, its ageing offers perks of its own. While modern action movie viewers might brush it off, a cult-like fanbase that I'm happy to be a part of will hold its place in film history for years to come. The 1996 sequel Escape From L.A. is also well-worth checking out.

My Rating: 8.5/10