Escape From New York (1981)

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Video Cover

After the opening credits a digitised female voice informs us that in 1988 the crime rate in the USA has risen by 400%. As a consequence a national prison was created, New York. A wall was built around the great city, security enforced by the newly created United States Police Force encamped around the prison. There is only one rule, once you go in you never come out.

1997. The opening shots show an attempted breakout, remiscent of Escape From Alcatraz. A makeshift raft is blown out of the water by patrolling helicopters. No one leaves New York.

A prison bus drops off a single prisoner, dressed in extremely tight fitting combat trousers and black T-shirt. In the control room panic is taking control, an unidentified jet has been hijacked. The terrorsists reel off a garbled message, intending to crash the plane into New York. When the planes identity comes through the room falls silent, the plane is Airforce One, the presidents personal jet. The president of the USA is down in New York prison, with a cassette vital for world peace. This tape has to be presented at a conference in twenty four hours to end years of conflict.

The new prisoner is Snake Plissken, a crack military commando caught robbing the state reserve. He is offered a pardon if he can get the president (and the tape) out within 24 hours.

Escape From New York is a brilliant action movie that combines the prison break out genre with an almost Die-Hard like hero, and chucks in a very interesting futuristic premise to boot. Kurt Russel is outstandingly butch and cool as Snake Plissken, the rumours of said characters demise providing a running joke throughout the movie. The opening shots of the decayed, walled in New York splendidly set the mood and gritty tone of the film. The 24hr time limit presents a convenient marker against which to build the tension, accentuated by the fact that Plissken has two small charges set in his arteries, timed to go off if he doesn't return.

The interiors of New York are well shot, Carpenter employing his favourite 'Wet Look' technique (spraying streets with water before shooting), to create the look of a city overrun with disgusting characters. Some of the crowd assault scenes are reminiscent of the excellent Assualt On Precinct 13, creating the same sense of unease.

The supporting characters add colour to the experience, Issac Hayes is The Duke Of New York, the sadistic ruler of the prison. Ernest Borgnine makes an appearance as the dimwitted cabbie, Harry Dean Stanton plays brains, the prison mastermind. Adrienne Barbeau (Carpenters ex-wife) plays Maggie, but doesn't really have much to do except stand around in a dress. The late Donald Pleasence lends a touch of class as the president, dubious accent though. Escape is another great film from Carpenter, showing us his unique knack of presenting the extraordinary on the screen to excite the audience. A great film. It has since been followed by the sequel Escape From LA, in which Snake has to escape from the island of Los Angeles in the year 2013.